One Book One County

The “One Book, One County” committee has selected the book for the 2009 county-wide “book club”. The program encourages adults in Sweetwater County to read and discuss the book with friends, in book clubs, in library programs, or other locations. The book is “Beautiful Boy, A Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction”, a memoir by David Sheff, a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Outside, Rolling Stone, Wired, Fortune, and elsewhere. It was published in 2008. Sheff and his family live in Inverness, California.
“Beautiful Boy” grew out of a piece Sheff wrote for The New York Times titled “My Addicted Son” which won an award from the American Psychological Association for “Outstanding Contribution to Advancing the Understanding of Addiction”. Sheff’s story tells of his teenage son’s addiction to meth in this real-time chronicle of the shocking descent into substance abuse and the family’s gradual emergence into hope.
The official launch of One Book, One County 2009 is Wednesday, January 28. The committee also selected a companion book by Sheff’s son Nic Sheff titled “Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines”. The books are currently available for check-out at the libraries for three weeks with no renewals. “Beautiful Boy” is also available as an eAudio book on the Library System’s web page. Details about book discussions, panel discussions and other activities will be announced in mid-February. A blog on the Library System’s web page is underway to keep readers informed about upcoming events. The URL is http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.
The committee selected the book because of the prevalence of substance abuse in Wyoming and Sweetwater County. Committee members felt that the book could increase awareness of substance abuse and how families and relationships are affected by a loved one’s addiction. Panel discussions dealing with addiction, recovery, community impact and prevention are planned.
Expanding on his New York Times Magazine article, Sheff chronicles his son’s downward spiral into addiction and the impact on him and his family. A bright, capable teenager, Nic began trying mind- and mood-altering substances when he was 17. In months, use became abuse, and abuse became addiction. By the time Sheff knew of his son’s condition, Nic was strung out on meth. While his son struggles to get clean, his second wife and two younger children are affected. Sheff, as the parent of an addict, cycles through denial and acceptance and resistance. The author includes hard, solid facts about meth and the kinds of havoc it wreaks on individuals, families and communities. “Beautiful Boy” is a straightforward, heartbreaking yet honest look at the impact of addiction on families.
One Book, One County 2009 is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, Western Wyoming Community College, Sweetwater County Library Foundation and Southwest Counseling Service with support from the Rock Springs area Community Foundation, and Sweetwater BOCES. The One Book, One County committee is coordinated by the Sweetwater County Library System. It is a collaborative committee represented by librarians, teachers, Western Wyoming Community College and interested partners. Members are Leslie Davies, Julie Farr, Janice Grover-Roosa, Jon Harwood, Marcia Hensley, Paul Holland, Connie Hollin, Dave Kathka, and Vicki Roth.

-Vicki Roth