Enjoy fast, FREE delivery, exclusive deals and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery

List Price: $24.00 Details

Save: $11.35 (47%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Friday, August 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $25. Order within 22 hrs 14 mins

Select delivery location

Only 1 left in stock - order soon

$$12.65 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Payment

Secure transaction

Ships from

Amazon

Sold by

ASTAR EXPRESS

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Details

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Ships from

Amazon

Sold by

ASTAR EXPRESS

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Friday, August 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $25. Order within 22 hrs 14 mins

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by ZBK Books

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$10.61
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: BOOK_DEPOT

Added

Not added

$13.00
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: InterTradeCa LLC

Added

Not added

$13.36
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: Books Unplugged

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

David Sheff

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction Hardcover – February 26, 2008

by David Sheff (Author)

4.6 6,621 ratings

Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$9.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Library Binding

"Please retry"

$34.17

$26.67

$19.23

Hardcover, February 26, 2008

$12.65

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$10.04

$8.99

$1.64

Audio CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$17.21

$13.50

$5.50

Kindle
$9.99 Read with Our Free App
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial
Hardcover
$12.65
Paperback
$10.04

100 Used from $1.64 32 New from $8.99 1 Collectible from $9.99
Audio CD
$17.21

6 Used from $5.50 3 New from $13.50

Great on Kindle

Great Experience. Great Value.

Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

View Kindle Edition

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$12.65","priceAmount":12.65,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"65","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"UCFp39XdYcQODfga2VOp6px611g%2BjeqEtOeP8VKctSi%2Bdmb5hJyRGk8nFMg9TGDYSVuHdT%2BDgjknqusP9ePdVOeEGT8%2BmcWZtRCr2xtoZ6UO92i3CQxg4nI8K1Qy%2Fk21%2F6YaDLX7cUEPx6hJhWkFl%2BCd9o%2B%2FvkG9xNbQplaTTArUDCpO%2F2%2BLKC1GnR8Crx5y","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.47","priceAmount":8.47,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"47","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"UCFp39XdYcQODfga2VOp6px611g%2BjeqErs1nzjKEAVeLbrBm2G3Qu%2By%2B1g%2FPpE8MeIml1mAYZS52vpmExfLz%2FECmYCKmbCAKKH2iJwy7c%2BOjHXMQelhe6%2BMg3LHHTS2ft59Zx6dPMdCbkgOe5LEsuecqB63bsVZnhb8riKL4ZKyFeiPcyzg%2FvRDKrmo0NHyJ","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

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.

Print length

326 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Houghton Mifflin Co
Publication date

February 26, 2008
Dimensions

5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

0618683356
ISBN-13

978-0618683352
See all details

Frequently bought together

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction

$12.65

Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 4

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Sold by ASTAR EXPRESS and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.

+

$7.89

Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 4

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

One of these items ships sooner than the other.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

Nic Sheff
4,302
Paperback
in Biostatistics
171 offers from $1.34
Nic Sheff
1,177
Paperback
88 offers from $1.49
André Aciman
41,263
Paperback
152 offers from $1.38
N.H. Kleinbaum
2,939
Mass Market Paperback
49 offers from $3.99
Camille Deangelis
1,170
Paperback
75 offers from $2.54
Richard Alphonso Cortez
8
Paperback
2 offers from $9.95

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

From Publishers Weekly

Expanding on his New York Times Magazine article, Sheff chronicles his son's downward spiral into addiction and the impact on him and his family. A bright, capable teenager, Nic began trying mind- and mood-altering substances when he was 17. In months, use became abuse, then abuse became addiction. By the time Sheff knew of his son's condition, Nic was strung out on meth, the highly potent stimulant. While his son struggles to get clean, his second wife and two younger children are pulled helplessly into the drama. Sheff, as the parent of an addict, cycles through denial and acceptance and resistance. The author was already a journalist of considerable standing when this painful story began to unfold, and his impulse for detail serves him personally as well as professionally: there are hard, solid facts about meth and the kinds of havoc it wreaks on individuals, families and communities both urban and rural. His journey is long and harrowing, but Sheff does not spare himself or anyone else from keen professional scrutiny any more than he was himself spared the pains—and joys—of watching a loved one struggling with addiction and recovery. Real recovery creates—and can itself be—its own reward; this is an honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Although the journey of the subtitle seems too dreadful to experience, even vicariously, Playboy contributing editor Sheff's intense memoir is hard to put down. Beyond the visceral torture of helplessly watching Nic, his adolescent son, descend deep into the rabbit hole of addiction, Sheff confesses to the ubiquitous parental habit of second-guessing every decision he has made throughout Nic's life, especially the ones he is forced to make as he tries to help the young man get and stay clean. His efforts have him turning to any and all resources, from AA to medical experts to rehab centers and finally to friends, for advice and assistance. The experience all but tears him and his family apart as Nic forges his parents' signatures on checks, steals his eight-year-old brother's savings, promises to reform, then repeatedly fails to stick with a rehabilitation program. In the end, it isn't the addiction as much as the repeated failures and relapses that are so debilitating for everyone involved. The book originated in a much-lauded New York Times Magazine article, which Sheff here expands in scope, sharing his and Nic's wisdom, missteps, and successes, and the lessons they learned. A must-read for, at the least, anyone in similar straits. Chavez, Donna
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Publishers Weekly : "An honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic." Library Journal Starred : "An excellent book that all parents can relate to whatever their children's situation." "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 --Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly : "An honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic." Library Journal Starred : "An excellent book that all parents can relate to whatever their children's situation." "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 --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

