Anastacia's Reviews > Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines

I haven't even read this book (nor will I) and I'm totally pissed off just reading the review. I know exactly what you mean.

Also, when I read the title, I think of the character Tweak on South Park, so that makes the whole thing even more ludicrous.

What's up with the anger? Can't rich people suffer too? And isn't the relentless self-focus characteristic of the hell of addiction (and immaturity)? I wouldn't expect him to be able to write well after all his brain has been through.

I would. IMO, writing a book well is the whole point of writing a book. Numerous authors have written about their addictive pasts and many have done so very, very well.

A good straw man argument, though. Appreciate your opinion on these opinions. :)

I read this after reading is dad's book, "Beautiful Boy" and I agree, it was a waste. Let's just hope his addiction has lasted. Otherwise, that's a bunch of royalties in the vein . . .

Anastacia wrote: "I would. IMO, writing a book well is the whole point of writing a book. Numerous authors have written about their addictive pasts and many have done so very, very well.

A good straw man argumen..."

Yeah, point taken. I confess I didn't want to spend the time to read the whole thing; I feel sorry for him though and hope he makes it. Do you have an example of a memoir of addiction that's well written?

Read his dad's book . . . He wasn't the addicted one, but I think his tale of his own son's addiction spoke more to me, especially as a parent. He saw the ordeal from the outside, and yet it became so much a part of him.

I agree. His father's book was stunning and beautifully written. "Night of the Gun" by David Carr was pretty good and I liked "Leaving Dirty Jersey" - that one was written by another young-ish guy but it just seems so much more insightful and real. Cheryl, let me take a second to go through my books and let you know more. I'm a sucker for addiction and mental health memoirs.

I don't understand how you can say that because he wasn't some poor street kid, his story isn't real. Doesn't that make it even more real, that he came from a well-educated, middle-class upbringing? That anyone, no matter what background, can end up in terrible situations? It doesn't matter how much money you have growing up...some people turn into addicts regardless. And to assume only street kids turn into addicts is ignorant on your part.

In many ways, his story is more real than most, I imagine. He had it all, despite the instability of his home life, and still hit bottom as a result of some poor decisions made amongst equally well-to-do friends. It's a different perspective from the kid-on-the-street variety, but in Nic's case, it seems like so much whining about having it all. I imagine that's what turned Ana off in regards to this book.

But I'll let her clarify if she so desires . . .

Wait a second. Someone hops on the internet, mischaracterizes my opinion and then calls me names and I'M the one who's ignorant? Oh noes! Brace yourself for the irony! Lauren, here's a thought: maybe next time you can choose to put on the Pull-Ups and be a big girl by sincerely questioning your points before jumping to conclusions and commencing with the name calling. You might just find yourself in the middle of a thoughtful discussion, maybe for the first time in your small, unexamined world. Maybe your points would actually reveal something that the other person didn't realize could be interpreted a certain way. Maybe you'll actually feel intelligent for making this choice and then experience that warm and fuzzy and glowing feeling that mutual respect and intelligent discourse can give a person. I didn't think it would be necessary to state the obvious because I thought it would be inferred, but let me clarify. When you write your tragic life in a memoir you are, in various and individual ways, putting yourself in a representative-type role for your particular flavor of tragedy. Of course his story is "real" in the strictly defined sense. Was it on the non-fiction shelf? Is it a "memoir?" Yes? Ding, ding! It really happened! I wasn't questioning its authenticity. Am I picking on him for holding the opinion that he is an incredibly and unbearably horrible writer? Is it wrong that I don't see in the statistics a lot of horribly addicted people who were lucky enough to get a two-for-one on Book Deal Day because of Daddy and because it could make a great schtick for the publishing house? Is it so horrible of me to read through his name dropping and whining and take it a little personally in thinking of the millions of people who don't get bailed out of Hell by a convenient book deal and a plush seat on Oprah just thrown at them? I'm confused at why it is so monstrous of me to feel that his flat whine of entitlement should get any more attention than someone - even with the same bank balance! - who actually worked for it? Nowhere did I say that street kids are the only ones who are addicted. That doesn't even make sense. YOU inferred that. I was stating a preference, that I would rather read X than Y. I don't give a rat's ass about his financial statement other than the fact that he should be grateful he has that kind of support because there are too many that don't. That that would possibly brand me as class-discriminatory is a joke. Lauren, I am WELL AWARE and have been too closely acquainted with methamphetamine and other addiction to understand that it hits the ones with privilege with equal intensity, so DO NOT mischaracterize or twist my opinion, ever, because you have absolutely no idea. Methinks it’s time to put your immature reactivity and anger to rest in favor of actually thinking before you speak or write or react to opinions about a book on an effing reading website.

