What had happened to my beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong? Those are the wrenching questions that haunted every moment of David Sheff's journey through his son Nic's addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic Sheff 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 subtle warning signs: the denial, the 3 A.M. phone calls (is it Nic? the police? the hospital?), the rehabs. His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself, and the obsessive worry and stress took a tremendous toll. But as a journalist, he instinctively researched every avenue of treatment that might save his son and refused to give up on Nic.
Beautiful Boy is a fiercely candid memoir that brings immediacy to the emotional rollercoaster of loving a child who seems beyond help.

Reviews

Journalist Sheff has written a moving, heartbreaking account of his son's addiction to methamphetamines and its impact on those around him. The CD gets a little tedious during the lengthy and detailed scientific descriptions of how meth affects addicts' brains and psyches, but Tony and Obie Award-winning actor Anthony Heald does an excellent job with the reading, his voice and intonation conveying the pain and discouragement Sheff must have felt over his son's condition. Recommended for the nonfiction collections of public libraries. [With tracks every three minutes for bookmarking; audio clip available through www.blackstoneaudio.com; the Houghton Mifflin hc, released in February, was an LJ Best Seller.--Ed.]--Ilka Gordon, formerly with Marcell Community Coll., Cleveland Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Sheff's memoir offers his side of the story about his son Nic's downfall into drug and alcohol abuse. Anthony Heald opts for a slightly theatrical performance, which distances the listener from what should be an extremely personal and emotional tale. While never over-the-top, Heald's reading is more grounded in the world of fiction than nonfiction. His vocal interpretations of characters are improbable and the dialogue comes off as unrealistic. A touching story gets lost in translation from word to mouth. A Houghton Mifflin hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 30, 2007). (Apr.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

"An honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic." Publishers Weekly

"An excellent book that all parents can relate to whatever their children's situation." Library Journal Starred

"Those of us who love an addict -- or are addicts ourselves -- will find BEAUTIFUL BOY a revelation." -- Martin Sheen, actor

"A welcome balm to millions...who thought they were making this journey alone."-- Armistead Maupin, author of The Night Listener

"This book is going to save a lot of lives, and help heal...hearts." -- Anne Lamott, author of Grace (Eventually)

."..moving, timely, and sobering. It's also startlingly beautiful." - Sir Richard Branson, chairman, Virgin Group

"An extraordinary story of pain, perseverance and hope." -- William C. Moyers, author of Broken

."..honest, reflective and deeply moving. BEAUTIFUL BOY is about: truth and healing." -- Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia

"For...any one who has ever wrestled with holding on and letting go." -- Thomas Lynch, author of The Undertaking

"A masterpiece of description and feeling...immediate, informative and heartbreaking." -- Susan Cheever, author of Note Found in a Bottle