DAVID SHEFF's work has appeared in the New York Times, Outside, Rolling Stone, Wired, Fortune, and elsewhere. His piece for the New York Times Magazine, "My Addicted Son," generated several hundred letters from readers and won an award from the American Psychological Association for "Outstanding Contribution to Advancing the Understanding of Addiction."

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Houghton Mifflin Co (February 26, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0618683356
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0618683352
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #128,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #234 in Alcoholism Recovery
- #340 in Substance Abuse Recovery
- #3,902 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 6,621 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

David Sheff

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

DAVID SHEFF's books include Game Over, China Dawn, and All We Are Saying. His many articles and interviews have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Playboy, Wired, Fortune, and elsewhere. His piece for the New York Times Magazine, My Addicted Son, won an award from the American Psychological Association for Outstanding Contribution to Advancing the Understanding of Addiction. It led to his #1 New York Times Best Seller, Beautiful Boy, which was named the best nonfiction book of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. Beautiful Boy was also an Amazon Best Book of 2008. Sheff and his family live in Inverness, California.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

6,621 global ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all customer images

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

jay chis

💜

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

book came in perfect condition, i’m excited to read it. i watched the movie, which persuaded me to order the book. i also love the authors son (nic sheff’s) books! def recommend them
too

Helpful

Sci Fi Fan

The Story of the Slow Boiling Frog

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

Reading this I’m reminded of the story of the slow boiling frog. If you put a pan of water on the stove, get it hot, and then try to out a frog unit, the frog naturally jumps out. If you put them in a cold pan a slowly raise the temperature, the frog keeps adjusting it’s body temperature until it boils to death.

Each step along the way David is the slow boiling frog. He rationalizes each action, does research, and adjusts his thinking. But Nic was on a path to serious addition at age 11.

With 20/20 hindsight, most child therapists will now tell you to live in the same city, preferably within a few miles, if you are going to have joint custody. Reading Nic’s book, it’s clear the bedrock of his mental psych was damaged by the impermanence of the custody agreement.

So: LESSON 1: If you are divorcing with children, it’s not about you, it’s about your child’s well being. Better to have one stable home than shared access to two parents in two different worlds.

David’s next rationalization was how he related to Nic as a buddy not a parent. He should not have tried to be ‘cool’. Kids don’t need cool parents. They need reliable parents. Nic adores his father to the point that his self-worth rises and falls based on his father’s opinion. That is not healthy. And when they discovered Nic’s pot use, it was time for a zero tolerance intervention. If there were no other red flags (like changing friends, experimenting with nihilism attitudes, etc..) maybe a cautious response. But Nick needed to be removed from the situation then and there. Jasper and Daisy were more important than Nic. That much is clear. Despite loving Nic, they rationalized and became out of touch while Nic seriously spiraled from 7th-12th grade.

LESSON 2: Child before self. He should have had him working with counselors directly and a family counselor for the entire family when this problem showed up. Putting it all on Nic as making a bad choice further isolated. Eleven years old is too young for this. He’s still a child. The parent needed to parent. And the laissez-faire attitude of the teacher should have been ignored. The lies, the drugs, the mood change, the troubled divorce history — Nic needed intervention. You have to stop what your wrapped up in and prioritize them at early stages.

DISCLAIMER: David made mistakes but mistakes consistent with ‘common sense’ at the time he made them. He was thoughtful, dedicated and concerned. We NOW know how this epidemic works and have better approaches.

If you read this book, take it as a cautionary tale, not a guidebook.

