Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo by Benjamin DeHaven

by Benjamin DeHaven

A funny, audacious, and devastating work of fiction loosely based on factual events. Some readers laughed, some cried, some were disgusted, and other’s felt they had gazed into the eyes of God. As much a comedy as a tragedy, “Confessions stands out to as a piece of unique literature that should be remembered for its originality as much as for its actual relevance as a mantra for living life in today’s harsh reality.” AJ KlatchD. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, MBR (Midwest Book Review) wrote, “Add to this dose of autobiography a series of revelations that systematically show how darkness enters a common man's soul and how it twists motivation to ultimately foster deceptive practices and you have a satisfying blend of autobiography, journal entries, and insights into not just one man's obsession, but the psychological trappings of the self-help industry as a whole. Eye-opening (even eye-popping, at points) and involving, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer reads like a thriller but is true life confession at its best.”Everyone has a friend that can't be counted on. Someone who will never take you to the airport, remember your birthday or pay back that $40 you lent them for gas money. In the case of Michael Enzo, he's all those things, plus he's more likely to punch your Mom in the face than show up anywhere sober. At that truth alone you may have made your judgment of him and you wouldn't be wrong. His pension for drugs, booze and prostitution is matched by none. He's experienced every kind of joy, pain and emotion by living fast, loose and irresponsibly. He's made all the mistakes that would ruin most people. However, the funny thing is that Enzo has saved more people through his over 108-self-help books than Mother Teresa and Gandhi combined. If the writer inside him was his own person he'd be the kind of friend you think fondly of when overcoming the worst life has to offer. You'd thank him for giving you the hope to persevere. "Confessions of a Self Help The Journal of Michael Enzo," is a glimpse into the psyche of one of the world's most profound advisors. A man who has broken every promise he has ever made, yet has somehow tricked the unknowing public into thinking he is someone to revere. Author, Benjamin DeHaven, a professed "former friend" of Enzo hopes to shed some light on the reality behind this mysterious self-help guru. Through excerpts from Enzo's books and pages taken directly from his personal journal we the reader discover a Quixotic adventurer who admits freely to both lurid depravity and emotional complexity. This journal may be the only evidence on earth that proves many of the tales, fables and legends that this enigmatic entity left behind. Unfortunately until Enzo resurfaces it may be easier to assume that even his personal journal is deceitful. He lied to everyone else in his life, so it's reasonable to think he lied to himself too. Benjamin DeHaven publishes excerpts from this journal knowing full well that he is risking the foulest of vengeance by outing the Enzo lies.Who is Michael Enzo? You certainly haven't heard of him. As previously mentioned he has written over 108-self-help books. That's more published work than Agatha Christie, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. As DeHaven writes, only 54 of these books are directly attributed to Enzo. Almost his entire canon was published under the names of movie stars, politicians and business leaders. There are rumors abound that no less than 2 of the world's ten wealthiest men are said to have used Enzo as a ghost-writer. In my extensive research, I couldn't find a single person who willingly admitted to knowing Enzo, let alone that he wrote a book for them. I feel it imperative to opine that to me many of those people were obviously lying. Conversely, in interviews with readers of Enzo's many books, I encountered glowing remarks. Many of whom attribute their status in life to his words. None of those readers cared for a minute that the famous names appearing on their books were not the actual portents of such sage advice.What did Enzo write about in his journal? If you've been helped by any of his books then you probably don't want to find out. If you want to know the truth (or his version of it) then you'll get a glimpse of someone most easily classified as a psychopath. Enzo wrote self-help books purely for profit. Hypocrite isn't a strong enough word to describe him. Michael recounts drug deals, catastrophic gambling losses, molestation of Virginia Ham, defiling the bathroom habits of cats and dogs alike, abandoning friends in need, sympathizing with underage prostitutes, supernatural proclivities in dorm rooms and the deaths of the closest of friends, some of whom he didn't even know. The confession that is most upsetting is that he would fall back on his tremendous talent, writing self-help, only as a last act to pay his debtors and ridiculous lifestyle.Benjamin DeHaven is also a recurring character in Enzo's stories and it's easy to unders...

Genres: Self Help

Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

#1 Most Wished-For Books I Don't Believe It!

A Graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Benjamin DeHaven keeps his heart in Chicago and his soul in New Orleans. He holds a MBA from Tulane and a film degree from Columbia. Once ejected from a community college for arguing Frost cried out for acceptance in Birches, he has since written screenplays, traded futures in Madrid, and was Editor in Chief of the Nola Shopper Newspaper, a free art newspaper and the 2nd largest monthly paper in the New Orleans, MSA. . He also has a "shout out" in a Jay "Z" Song.

