An addiction refers to a dependence on a substance or activity that the addict feels a deep pull to engage in even if it causes them harm. Examples include drug and alcohol use or activities like gambling. Addiction is considered a treatable disease that can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics and environmental influences. In From Here to the Great Unknown, Lisa and Riley’s exploration of generational addiction in their family highlights The Inescapability of Legacy and Family Inheritance as a central theme in the text.

A celebrity is a famous person who gains notoriety in the public eye. It’s also an adjective that refers to the state of being well-known. Celebrities in modern pop culture are often subject to intense levels of public scrutiny, held to inhuman physical and moral standards, and worshiped or condemned by large swaths of the population—a tension exemplified by the memoir’s thematic engagement with The Dangerous Effects of Fame and Living in the Spotlight.

Graceland was Elvis Presley’s estate in Memphis, Tennessee. It consists of a large home located on just under 14 acres of land. Elvis purchased the estate in 1956 and lived there with his parents, his wife Priscilla, his daughter Lisa, and other members of his entourage.