Beautiful Boy

The book Beautiful Boy by David Sheff is about a memoir about a father’s journey through his son’s drug addiction, and how he tries to help his son, Nic. In this book, it’s kind of a comparison on how Nic used to be before meth and he started using meth. This story may have needed Nic’s thoughts through out the book. I think it would have been interesting to show Nic’s side of the fight through this book.

         In this book, Sheff talks about his son’s on going therapy and drug use. He talks about how different therapists had helped his son change for a period of time. He had said that one therapist had Nic feeling good about him self and signing him up for teams, strengthening his school work. He tells of the conversations he had with Nic and that helps the reader imagine the kind of boy Nic is. For example, reading about Nic and knowing about his childhood my thoughts have come to this: Nic is a fun loving boy, wants to excel at school, and wants to maintain responsibilities. But why did he get arrested? Why was he in rehab? Addiction, as I have learned is a scary thing. I'm guessing that stopping is hard, the wanting to stop but you can’t seem to push yourself to stop. It feels that way with my use of internet. I can never get bored. I can for hours on end without having to stop. Nic’s addiction is probably the feeling meth gives to you. Addiction is something people turn their nose at but no one ever really knows the hardship of it. I feel worried for Nic as the book progresses.  Sheff has given me several thoughts on this problem all by giving me detail into Nic’s life.

       You wonder about Nic, about this addiction he has. It makes me think of what he was thinking that gotten him into this mess. Was it peer pressure or was it curiosity?  This is why I think the book, as amazing as it is, should also have Nic’s point of view. What did he feel when was forced into rehab would good to know. I want to how this compromised his close relationship to his father, step mom, and his half siblings. And what about his other set of parents? It seemed to me that David was paying, working hard for all of Nic’s treatments. Did Nic not tell his mom on purpose, scared to tell her? Honestly, maybe knowing how nic felt, why he acted the way he acted, gives some insight on his struggles, and battles.

       This book challenges one to see how a small decision can change our way of life and how it affects the future. It shows us not to give up on someone, because the outcome of your support just may be successes in the end.