Wow, what a great book. I know it's good when I am laughing one minute and then crying the next. Two different men tell their story and it is molded into one very fine book.

This book is a biography of a man who is perpetually moving in and out of homelessness and drug use. He met the author on the campaign for a homeless shelter.
The author is not overly sentimental about Stuart. He notes Stuart's better traits- he is articulate about his condition- but he does not gloss over the frustrating aspects. Although intelligent enough (generally) to get himself out of the streets, he continually fucks up, screws over the people trying to help him, and has to start all over again. In that respect its really frustrating to read.
This book also offers an overview of how the British system deals with homelessness.
The system perpetuates itself in a lot of ways, but when the best characters- like Stuart- can't make it work, how can they help anyone else?