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lanathegardener's review against another edition
5.0
I needed insight into addiction and this gave me a ton.
onecraftyreader's review against another edition
2.0
I read this after reading Beautiful Boy, thinking it would be interesting to get the son's perspective on his drug addiction after reading the father's tale. Unfortunately, the father's book is much better written and edited than this one. Nic Sheff gives us a play-by-play of his experiences with various drugs, but is very short on introspection. Although he recounts scenes in excruciating detail and dialogue, he gives extremely little insight into his own thoughts or motivations. Because of this, I found it hard to have empathy for him.
kyhmac's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so raw and visceral, and some parts were hard to get through. It was so disappointing to know he would fall again, and once again reminded me of familial struggles. The ending at the family weekend made me cry and also enlightened me a bit to how my father may feel at times, but doesn’t understand how to communicate. We often look at how an addict has affected us, but don’t take enough time to consider how they have hurt themselves. I just ordered We All Fall Down and I am excited to finish the “trilogy” so to speak.
onetrooluff's review against another edition
2.0
Tweak is a tale of addiction describing the experiences of Nic Sheff, who was for many years addicted to various drugs (meth and heroin to begin with, later coke and various prescription medications). This book was actually written in response to a book by David Sheff called Beautiful Boy, about the experience of dealing with his son's addiction(s) and their consequences for his family.
The first third of Tweak is a demonstration of the kind of depraved lifestyle Nic's addiction leads to—a study of how quickly an addict can move down the downward spiral to the point where he or she will do absolutely anything for drugs, or money for drugs. Stealing (even from family members), prostitution, selling more drugs... nothing is out of the question.
In this book, Nic repeatedly addresses the question of how far a person can sink before they realize they need to climb out of the hole. Sheff enters rehab multiple times, but for various reasons relapses into heavy drug use despite a few near-death occurrences and an absolutely unsustainable lifestyle.
Each time he tries to climb back to reality, Sheff reaches out to his family and close friends, but not surprisingly, after several times of hearing the same song the relationships become more and more tenuous and even family members stop believing that he will remain sober.
I have to say: at the beginning of the book, I was expecting to get more insight into Sheff's behavior and to gain an understanding of (and therefore sympathy for) his choices and lifestyle. This didn't happen. First off, I was truly shocked at just how depraved and desperate his lifestyle became each time he descended into the depths of heavy usage. Friendships and family ties meant nothing, except as a means of gaining money to fuel the drug habit.
Second, I became increasingly irritated at how many chances he had to pull himself out of the mess, or at least TRY to pull himself out, or had even GOTTEN out and chose so easily to return... I really do think that he behaved in an entirely self-centered, self-destructive way, completely refusing to open his eyes to the truths around him. I guess that's the point, really—that the drugs were a side effect of depressing truths in his life that he was too afraid to acknowledge. Still, I completely understand how after the first few times of listening to him go on about how his life had changed, etc., they would stop believing that he would stay sober. I'm not sure I even believe it now.
I guess that I am glad I read Tweak, if only to open my eyes a bit to just how bad an addiction can be, how strongly deep-seated insecurities and unresolved issues can affect the addition, and how difficult it is to bring oneself out of the cycle; but overall, it frustrated me too much for me to really enjoy it.
The first third of Tweak is a demonstration of the kind of depraved lifestyle Nic's addiction leads to—a study of how quickly an addict can move down the downward spiral to the point where he or she will do absolutely anything for drugs, or money for drugs. Stealing (even from family members), prostitution, selling more drugs... nothing is out of the question.
In this book, Nic repeatedly addresses the question of how far a person can sink before they realize they need to climb out of the hole. Sheff enters rehab multiple times, but for various reasons relapses into heavy drug use despite a few near-death occurrences and an absolutely unsustainable lifestyle.
Each time he tries to climb back to reality, Sheff reaches out to his family and close friends, but not surprisingly, after several times of hearing the same song the relationships become more and more tenuous and even family members stop believing that he will remain sober.
I have to say: at the beginning of the book, I was expecting to get more insight into Sheff's behavior and to gain an understanding of (and therefore sympathy for) his choices and lifestyle. This didn't happen. First off, I was truly shocked at just how depraved and desperate his lifestyle became each time he descended into the depths of heavy usage. Friendships and family ties meant nothing, except as a means of gaining money to fuel the drug habit.
Second, I became increasingly irritated at how many chances he had to pull himself out of the mess, or at least TRY to pull himself out, or had even GOTTEN out and chose so easily to return... I really do think that he behaved in an entirely self-centered, self-destructive way, completely refusing to open his eyes to the truths around him. I guess that's the point, really—that the drugs were a side effect of depressing truths in his life that he was too afraid to acknowledge. Still, I completely understand how after the first few times of listening to him go on about how his life had changed, etc., they would stop believing that he would stay sober. I'm not sure I even believe it now.
I guess that I am glad I read Tweak, if only to open my eyes a bit to just how bad an addiction can be, how strongly deep-seated insecurities and unresolved issues can affect the addition, and how difficult it is to bring oneself out of the cycle; but overall, it frustrated me too much for me to really enjoy it.
coleridgegirl's review against another edition
5.0
What’s so good about this memoir is that it’s incredibly frustrating to read, and you are angry with him with every decision he makes. And he’s also angry and yet continues to make awful decisions and hurt everyone. I think it’s brutal but so honest and gave me insight and empathy into addiction that I think I lacked previously. I was always sympathetic but also felt a little like I think a lot of people do - just stop using if it’s causing this much of a problem (I know it’s not that simple but I do think there’s a certain belief that it’s a willpower issue). But this really put you there and helps you see that the addiction is truly all-encompassing.
nugdes55's review against another edition
4.0
"It was like being in a car with the gas pedal slammed down to the floor and nothing to do but hold on and pretend to have some semblance of control.
But control was something I'd lost a long time ago"
W cholerę ciężka książka zarówno psychicznie jak i fizycznie.
Za każdym razem jak pojawiał się opis wstrzykiwania narkotyków w żyły czułam jak mi jelita kurwa nosem wychodzą przysięgam
But control was something I'd lost a long time ago"
W cholerę ciężka książka zarówno psychicznie jak i fizycznie.
Za każdym razem jak pojawiał się opis wstrzykiwania narkotyków w żyły czułam jak mi jelita kurwa nosem wychodzą przysięgam
chaoticallyv's review against another edition
1.0
I just didn't care for this book. The potential for it to be amazing was there. Nic is a great writer, but the scatteredness(?) of the book at times gave me a headache. I found myself rereading things to ensure I didn't miss something. It reminds me of listening to all 3 of my children speaking at once in the car while the volume is up high on the radio.