But, then again, *I'm* the ignorant one.

I don't know... It does seem to do a good job pointing out that anyone, even if they have that privileged background can become a drug addict. It is an affliction that crosses over every single line, after all.
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_act... Have a seal.

Most of you are looking at this from a not so good perspective.... When i read this novel, i looked at it from 2 perspectives, because my father is a doctor that is currently working with the worlds smartest neurologists, and my mother works at a free clinic for the homeless. Today, MILLIONS of people in the US have Bi polar disease, and at least 1 out of 10 kids are very susceptible to being addicted to drugs. So scientifically, it could happen to anyone. ALSO this man went to Harvard, hes not a dumbass. SO before you make all of these condescending affiliations and say this kid is a brat, experience more of this persons world.... I live in SF in a very very nice neighborhood with my father, and in Oakland, bordering on the bad part of town. Both my parents are divorced, but they still are great friends and love each other..... Also, when i was 5, i had a friend that was 16 and arrested for selling/consuming drugs, and he lives horribly, but is a nice sweet kid. I also have a very privileged friend with extreme bi polar, who has tried to kill himself on numerous occasions... All im asking is that you look at it from every perspective, scientific, emotional, intellectual, etc. dont be ignorant

I know i'm not even an adult yet, but i'm not a moron.... I've seen and been through a lot , and apparently know more about the street world, and real world, then some of you do....

Fuuck. you.

this book is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kinda sucks but its readable mostly bc of the subject matter. Even the worst episodes of 'intervention' are better than the best episodes of some 'real housewives' show. (Personally my favorite inadvertantly hilarious show...ie Kristy, the one on meth that runs around naked, has a catfight with her sister over ramen noodles and thinks that shes either God or 'a god', shes not sure).. That said, I get the same feeling from this book that I got from 'A Million Little Pieces of Made Up Bullshit' by that guy on Oprah. Feels contrived and like yet another drop into the completely fictionalized bucket of ' ok guys, this is what bein on drugs is REALLY like'. Also, I guess still being kinda new to this site, I didn't realize how many ppl were on here just to fight over nonsense...Aren't there already a buncha other sites where we can do that? I guess theres a lotta rage out there. Shitty that we waste it all pecking away at a keyboard. Stay away from that pookie, kids...it'll make you a bad writer. Praise Jesus, bra. J.G.

Kinda sucks but its readable mostly bc of the subject matter. Even the worst episodes of 'intervention' are better than the best episodes of some 'real housewives' show. (Personally my favorite inadvertantly hilarious show...ie Kristy, the one on meth that runs around naked, has a catfight with her sister over ramen noodles and thinks that shes either God or 'a god', shes not sure).. That said, I get the same feeling from this book that I got from 'A Million Little Pieces of Made Up Bullshit' by that guy on Oprah. Feels contrived and like yet another drop into the completely fictionalized bucket of ' ok guys, this is what bein on drugs is REALLY like'. Also, I guess still being kinda new to this site, I didn't realize how many ppl were on here just to fight over nonsense...Aren't there already a buncha other sites where we can do that? I guess theres a lotta rage out there. Shitty that we waste it all pecking away at a keyboard. Stay away from that pookie, kids...it'll make you a bad writer. Praise Jesus, bra. J.G.

I think you are very ignorant and selfish. Just because he's in a stable home and had money and knows people, his story isn't 'real'? Really? People like you disgust me. Both of my brothers are drug addicts an have been for 7 years, and my family is very well off. I think your lack of immaturity shows in your review and I also think that you haven't suffered to the severity like he, or any drug addict has. So until you know, I think you shoul keep your rude opinion to yourself.

Did you read beautiful boy? If so, what was your opinion on that?

