The First Pages Book

Beautiful Boy Book Cover

We are pleased to announce the Fall 2009 First Pages book Beautiful Boy by David Sheff.

What had happened to my beautiful boy? To our family? What did I do wrong?

Those are the wrenching questions that haunted every moment of David Sheff's journey through his son Nic's addiction to drugs and tentative steps toward recovery. Before Nic Sheff became addicted to crystal meth he was a charming boy, joyous and funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and lived on the streets. David Sheff traces the first subtle warning signs: the denial, the 3 A.M. phone calls (is it Nic? the police? the hospital?), the rehabs. His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself, and the obsessive worry and stress took a tremendous toll. But as a journalist, he instinctively researched every avenue of treatment that might save his son and refused to give up on Nic.

Beautiful Boy is a fiercely candid memoir that brings immediacy to the emotional rollercoaster of loving a child who seems beyond help.

David Sheff will be visiting Northeastern University on Thursday September 10, 2009 to speak to the incoming class and larger University community.

Students may purchase a copy of the book from the University Bookstore at a 20% discount beginning June 22, 2009. The book is also available at most retailers.