Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

What kind of books you discover in your classroom?

I really enjoyed tweak. It was my first time reading a memoir based book and I thought it was very well written. Almost like you were right there by Nic sides experiencing everything he was experiencing. In was first was introduced to this in book in my Popular Literature class. I was drawn into, because it seemed like one of those books you had to read. One of those books that was juicy and just plain bad. I don¿t mean bad because of the way it was written but bad because it was about drugs and the party lifestyle. Come on what high school kid doesn¿t want to know about drugs and there influences. But when I started reading the book I realized there was more to it then just meth. It was about Nic recovery and his constant battle with crystal meth. How hard it was for him to live his life like a normal twenty one year old and how his past reflected upon his future. I mean how he grew up so fast and instead of confronting his problems he turned to drug abuse. I mean putting anything into his body that he could. It made me realize how hard it is to just stop using drugs and moving on. Like they say once you have tried the drug and experience the high it offers you will be craving for it for the rest of your life. Personally I really enjoyed this book and it opened my eyes to how bad it could be, if you chose drugs instead of a normal life. It was interesting reading this book because it was written uniquely and shared every aspect of Nic life. I really could not put the book down till I finish. Defiantly, one of those tear jerking books without the sappy love story behind it. There is a little bit of something for every type of reader.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Incredible story; painfully graphic.

An incredible story of addiction, healing and relapse. Tweak is painfully graphic, taking the reader through the darkest back alleys of drug addiction. This book should raise awareness that addiction is a powerful disease, and that addicts who fight it are brave, brave souls.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

More readable on drugs/ Irony?

I initially picked up this book because it was featured on an endcap at a local bookstore. I thought it might be an interesting tale of a child growing up on meth. Well, it is about meth addiction (among others) yet the term "growing up" is a bit misleading as it seems like he was well into his teens before picking up hard drugs. Instead it's basically about a privileged kid who has depression and unresolved issues because his mother and father got divorced when he was little, so he turned to drugs.

Mildly entertaining at best, this book is filled with undeveloped, ineffectual ideas, confusing flashbacks and a lot of name dropping and supposed celebrities that he is friends with. He tells us nothing of his childhood or what his worst times were really like. Also, there was a lack of real insight into addiction of self-understanding. But most irritating has to be his sub-par writing skills and his multiple mentions of what a talented writer he is and how other people think he is too (say nothing of just being a really gifted, amazing person?). It is bothersome when people are "artists" because they call themselves such. It seems to me that he is just another one of those people who have the right connections (his parents and everyone else in the book are successful famous writers/artists) because of where they grew up and who their mommy and daddy are, and get published. Meanwhile, there are people who have real talent and are struggling to get their work in print. Nothing personal, it just seems that this book with its questionable story and construction might not have been published otherwise. Maybe if he worked harder on the craft of writing and story-telling this book might not seem like such a hackneyed joke.

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

A twisted life of an addict

In the novel ¿Tweak: Growing up on methamphetamines¿ the author, Nic Sheff, takes the reader on a journey through an addiction to crystal meth, heroin, cocaine and a number of many other substances. Throughout Nic¿s whole childhood and years as a young adult, Nic always felt he could quit whenever he felt he wanted too. Though after a violent relapse in California, Nic shortly realized that it wasn¿t the case, and that help was most defiantly needed. The message the reader is supposed get from this book is that drugs are extremely scary and dangerous. Any substance can ruin the relationship between family and friends, and Nic does a good job showing the reader just what can happen to a relationship. Some of the pros on the novel are that it can give all non- drug users a reason not to use, and it can scare a drug user and convince a person not to smoke, drink, or shoot up. Throughout the whole novel the reader is watching Nic try and beat the physical and mental depths of an addiction; an extremely heartbreaking thing to watch, scaring the reader with a mental picture that is quite difficult to imagine. The cons about ¿Tweak¿, is that after awhile it is no surprise that Nic has relapsed, or that Nic has lost yet another job. It is simply just a life story about Nic¿s addiction, meaning, whenever a new conflict comes up, there is no surprise on how it is resolved. This novel is very informational, and shows the reader just what life is like as a homeless, drug addict, and a struggling young adult trying desperately to get back on track. Also, if the book ¿Tweak¿ was appealing, try the Novel ¿Beautiful Boy¿, a novel about addiction through a parent¿s eye. Overall, out of five, ¿Tweak¿ deserves four and a half ¿hits¿.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

like a great sequel

if you read his dad's book, then you have to read this!! i truly enjoyed this it just filled in the peices perfectly to 'a beautiful boy'

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Life changing

This book is incredible. I am a twenty year old recovering addict who always sees failure of sobriety. Finally someone leys it all make sense and how you can fight the disease. I want every addict to read this and understand that there is more to life than getting high

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book focuses on the life of Nic Sheff who has experimented

