Synopses & Reviews
What had happened to my
beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong?
Those are the
wrenching questions that haunted David Sheff's journey through his son
Nic's addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic
became addicted to crystal meth, he was a charming boy, joyous and
funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger
siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and
lived on the streets. David Sheff traces the first warning signs: the
denial, the three a.m. phone calls — is it Nic? the police? the hospital?
His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself. But as a
journalist, he instinctively researched every treatment that might save
his son. And he refused to give up on Nic.
Review
"An excellent book that all parents can relate to whatever their children's situation." Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"An honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Those of us who love an addict — or are addicts ourselves — will find Beautiful Boy a revelation." Martin Sheen, actor
Synopsis
#1 New York Times bestseller
"A brilliant, harrowing, heartbreaking, fascinating story, full of beautiful moments and hard-won wisdom. This book will save a lot of lives and heal a lot of hearts." -- Anne Lamott
What had happened to my beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong? Those are the wrenching questions that haunted David Sheff's journey through his son Nic's addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic became addicted to crystal meth, he was a charming boy, joyous and funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and lived on the streets. David Sheff traces the first warning signs: the denial, the three a.m. phone calls--is it Nic? the police? the hospital? His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself. But as a journalist, he instinctively researched every treatment that might save his son. And he refused to give up on Nic.
"'When one of us tells the truth, he makes it easier for all of us to open our hearts to our own pain and that of others.' That's ultimately what Beautiful Boy is about: truth and healing." -- Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia
"Filled with compelling anecdotes and important insights . . . An eye-opening memoir." -- Washington Post
About the Author
David Sheff is the author of several books, including the #1
New York Times best-selling memoir
Beautiful Boy. His writing has appeared in the
New York Times, the
New York Times Magazine,
Rolling Stone,
Playboy,
Wired, and many other publications. His ongoing research and reporting on the science of addiction earned him a place on
Time magazine's list of the World's Most Influential People.
Sheff and his family live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit David at
DavidSheff.com, and on Twitter @david_sheff.