15 people found this helpful

Helpful

Louise

Sheff’s honestly makes for a gut wrenching and heartbreaking story.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

"Fortunately I have a son, my beautiful boy. Unfortunately he is a drug addict.
Fortunately he is in recovery. Unfortunately he relapses.
Fortunately he is in recovery again. Unfortunately he relapses.
Fortunately he is in recovery again. Unfortunately he relapses.
Fortunately he is not dead.”
In Beautiful Boy, David Sheff recounts his son’s struggles with addiction. Nic’s drug of choice is Methamphetamine, well known for being one, if not the hardest drug to stay in recovery for. Sheff talks about his difficulty coping with his son’s addiction, rehab stays, and subsequent relapses.
Sheff’s story is heartbreaking, and gut wrenching. He is very real about his emotions. From his shame of having an addict for a son to the happiness he feels from thinking about Nic before his addiction changed him. He speaks often about how he wants to feel hope that each trip to rehab will be the one that keeps him clean, but how it would be easier for him if he just gave up and save himself from the heart ache.
I appreciate that Sheff does not hide his emotions, nor does he hide his own drug use when he was younger. While some may leave out this fact he is frank about it, even adding in that at one point Nic asked if he wanted to smoke Marijuana with him and he agreed desperate to have something that he could use to connect with his son. He laments a few times that he wishes that he never did. While Sheff did drugs when he was younger he was blindsided when he found out Nic was also doing them. He says that parents tend to ignore the signs of addiction in their children, hoping that it’s not true and he and his wife are no exception to this.
He wishes that he could do more for his son. Nic is in and out of rehab. He worries constantly about his son’s well being. It is not just Nic who suffers, his family does as well. Sheff struggles with explaining Nics illness with his younger children, unsure of how much to tell them. This is something that I never thought about, how much do you tell small children when their older sibling has an addiction. I don't know if Sheff handled this correctly but it seemed okay to me to explain that he is ill, but try to keep them away from the effects that the drugs have on him. His choice to lie by omission must have been a difficult choice for him to make.
Sheff’s honestly makes for a heartbreaking story. A great read, especially for those who know someone struggling with addiction. I am grateful for his ability to share his experiences without sounding disconnected and bland. I had fears of this but it did end up reading like the memoir it is.
“Fortunately there is a beautiful boy. Unfortunately he has a terrible disease.
Fortunately there is love and joy. Unfortunately there is pain and misery.
Fortunately the story is not over."

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Cindy

Super

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on May 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

Habe die Bücher und den Film davon. Es ist einfach wunderbar, deren Geschichten einfach unglaublich was die beiden durchgemacht haben

Translate review to English

Fla

Top

Reviewed in Italy 🇮🇹 on April 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

Storia molto toccante.Libro arrivato puntuale ed in perfette condizioni unica pecca che è in inglese

Translate review to English

Desert Rose

Livre réellement intéressant

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on September 6, 2022

Verified Purchase

Le récit d'un voyage au bout de l'enfer pour un père et son fils qui ne peut pas vous laisser intact, une fois celui-ci achevé. Je vous le conseille grandement

Translate review to English

Balasubramanium

Font too small

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on April 29, 2021

Verified Purchase

The book has small fonts. It's strain to the eyes. Otherwise the book is good.

Leonardo Ramos da Rocha

Comovente, poderoso e muito expressivo.

Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on January 14, 2019

Verified Purchase

Escrita fluida, extremamente pessoal e sincera. Inglês acessível para quem já tá começando a ler obras no original. Adiciona-se ao fim do livro um posfácio interessante sobre o panorama da droga pelo mundo, exclusivo desta edição britânica, além de um capítulo inteiro (bem grandinho, por sinal) do Tweak, livro do Nic Sheff, contando sua versão da história. Leitura que complementa o filme... para as telas, não foi adaptado nem 50% do livro. Aqui, o pai tem muito mais a contar, vivenciar e dividir conosco sua angústia e culpa.

"how can you help someone who doesn't want to be helped?"

4 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account

Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	Amazon Fresh Groceries & More Right To Your Door	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Experienced Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics	DPReview Digital Photography	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy

Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Great Deals on Quality Used Products	Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing	Ring Smart Home Security Systems

eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Blink Smart Security for Every Home	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Amazon Subscription Boxes Top subscription boxes – right to your door	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust

Amazon Prime includes:

Buy new: $12.65$12.65 FREE delivery: Friday, Aug 4 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Ships from: Amazon Sold by: ASTAR EXPRESS

Buy used: $8.47

Other Sellers on Amazon

Follow the Author

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction Hardcover – February 26, 2008

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From Publishers Weekly

From Booklist

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

Important information

About the author

David Sheff

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new:

$12.65

FREE delivery: Friday, Aug 4 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Ships from: Amazon

Sold by: ASTAR EXPRESS

Buy used:

$8.47