Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction | 
 enlarge | Author: David Sheff
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co
Category: Book
List Price: $24.00
Buy New: $9.00
You Save: $15.00 (62%)
New (58) Used (42) Collectible (3) from $8.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  112 reviews
Sales Rank: 328
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 326
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0618683356
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.299
EAN: 9780618683352
ASIN: 0618683356
Publication Date: February 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Amazon Best of the Month, February 2008: From as early as grade school, the world seemed to be on Nic Sheff's string. Bright and athletic, he excelled in any setting and appeared destined for greatness. Yet as childhood exuberance faded into teenage angst, the precocious boy found himself going down a much different path. Seduced by the illicit world of drugs and alcohol, he quickly found himself caught in the clutches of addiction. Beautiful Boy is Nic's story, but from the perspective of his father, David. Achingly honest, it chronicles the betrayal, pain, and terrifying question marks that haunt the loved ones of an addict. Many respond to addiction with a painful oath of silence, but David Sheff opens up personal wounds to reinforce that it is a disease, and must be treated as such. Most importantly, his journey provides those in similar situations with a commodity that they can never lose: hope --Dave Callanan
Product Description
Sheff s story is a first: a teenager s addiction from the parent s point of view a real-time chronicle of the shocking descent into substance abuse and the gradual emergence into hope. Before meth, Sheff s son Nic was a varsity athlete, honor student, and award-winning journalist. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who stole money from his eight-year-old brother and lived on the streets. With haunting candor, Sheff traces the first subtle warning signs, the denial (by both child and parents), the three A.M. phone calls (is it Nic? the police? the hospital?), the attempts at rehab, and, at last, the way past addiction. He shows us that, whatever an addict s fate, the rest of the family must care for each other too, lest they become addicted to addiction. Meth is the fastest-growing drug in the United States, as well as the most addictive and the most dangerous wreaking permanent brain damage faster than any other readily available drug. It has invaded every region and demographic in America. This book is the first that treats meth and its impact in depth. But it is not just about meth. Nic s addiction has wrought the same damage that any addiction will wreak. His story, and his father s, are those of any family that contains an addict and one in three American families does.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 107 more reviews...
 BEAUTIFUL BOY August 29, 2008
I recommend this book. Very down to earth, truthful, compelling. I bought this book at a fraction of the cost.
 Didn't want to put it down! August 28, 2008
It's a heart breaking story repeated in every town in every State and suffered by so many families and individuals who feel they are alone and misunderstood. Would love to know his son makes it out and can remain clean. Unfortunately it's always an ongoing problem that continues to breathe down your neck every single day. My significant Other was a tremendous, Loving, caring, supportive father who had his heart ripped out of his chest through the long suffering and heart wrenching death of his 21 year old son who couldn't make it out....
Would love to see all stories all wrapped up and sealed with a beautiful bow and happy endings- unfortunately so many do not.
Bare-bones honesty August 26, 2008
Think of "A Million Little Pieces" from a parent's point of view, and you'll have a good sense of what Beautiful Boy is like. Sheff does an excellent job of not pulling any punches, taking most -- if not all -- the blame possible for his son's descent into meth addiction and his struggles to stay sober through a variety of recovery and rehab attempts.
Any parent will identify with the agony of wanting to protect your child and being unable to do so. Sheff's emotional tale is tempered with moments of hope and humor, and readers will long to see his anguish end on a happy note. Unfortunately, "happy" is a bit too optimistic, though there is the hint of some better tomorrow in the closing words.
Beautiful Boy August 23, 2008
This is one of those books that you have to read if you love your kids.
Beautifully written from a father's point of view. On one hand it made me feel quite vulnerable because you don't really know what your kids are up to and you want to believe them no matter what. On the other hand it empowered me to be tougher and it reminded me to go on gut reaction and dig deeper into the lives of my own boys. I am a teacher and I am recommending it to my teenage male students to help them see the side of adolescence that their parents see.
Beautiful Boy August 17, 2008
Great Book! New book so product was in perfect shape. Delivery quick. This book is a wonderful story about addiction and a parents journey. Recommend this book for all who have travelled down this road!!
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