New York can be a tough town.

British journalist Toby Young’s new book, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, chronicles his five years in New York media. Peppered with boozy adventures, it’s a veritable social chronicle of the nineties. Drinks with Anthony Haden-Guest. Dating advice from Candace Bushnell. Parties by Richard and Nadine Johnson. Young insults Graydon Carter, is sued by Tina Brown and Harry Evans, and almost kills Elizabeth Saltzman’s assistant’s Chihuahua. The topper? He hires a stripper to come to the office on Take Our Daughters to Work Day.

According to Young, his story is true. According to everyone else?well, the blurbs speak for themselves:

“Toby was always trying to get me to introduce him to my model friends. It was sad really.” -Sophie Dahl

“I just wish he’d learn some elementary journalism.” -Harold Evans

“This man, Toby Young, is a rat and a snake and, to hear some tell it, also a raccoon. He deserves all these nasty blurbs.” -Dave Eggers

The Gotham chronicle is not yet available in New York, so unless you need an excuse to hop the pond, you’ll have to order it online.