This book focuses on the life of Nic Sheff who has experimented with many drugs throughout his life and his road to recovery. He started abusing alcohol and smoking weed when he was just eleven years old. His use soon moved on to drugs like cocaine and ecstasy. Later in his life he becomes a heavy user of heroin and crystal meth. He has this thought in his head that his life is better when using and he can get clean to get more money for drugs whenever he wants. One summer he has his worst relapse ever and almost ends up dead. He gets to the point where even very large doses of meth mixed with heroin won't get him high anymore. One morning he wakes up sick, sweaty, shaking, and puking on the floor of his girlfriends parent's house. He calls up and old friend and seeks help. This time things are different and he managed to stay clean and follow through with his twelve step program and keep a job. Drug abuse is obviously a major theme in this book and Nic talks about all the bad experiences he had while on meth and heroin. His message is to show the world the truth about the life of a tweaker and also that it is possible to recover and start a better life although it is extremely hard. I think this is a great book to read if you're interested in learning about the life of a heavy drug user. He doesn't hold back on anything and is very blunt an honest about the things that happened to him and the horrible things he would do just to get high. He talks about everything from selling drugs himself to prostituting himself to other men in exchange for drugs. I love his style of writing -- slightly like a diary, easy to read, and very in depth and honest. There is not one part of the book that I didn't like. If you like this book then I would recommend Crank or any other book by Ellen Hopkins. Although Her books are fiction and Nic's story is non-fiction, they both write about similar topics and similar styles.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

You find yourself addicted

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I never was able to put it down. Following Nic in his struggles and journeys was utterly fascinating and strengthening. I found myself addicted to Nic Sheff and his words.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Book

this book is mostly told in a conversational tone, but it is very well written and he gets the point across. i loved it. he has another book coming out sometime in april '11, We All Fall Down. i am looking forward to reading that a lot!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A brutally honest journey

In this gut wrenching memoir Nick Sheff, a young confused boy tells with brutal honesty the very dark journey of his methamphetamine addiction. After drinking for the first time when he was a child, Nick knew there was something different about him. This story tells about the dramatic lengths Nick went to, to support this addiction and his almost impossible road to recovery. This is one of the better books I've read for many reasons one being the way Nick is a very relatable person. Nick grew up the way many of us do with divorced parents, but parents who really loved and cared for him. His constant need for approval from his family and friends show his lack of self esteem and how that was the main cause of his downfall. From prostitution, to stealing from his own younger siblings Nick tells about the harsh reality of being a drug addict. Nick gives a great insight to what it's like to be homeless and hopeless to the point where you have nowhere else to go but up. I believe this book could help anyone through a tough time drugs or no drugs.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of the best books I've ever read

I am completely serious when I say that. This book is so real and powerful and heartwrenching. I started crying when I was reading it. This book is so moving and good. I recommend it to everyon. Guys and Girls.
People need to be aware of how bad drugs are and how they affect your life negatively and perminately in most cases.

Read this!
It is worth every bit of your time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable

I really liked this book. I thought he did a good job of detailing his life as a meth junkie. I also his dad's book after this one and it was interesting to see the different perspectives of the same events. His dad's book contains not only his struggle, but a lot of information about meth. I learned a lot and also felt an array of emotion. It is a good read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is miraculous , its amazing. Once i started to read it

This book is miraculous , its amazing. Once i started to read it i couldnt but it down.His story is brilliant and insightful .Nic tells the real truth and nothing but it . I found his story inspiring ,his journey to overcoming drugs,alcohol,etc is exhilarating and exciting .I look foward to reading his other books .

Gotta read it!

I am not the addict one, but want to understand why some people like my bestfriend took this kind of path. I understand even clearer than ever before. Drug is something not to be messed with, but it all depends on the life they live. Hope for the best for Nic Sheff.

Tweak

Hauntingly perfect.

Nic is a fantastic writer. The writing is raw, real, passionate,

Nic is a fantastic writer. The writing is raw, real, passionate, and thought-provoking. This book is a rollercoaster. When Nic does well, you can't help but smile because he seems to have overcome addiction. But when he falls back into drugs you can't help but root for him to pull through his relapse. I will be reading his next book soon.

This was worse then even my journey to recovery

Hey wht is the bestest part of this book?reply back :@bestest

First Memior Tweak, by Nic Sheiff is an inspiring memoir about a

First Memior
Tweak, by Nic Sheiff is an inspiring memoir about a man who over comes his drug addiction to crystal meth, heroin, crack, and other drugs. After a dangerous relapse in San Francisco, California, Nic decided to get help and to change his life around. With the help of his sponsor, he gets the help he needs until he falls in love with another addict named Zelda. Together they relapse and watch their lives spin out of control. With strength and determination Nic decides it time to stick to the program for a healthier life and defeats his addiction.
I give this book four stars because it was very inspiring to read about a man who even though it seemed like all hope for him is lost, he defeats his dangerous addiction and become healthy. This book is extremely explicit, however this is to better describe what the author endured during his drug altered lifestyle. This book is intriguing and heart wrenching and needs to be read.

Great book

Had me crying

A journey through addiction

This is one of the most powerful books i have ever read. The pages were images of a life on the edge of death. With the fathers companion book Beautiful Boy it is a hard journey to follow. This is a must read for anyone, the pain and realness is something human kind can relate too.