Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction is a memoir written by David Sheff about his family’s journey through their son’s methamphetamine addiction, published in 2008. It was based on The New York Times Magazine article “My Addicted Son” that Sheff wrote in 2005. The book has been adapted into a film directed by Felix van Groeningen and stars Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet as Sheff and his son Nic Sheff respectively.
The book focuses on Nic’s life since childhood from Sheff’s point of view chronicling moments that might have contributed to his drug problem. Sheff partially blames his shortcomings in being a father and husband to Nic’s mother as contributing factors. Though he engages in Al-Anon Meetings that aim to stress the three C’s of did not cause, cannot control, and cure, Sheff still struggles with his powerlessness on the issue. It accounts for the years that Nic developed the drug problem as he recovers and relapses time and time again. The book highlights the helplessness that a parent feels towards their child’s drug addiction after giving their all.
Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines is a follow-up to the book written by Nic Sheff that accounts the story of his drug addiction from his perspective. Beautiful Boy has become both a commercial and critical success topping the New York Times Best Sellers List. Mary Pipher of Reviving Ophelia stated, “When one of us tells the truth, he makes it easier for all of us to open our hearts to our own pain and that of others.’ That’s ultimately what Beautiful Boy is about: truth and healing.”
