The Adderall Diaries

A Memoir of Moods, Masochism, and Murder

De: Stephen Elliott

Narrado por: Jason Butler Harner

In the spring of 2007, a brilliant computer programmer named Hans Reiser stands accused of murdering his estranged wife, Nina. Despite a mountain of circumstantial evidence against him, he proclaims his innocence. The case takes a twist when Nina’s former lover, and Hans’s former best friend, Sean Sturgeon, confesses to eight unrelated murders that no one has ever heard of. At the time of Sturgeon’s confession, Stephen Elliot is paralyzed by writer’s block, in the thrall of Adderall dependency, and despondent over the state of his romantic life. But he is fascinated by Sturgeon, whose path he has often crossed in San Francisco’s underground S&M scene. What kind of person, he wonders, confesses to a murder he likely did not commit? One answer is, perhaps, a man like Elliott’s own father.

©2009 Stephen Elliott (P)2012 Recorded Books

Not for everyone!!!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It is and yes I plan to when it comes out.

Any additional comments?

This book is not for everyone. Once I got into the story I did enjoy it. This book gives an accurate portrayal of someone with ADD. It will talk about 1 thing then goes off in another direction, sometimes hard to keep track of the time period ur in. (Past or present)
As for the narrator, I think he too sounds like someone with ADD. Kind of drones on, but he is not hard to listen to or boring like u might think.
As for the sexual stuff in the book, it's kind of disturbing, but I think ties in well with this book.
In conclusion , not for everyone but worth a credit.

It’s called Adderall Diaries but Adderall is rarely mentioned

I was looking for an addiction memoir or even just a book about prescription medication abuse: this is neither. The author mentions that he takes 10mg of Adderall at times in the book and that’s it.

Adderall aint cocaine 🙄

Alright, here we go, another book claiming Adderall’s basically cocaine for soccer moms. If you’re here for a decent take on that, just read Addicted to Perfect. But if you don’t have ADD, here’s a tip: don’t bother with Adderall. I’ve got ADD, take it every day—no big deal, no ‘life-shattering addiction,’ just me and my 30 mg XL keeping it together, you know?

The book kicks off with an intro where the guy’s got this paranoid vibe about his dad—might have killed someone, might just be a guy who looks like he’s killed someone. Who knows? And then… that goes nowhere. The plot just sorta wanders, and before you know it, he’s on about his own life—twist, it’s him, not his dad. Oh, and he’s into S&M too, so yeah, things get a little weird.

Then, out of nowhere, there’s this trial. And I think, ‘Alright, now we’re talking!’ But no, it’s not real. The trial’s fictional, but the book is labeled a ‘memoir,’ which is… you know, confusing. Sometimes he says he snorts Adderall, which, yeah, that’s technically possible, but there are easier ways to use a pill. Anyway, terrible pacing, just drags on. Not my kinda book, but hey, maybe it’s yours.

And look, I get it—writing a book’s no easy feat, so respect for that. But his ‘big addiction’ is taking one 25 mg XL? Come on. Real addicts out there are throwing back, like, 375 mg in a day. Thanks to folks like that, those of us who actually need it have to jump through hoops just to get a prescription.

The big finale: he meets his dad, who’s a total douche. And at this point, all I wanted to know was if the guy had killed those three people. But nope, that question’s left hanging.

Anyway, not for me. Good narration, though.

Interesting book, though not for everyone

What did you love best about The Adderall Diaries?

I liked the view into a world I don't normally see, the author's clever connections and imagery, and his use of short, choppy passages, like one would expect from someone with ADD. I liked the story, but there was a lot left out and in the end it felt unfinished, like the author's life.

What three words best describe Jason Butler Harner’s voice?

Somewhat bored. Monotone. But I think he was trying to convey the deadened or numb feeling the author was trying to convey. The author writes with seen-it-all detachment, and I think the vocals were meant to portray that.

Any additional comments?

This is a reasonably good book and will read another by the author to see if he uses the same repeatitive themes, or whether he explores new ground.

Absolutely terrible!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This book is terrible! My 7 yr could write a better book! So disappointed! I really should give no stars!

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen Elliott again?

No

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jason Butler Harner?

No one

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Adderall Diaries?

Everyone

Any additional comments?

This book was just terrible!

Captivating

Thought provoking emotionally raw. Philosophical, introspective and self facing. avoids using excessively grapic depictions of abuse and sexual encounters for shock value.

Not what I expected

Well I can say it wasn't what I expected maybe somebody's cuppa tea but just not mine you have a