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"Skate, drugs, and rock n roll!" -Kat Von D, LA Ink
Skateboarding used to be my life. When I was fourteen years old, I was discovered by Bucky Lasek and Tony Hawk and was on my way to turning pro. I toured the country, signed autographs, and had my photo in skate magazines. Then I got hooked on heroin and threw it all away.
Soon I was living in an abandoned garage and begging for spare change. Ripping off my family and friends meant nothing to me. I was a dreamseller, pushing the fantasy that I was a recovering addict. Anything to get my precious next fix.
This is my story of struggling to survive on the streets and battling with addiction in rehab. It's a story of trust I betrayed and trust I had to earn back. It's also the story of my friendship with MTV and Jackass star Bam Margera. I would have died a junkie's death if not for him. Bam convinced me to write about how my addiction destroyed my career-and nearly my life.
"Entertaining, shocking, crazy, unimaginable." -Bam Margera
With 24 pages of photos.
Brandon Novak is an actor, TV personality, radio show host (on Radio Bam, Sirius Faction 28), author, and former pro skateboarder. He currently resides in Baltimore.
Joseph Frantz is a film producer, cinematographer, and media personality. He lives in Philadelphia.
As a teen, Novak joined the premiere skateboarding team and toured the world. Unfortunately, he also indulged in "recreational" drug use that led to debilitating heroin addiction and the abandonment of his career. Eventually repudiating the abject life of a junkie, he entered rehab and subsequently recovered with the help of fellow star skateboarder Bam Margera. This would be most powerful for an audience weaned on the X-Games; also a forthcoming film of the same name.-Lynne Maxwell
Anonymous
Posted October 3, 2008
This book is fantastic! I am already on chapter 23 and I got the book two days ago!!! I got sucked in so fast! I dont want the book to end!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kyle13
Posted February 25, 2009
I'm a 15 year old skateboarder who has witnessed the fall of other skaters due to drugs. Before I read this book I just thought Novak was just another dumb person on Viva La Bam. Once i read this my mind changed, this guy had it all at one point and threw it all away just for some drugs. This book has definately inspired me to make sure that this doesnt happen to anyone i know that may get caught up in something like this and overall help myself avoid the situations that could come along. I recommend this book to anyone no matter what, its an amazing book and shows how life really is.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 4, 2008
The book was pretty honest, much more than I expected. I was so captivated by the book that I read it in one evening, not able to put the book down, even when parts of the story really horrified me.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 8, 2008
Cant wait till this book come out i bet its going to be one of the best ive read in a while
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 3, 2012
This book is so amazing it really helped me through alot of things
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.2205357
Posted August 13, 2011
If your thinking about buying this book please do. Beautifully written with an honest voice that not many books have. The contents of this book are shocking but well worth the money.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 29, 2011
The book was so good that i want more! The book was great at describing how he felt in all the situations he was in...i ciuld picture it all in my head. Overall.....a must read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.9071187
Posted February 15, 2011
this book provides a detailed look into the life of an addict who once hadit all snd threw it all away for lifetime of heroin addiction. -Jrohl
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jadesbooks
Posted February 23, 2010
I think this may be one of the better books about drug addiction that I have read lately. Brandon Novak is not really famous, but he is not just some random person either. He had a very promising career in the skateboarding world at a young age, but he blew it. All of his money, his fame, his talent ... all on drugs. He also had a chance to make a comeback with the help of some friends, doing small bits in some of Bam Margera's movies, and in the silly - often crazy - stunts of the Jackass crew, but he blew that chance on drugs as well.
In this book, Brandon Novak let the reader take a look at his life, and where things all went wrong and how he had almost destroyed every relationship in his life. It's very easy to read, almost like a novel, and when I was finished, I wanted more. This has been a book that has stuck with me for the past month since I finished it, and I keep thinking about it.
SpknDfrntVoices
Posted December 14, 2009
I never read books unless it's something that really catches my attention and I can really get in absorbed in. I love all the Viva La Bam guys and I have all the seasons of everything there in and that's how I found out about this book. I just thought "Hey why not, what could it hurt?" So I ordered this book and once I started reading it I couldn't stop. It is an amazing book about things people actually go through, about a struggle Brandon Novak went through to get out of a drug addiction. The oddest thing about it is that this guy doesnt even write books but I thjink he did an awesome job. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone who might be interested.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.this was one of the best books i have read...i could not put it down..i have never done drugs or wanted to but my father had a problem and this gives anyone that has never lived this life a raw look into the world..i cant wait to see the movie...A++++
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.i am 13 and bought the book because i have always loved novak,i first heard about the addiction on bams radio station and didn't take it very seriously until there was a book about it.it truly is a great book and teaches you to stick to your dreams and not do anything stupid to mess your life up.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I bought this book for my son when he expressed an interest in reading about one of the characters that was in some of the shows he watches on skateboarding, etc. He read it in record time for him as he really doesn't like to read that much. He was very impressed even though he is only 13 years old and he says mom you should read this. I saw how it affected him so I read it for myself. What a great book to educate kids on how drugs can ruin your career and your life and to just how low a drug user will sink to get his fix. It also shows that rehab can't always save everyone even after they have been clean for a long time. This was written on a level that teens to adults can read and get something from. It should be required reading for all teens as it illustrates what can happen to anyone if they follow the wrong path.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 20, 2009
I'm a huge fan of Brandon Novak but i never knew how hard he struggled with his addiction. This book inspired me to achieve my goals and never to give up hope in them. Some of it was very shocking to me that he had giving up his carrier for heroin.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.this book is so good and so sad i cry everytime i read on the next page and just cant stop if you havent read it yet you have to Novak needs to write more
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 1, 2008
I'm a really big fan of Brandon Novak, and when i found out this book was coming out i was excited, but when i read the book i thought that's it? I still loved the book it was great i just wish Novak wrote more.
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Posted August 20, 2009
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Posted March 10, 2011
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Posted January 9, 2009
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Posted August 1, 2009
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Overview
"Skate, drugs, and rock n roll!" -Kat Von D, LA Ink
Skateboarding used to be my life. When I was fourteen years old, I was discovered by Bucky Lasek and Tony Hawk and was on my way to turning pro. I toured the country, signed autographs, and had my photo in skate magazines. Then I got hooked on heroin and threw it all away.
Soon I was living in an abandoned garage and begging for spare change. Ripping off my family and friends meant nothing to me. I was a dreamseller, pushing the fantasy that I was a recovering addict. Anything to get my precious next fix.
This is my story of ...