The Heroin Diaries: 10 Year Anniversary Edition: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx
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Summary
In honor of the ten-year anniversary of The Heroin Diaries, Nikki Sixx's definitive and bestselling memoir on drug addiction is reissued with exclusive new content. This shocking, gripping, and at times darkly hilarious memoir explores Nikki's yearlong war with a vicious heroin addiction. Now more than ever, with opioid addiction ravaging our country and rising by twenty percent in the past year alone, Nikki's story of both his descent into drug-addled decay and subsequent recovery and transition into a rehabilitation advocate are now more relevant than ever.
As a parent with a son who battles with heroin addiction, it was truly heartening to witness the inspiring journey of triumph depicted in 'The Heroin Diaries: 10 Year Anniversary Edition: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star'. It serves as a powerful reminder that there is hope for those experiencing such a harrowing ordeal.
I really enjoyed it. The writing was honest and raw. It takes a lot of courage to share such personal details with the public. When we have faith in something bigger than ourselves, it allows us to break free from our struggles. Great work, Sixx...
This diary based on real life is an absolute must-read (or must-listen). If you're thinking about getting this book, don't hesitate any longer and just go for it. I guarantee you won't be let down!
Writing and sharing this story must have been a truly challenging endeavor for Nikki. I admire Nikki's courage in opening up about their experiences, especially considering that I have a loved one who battles addiction. Reading this book has provided me with valuable insight into the complexities of addiction and the powerful grip it has on individuals. I am sincerely grateful to Nikki for shedding light on this topic.
As a fan of Crue, I've always admired Nikki, but this book truly resonated with me and elevated him to hero status. Having lost my husband to an overdose, this book helped me gain a deeper understanding of the harsh realities of addiction and the lasting impact of childhood trauma on an individual. I am immensely grateful that Nikki had the courage to share his story, regardless of how raw and unflattering it may be. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone.
I was blown away by the raw honesty in this book. It offers a glimpse into the human side of a man whom I've always regarded as a rock god, but never truly understood his pain. It resonates with anyone who has experienced a haunting childhood that has deeply impacted their life, leading them to spiral down a dark path. It also speaks to those who have struggled with addiction or loved someone who is an addict, shedding light on their actions and helping them make sense of it all. This book is a powerful read for individuals in therapy who feel stuck and need that extra push to move forward. While it was difficult to read at times, knowing that it is a true story, I couldn't put it down because I was eager to reach the part where he finds happiness and emerges from the darkness. The bravery displayed in this book, as the author confronts his own demons and acknowledges his deepest flaws, was truly impactful and inspired me to strive to be a better version of myself. Above all, it reminded me not to dwell on the past and encouraged me to fully embrace the present. This book exceeded my expectations and provided me with so much more than I anticipated. It was exactly what I needed.
I've been reading it repeatedly ever since I got clean... Whenever I'm battling my inner demons, I turn to this book and it reminds me that I'm not alone...
Let me start off by talking about the audio quality. Listening to Sixx narrate his own story was absolutely incredible. I really enjoy it when authors read their own memoirs or biographies. However, I have to give this audiobook a rating of 2 stars because the female voiceover was absolutely terrible. It was honestly disgraceful to have such a poorly done voiceover.
Moving on to the book itself:
I want to begin by discussing my expectations. As a huge Motley Crue fan, I decided to read this book. I first discovered their music when I was 12 years old, and I've been a fan ever since. Over the years, I've followed their journey and knew about the drugs, the drinking, and all the other notorious and negative things associated with the band. But I was curious about this book. Despite not being an addict or alcoholic myself, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to relate or that I would learn things I didn't really want to know. And unfortunately, I was correct on both counts.
In terms of literary value, this book falls short. It reads more like a diary with contributions from people whom Nikki Sixx wronged along the way. I had to adjust my expectations accordingly.
I was truly shocked by the extent of Nikki Sixx's struggles, as well as those of the other members of Motley Crue and their fellow musicians. I had no idea things were so bad. In fact, I was actually quite angry for the first part of the book. I had saved up my allowance in a piggy bank to buy every magazine, record, and concert ticket I could get my hands on. I worked odd jobs and even babysat, which I absolutely hated. I worked hard for that money, and it was essentially flushed down the drain in the form of heroin.
Eventually, I let go of that feeling and experienced another unexpected emotion: disgust. The way women were treated (although many of them willingly accepted and even sought out that treatment, which made me angry with them as well) was shocking. Nikki Sixx's view of women during that time was terrible. And the fans didn't seem to matter either. So, that angered me as well.
But eventually, I moved past my personal emotions and started to empathize with Nikki and his life. He is brutally honest in this book, which left me feeling quite disgusted. I almost felt like I needed to take a shower after reading it.
The diary entries continue for quite a while, and they become repetitive and boring. As a reader, I longed for more substance. However, I had to remind myself that this is, after all, a diary. I found Nikki Sixx to be a bit arrogant. As a fan, it was difficult for me to reconcile how much I loved them with how much they seemed to hate themselves. It was a challenging concept for me to grasp. They were so unlikable at a time when I adored them.
One thing about reading memoirs is that you often learn things that you didn't expect. And sometimes, those things can be good or bad. In this case, it's definitely sad. It's incredibly sad. And it's not just one shattered rock star, but everyone in the industry. I felt a deep sense of sadness and frustration. Did I mention how sad it was?
I also want to mention that family can be disappointing at times. Nikki Sixx certainly wasn't the only child who had a rough upbringing. However, that is not an excuse for turning to drugs and becoming sexist. He may have changed now, but when he was high, he was definitely a sexist. That was hurtful too. Many of us have experienced betrayal from a parent but didn't go down that same path. This book explains why he got hooked on drugs and why he stayed that way. Addiction always has its roots somewhere.
I truly hope that Nikki Sixx remains sober. I genuinely do. This book is a sorrowful read. It's raw, explicit, infuriating, and it encompasses a wide range of emotions. I admire how he has turned his life around, and I hope he continues on that path.
Motley Crue wasn't exactly my cup of tea back in the 80s when I was around 11 years old and getting into bands that actually knew how to play their instruments. However, I picked up this "diary" with the hopes that it would provide some valuable insight as a social worker with addiction experience. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. It's clear that Nikki Sixx is willing to do anything for a buck, even if it means glorifying his own terrible behavior through a retrofitted diary. The entries supposedly from the past are filled with cliché AA jargon and shallow psychology. The story itself is repetitive and comes off as whiny. Sixx claims to be a heroin addict, but he seems to use the terms heroin and coke interchangeably, which doesn't quite add up. I've never known anyone dependent on opioids who wouldn't have a much worse withdrawal experience with cocaine involved. The whole book feels inauthentic. If it had been written as a retrospective with Sixx offering genuine insight, it could have been a worthwhile endeavor. Unfortunately, even the reflective passages from the early 2000s lack any real depth or introspection. "Junkie," which Sixx claims to have read during that time, provides a much more genuine portrayal of someone struggling with opioid use disorder.
On a side note, considering all the talented musicians and great music that Sixx mentions in this book, you would think that their influence would rub off on his own "art." Surprisingly, it doesn't.
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