The story that inspired the major motion picture Beautiful Boy featuring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. This New York Times bestselling memoir of a young man’s addiction to methamphetamine tells a raw, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful tale of the road from relapse to recovery. Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge into the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It's a harrowing portrait—but not one without hope.
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About the author
Nic Sheff
Author
Nic Sheff is an American writer. He is the author of two memoirs, including the New York Times best seller Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines and We All Fall Down: Living With Addiction. He has also written several novels for young adults and written episodes for The Killing, Recovery Road and 13 Reasons Why.
Tweak
by Nic Sheff
Books Like Tweak
If you're looking for books similar to Tweak, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Beautiful Boy
David Sheff
A powerful memoir by Nic Sheff's father that provides the complementary perspective to Tweak. The book explores a parent's struggle with a child's addiction, offering an intimate look at the devastating impact of substance abuse on families. David Sheff chronicles his son's methamphetamine addiction, the emotional turmoil, and the challenging journey of supporting a child through recovery. It provides a deeply personal account of love, desperation, and hope in the face of addiction.
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
Gabor Maté
A compassionate exploration of addiction from a medical perspective. Dr. Maté examines the root causes of addiction, drawing from his work with severely addicted patients in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The book combines scientific insight with personal stories, offering a holistic understanding of why people become addicted. It provides deep psychological insights into the nature of addiction similar to Sheff's memoir.
Lit
Mary Karr
A powerful memoir about alcoholism and recovery from a renowned memoirist. Karr details her descent into alcoholism and her challenging path to sobriety, exploring the impact on her family and personal life. The book offers a poetic and introspective look at addiction, similar to Sheff's raw storytelling. It provides a deeply personal account of struggling with and overcoming addiction.
Wasted
Marya Hornbacher
A powerful memoir about eating disorders and addiction that shares Tweak's raw and honest approach. Hornbacher provides a deeply personal account of her struggles with bulimia and anorexia, exploring the psychological roots of addiction. The book offers an unflinching look at personal struggle and recovery, similar to Sheff's narrative style. It provides insights into the complex nature of addiction and recovery.
Memoirs of an Addicted Brain
Marc Lewis
A unique memoir that combines personal addiction experience with neuroscientific explanation. Lewis, a neuroscientist and former addict, explores his own journey through addiction while providing scientific insights into how drugs affect the brain. The book offers a compelling blend of personal narrative and scientific understanding of addiction. It provides a deeper understanding of the neurological aspects of substance abuse.
Drinking: A Love Story
Caroline Knapp
A deeply personal memoir about alcoholism and its psychological roots. Knapp explores her long-term struggle with alcohol, examining the emotional and psychological factors that contribute to addiction. The book offers an intimate and honest portrayal of alcoholism, similar to Tweak's unflinching approach. It provides insight into the complex relationship between addiction and personal identity.
Blackout
Sarah Hepola
A memoir about alcohol addiction that explores the complex relationship between drinking and personal identity. Hepola provides a candid and introspective account of her struggles with alcoholism, examining its roots and impact on her life. The book offers a raw and honest exploration of addiction, similar to Sheff's approach in Tweak. It provides insights into the psychological challenges of overcoming substance abuse.
Dry
Augusten Burroughs
A raw and unflinching memoir about alcoholism and recovery. Burroughs details his personal battle with addiction, exploring the complex emotional landscape of substance abuse. The book offers a brutally honest account of his struggle to overcome alcoholism, including his time in rehab and the challenges of maintaining sobriety. Like Tweak, it provides an unfiltered look at the psychological depths of addiction.
The Night of the Gun
David Carr
A journalist's investigative memoir about his own addiction and recovery. Carr approaches his past addiction like a reporting assignment, interviewing people from his past and examining his own memories. The book offers a unique perspective on addiction, combining journalistic rigor with personal reflection. It provides a nuanced and honest exploration of substance abuse and recovery.
Born Here
Michael Clune
A memoir about addiction and recovery that explores the psychological landscape of substance abuse. Clune provides a unique perspective on addiction, examining its impact on memory, perception, and personal identity. The book offers a deeply introspective look at the experience of addiction, similar to Tweak's personal narrative approach. It provides a nuanced understanding of the psychological dimensions of substance abuse.
A Million Little Pieces
James Frey
A controversial memoir about addiction and recovery that shares Tweak's raw and unfiltered approach. Frey describes his experiences in a drug rehabilitation center, detailing his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. The book explores the intense personal journey of hitting rock bottom and attempting to rebuild one's life. Despite controversy about its factual accuracy, it offers a powerful narrative of addiction and recovery.
Smashed
Koren Zailckas
A memoir about young female alcoholism that shares Tweak's raw and honest approach. Zailckas chronicles her drinking experiences from adolescence through young adulthood, exploring the cultural and personal factors that contribute to addiction. The book offers a candid look at youth and substance abuse, providing insights into the early stages of addiction. It shares Sheff's unflinching storytelling style.
Leaving Dirty Cleveland
Michael Dorris
A memoir that explores personal struggle and transformation, echoing themes in Tweak. Dorris provides a deeply personal account of navigating challenging life circumstances, offering insights into personal resilience. The book shares Sheff's approach of honest self-reflection and exploration of personal challenges. It provides a narrative of overcoming personal obstacles and finding hope.
The Night of Wenceslas
Lionel Davidson
A thriller that explores themes of personal transformation and survival, resonating with Tweak's narrative of overcoming challenges. The book follows a young man's unexpected journey into a world of international intrigue, requiring personal resilience and adaptation. While not directly about addiction, it shares themes of personal struggle and transformation. It offers a different perspective on overcoming personal obstacles.
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