Man, people are getting fired up over this book and for that I give nic sheff a round of applause. The first half of the book I didn't really care for but once he went back to LA I really started to get into it. He examined his life in a way that made me examine mine which led me to buy the follow up book "we all fall down" which I'm really into because it gives you a look into how the rehab process works which I really never knew much about. Although nic can be bratty and narcissistic I think most people can relate to his struggles within whether your a drug addict or not.

I think the tragedy is he has the ambition to be a talented writer, but the drugs have screwed up his brain. His story is that of an addict - did you expect Shakespeare? I will say this. Knowing things, his story is honest. It's the real world of addiction and it sucks. I commend him for telling it, and just because he's a rich, self-entitled kid doesn't mean his story is less than the gangsters in Compton or wherever. Our society is filled with people JUST LIKE HIM.

Comment on the someone else's comment that Sheff went to Harvard. In the book he goes to Amherst College. Is this yet another fact that has been changed in the story?

I have been battling this disease for 11 years. I grew up in a middle/upper middle class suburb. I have lost many friends to the disease of addiction. Including just last November my best friend of 20 years, someone that was like a brother to me. I was just wondering in your opinion is our story "real"? I've heard many leads at NA meetings by people from nice neighborhoods and there story's were every bit as relevant as those from the bad neighborhoods. I'm sorry but I found your comment very offensive.

Yeah, actually in our neck of the woods heroin addiction is much more prevalent in affluent suburbs than in our poor city. so Justin makes a good point about this story. It may be very reflective of reality.

this reaction is embarrassing...

I could not agree more. Why is it there are no classic drug books being written today?

I agree with how you feel about the author, but that's what made the book so interesting to me. He tries to portray himself as good and earnest, but you can see that meth makes people do terrible things and not care about how that impacts their families. It really takes away someone's soul, and if he had a real painful story growing up, it might be harder to attribute these actions to the drug itself.

You deserve an award, please tell me more about your wonderful opinion

I agree. Horribly written garbage. Can't believe this was a best seller. Know what else was garbage? A million little pieces. Even if Frey hadn't have been a fraud, it was portly written exaggerative garbage.

I thought his book was amazing I read his dad's memoir beautiful boy first which was even better. I think nics story is one that many people don't tell. Many people with money just quietly go to rehab and regurgitate a bunch of lies. He was brutally honest about literally going to hell and back. I loved it

Totally agreed, forced myself to finish it for my reading challenge and hated every second of it. If anyone is looking for a better book with the same theme, I'd suggest JUDE by Kate Morgenroth or the (not entirely true but who cares) memoir A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, it was massively popular for a reason. Way better.

you need to chill rather than giving hate online

Aysu wrote: "you need to chill rather than giving hate online"

nice ;)

I agree with you Anastacia, I'm a self published author of my memoir. I read tweaked to see what the buzz was about.. it's unfortunate that someone I see , write , publish , and gain public recognition to gain more endorsements, more attention only to see that people like that who have had a patched paved by good inheritance, doesn't mean or equal success..

Unless you have been, or are currently a drug addict...of course you will have no sense of appreciation for this book. Nice Sheffs second book WE ALL FALL DOWN, might have very well kept me from ending my life today as that was my plan. Till I picked up the book and spent the past 5 hours reading it nonstop. I feel some hope now. So Nic Sheff. ...fuck all these critical unhappy bastards with nothing to do but complain. I bet they complain about anything they can all day long. You're books very well may have saved my life . keep writing..ur a bad ass in my book!

I really hate responding to people like you on the internet but after I read your review I was absolutely livid. Congratulations, I'm so happy that you've obviously never been through something so tragic in your life. Surely, you couldn't be so daft as to think only a "street kid" would have a "real" story. You're missing the entire point, ANYONE can be affected and have a real story. You may return to your ivory tower and I hope something like addiction never inconveniences your "real" life.

Tracey wrote: "I really hate responding to people like you on the internet but after I read your review I was absolutely livid. Congratulations, I'm so happy that you've obviously never been through something so ..."

awesome

it's just hilarious that you dislike it because "it's poorly written" when it's clearly an affected style. it's called intention ....like, uh, have u ever even read literature

I think it's good. Being an ex user myself currently in recovery.... it's pretty well depicted. It shows not every one who is a junky is a "poor street kid." Showing that addiction is everywhere.

I am just wondering if you have went through addiction. If so, I respectfully disagree with your review. If not, I will write more if you would like. Maybe you can put a different perspective on this for me.

I'm really curious what tone of writing you expected from someone who was addicted to methamphetamine and heroin.

This book made me feel exactly the same way as Mary "I'm a world-class model" Weiland Forsberg's book. "Look at me, I was married to Scott Weiland, I'm friends with Charlize Theron and Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols...blah blah blah..." Good enough for the bin with all it's white privilege, self pity and preachiness about bi-polar disorder.

Try this drinking game: every time Nic says he cries/tears up, you have a drink. You'll barf less than I did from the bad writing/pure fakeness of this douchebag's imaginary worlds of his own purity and innocence.

Wow, this review really upset a lot of sensitive flowers. God forbid a person have an opinion about a book on a site thats whole purpose is for people to give their opinion about books. Who knew there were so many rich kid addicts and their apologists lurking around here waiting to pounce?

It’s one thing to not enjoy or appreciate an authors writing, but it’s another to say what they went through is “fake” or that he doesn’t have a real reason for his addiction. Addiction is addiction. It knows no race,age,gender,socioeconomic level. Also being angry over someone’s story to the point that you are seething seems a bit much. I completely agree that he certainly was privileged enough with connections to get the help he needed, but at the end of the day how does that hurt you? It’s one person’s story. No one is saying he is the end all be all representation of addiction.

All the negative comments stfu seriously this book is about his life nd how he felt how meth was for him .this is his " real"story so jus because other people don't want to write nd share their story that's their fault .this guy was pretty fuckn smart

All the negative comments stfu seriously this book is about his life nd how he felt how meth was for him .this is his " real"story so jus because other people don't want to write nd share their story that's their fault .this guy was pretty fuckn smart

He's fuckn amazing and people who really wana get worked up all over another person story hahaha then read something else

This book is a direct portal into the drug addicted mind. I mean this with all respect, but people that know nothing about addiction or alcoholism shouldn’t be allowed to talk about it. Yes, we all have freedom of speech rights and are entitled to our opinions, but it just comes off as being immensely ignorant. Of course Nic comes off as selfish and entitled, THAT’S WHAT DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM IS. Selfish, self-centered and self-seeking - please pick up an AA book. Nic is very fortunate, but you know what? He’s still sober. He’s accomplished more in his lifetime than most have at the age of 60. I was fortunate enough to have him and David even recognize one of my tweets when Beautiful Boy was coming out. Tweak is a direct portrayal of what being in active addiction looks like, and just because he’s not “from the streets” shows that the disease of alcoholism and addiction don’t discriminate. It effects people all the way from skid row, to the upper-east side of Manhattan. Nic is an extremely talented writer, the movie makes sure to even touch on that - hence why he’s had three books (I believe; two autobiographies and one fiction novel). It was a talent of his since he was young. On top of that, you claiming he only got this book published because he has connections....I mean, how else do you think the world works? Yes, some people are self-discovered, and I have a GREAT DEAL of respect for them. However, in life, who you know is much more imperative then what you know. In some rare cases that’s not the case, but I guarantee you if I was to ask you a question like: “Out of all the jobs you’ve ever had, was at least one of them because you knew someone?” Your answer would be yes. Watch an interview with Nic now, I’m sure you’ll change your mind. I don’t know what you were expecting from his book, but the vast majority whom have read it disagree with you. Your review was insulting for me to read because of my own struggles in this area, and Nic has been an inspiration for me - hence why I went into such a detailed comment about him and Tweak. Maybe text time move down a couple of titles and pick Twilight? I feel like that would be a much better fit for you!

On top of that, writing is a form of art and everyone’s taste varies. I respect that. However, before trying to character assassinate someone who actually had the courage to get 100% vulnerable and transparent by telling his story (which is meant to help people), how many books have you published? How many people do you help on a daily basis? Alright, that’s all. Just some food for thought to all the asinine comments on this.

Extremely unfortunate and shallow review. I disagree completely for the same great reasons as others have already stated so well. This review is 100% judgment that I can’t help but feel curious as to where, from within, it’s truly originating from and why. No one gets to say whether or not another persons tragic story is “real”. As others have pointed out, drug addiction/disease does not discriminate. I wonder why it is that you do?