DeHaven, who currently resides in Las Vegas began his writing career with Stone United, a Chicago based Film Company, which works primarily in independent film. As an unknown fiction writer, he feels the best description of himself, is a sarcastic one and is as follows:

Benjamin W. DeHaven was born on a pool table after a Waylon Jennings’ concert in 1977. His personal success is outweighed only by his stunning good looks and adherence to unwritten moral guidelines. He has been described as a thinking man’s Tucker Max as well as an idiot’s Hunter S. Thompson. His goal is to die from an unwavering commitment to be more like Hemingway.
He and Michael Enzo were friends.

https://bdehaven.com

Reviews

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.

When I was asked if I wanted to give this book a read for an up-coming blog tour, I really wasn't sure. I have this thing for self-help books (a not-so-secret passion) and comedy/satire is an iffy thing for me - sometimes I find it hilarious and sometimes I find no humor in it at all. After thinking about it for a few days, I decided to give it a try ... and I'm glad that I did.

This book was funny, in an odd-funny sort of way. And at the same time, it made you think - about the self-help genre as a whole AND about your own personal issues as you read through a journal that Enzo kept, a journal that was turned over to DeHaven by Enzo's wife after his disappearance. I like when authors use the "journal" as a way of writing their story. I feel like, if done correctly, it really allows you to get a deeper understanding of the character that's writing because everyone shares more with their journal than they are willing to share with the people around them. Add in clips from different books that he penned, and it makes for an interesting read, whether you're a believer in the self-help hype drivel or not.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and very funny novel that rips into the self-help and celebrity culture of modern times. Michael Enzo writes self-help books, many under the names of famous celebrities, even though his own life - financially, spiritually, and romantically - is a complete shambles, complete with heavy drugs and illegality. Ben DeHaven, his friend and colleague, finds Enzo's journal after he disappears and publishes it with his own notes regarding the mess that is Michael Enzo. Laugh-out-loud funny at times and a very quick read.

[I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.]

[Mark Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has a friend that can't be counted on. Someone who will never take you to the airport, remember your birthday or pay back that $40 you lent them for gas money. In the case of Michael Enzo, he's all those things, plus he's more likely to punch your Mom in the face than show up anywhere sober. At that truth alone you may have made your judgment of him and you wouldn't be wrong. His pension for drugs, booze and prostitution is matched by none. He's experienced every kind of joy, pain and emotion by living fast, loose and irresponsibly. He's made all the mistakes that would ruin most people. However, the funny thing is that Enzo has saved more people through his over 108-self-help books than Mother Teresa and Gandhi combined. If the writer inside him was his own person he'd be the kind of friend you think fondly of when overcoming the worst life has to offer. You'd thank him for giving you the hope to persevere.

"Confessions of a Self Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo," is a glimpse into the psyche of one of the world's most profound advisors. A man who has broken every promise he has ever made, yet has somehow tricked the unknowing public into thinking he is someone to revere. Author, Benjamin DeHaven, a professed "former friend" of Enzo hopes to shed some light on the reality behind this mysterious self-help guru. Through excerpts from Enzo's books and pages taken directly from his personal journal we the reader discover a Quixotic adventurer who admits freely to both lurid depravity and emotional complexity. This journal may be the only evidence on earth that proves many of the tales, fables and legends that this enigmatic entity left behind. Unfortunately until Enzo resurfaces it may be easier to assume that even his personal journal is bullshit. He lied to everyone else in his life, so it's reasonable to think he lied to himself too. Benjamin DeHaven publishes excerpts from this journal knowing full well that he is risking the foulest of vengeance by outing the Enzo lies.

Who is Michael Enzo? You certainly haven't heard of him. As previously mentioned he has written over 108-self-help books. That's more published work than Agatha Christie, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. As DeHaven writes, only 54 of these books are directly attributed to Enzo. Almost his entire canon was published under the names of movie stars, politicians and business leaders. There are rumors abound that no less than 2 of the world's ten wealthiest men are said to have used Enzo as a ghost-writer. In my extensive research, I couldn't find a single person who willingly admitted to knowing Enzo, let alone that he wrote a book for them. I feel it imperative to opine that to me many of those people were obviously lying. Conversely, in interviews with readers of Enzo's many books, I encountered glowing remarks. Many of whom attribute their status in life to his words. None of those readers cared for a minute that the famous names appearing on their books were not the actual portents of such sage advice.

What did Enzo write about in his journal? If you've been helped by any of his books then you probably don't want to find out. If you want to know the truth (or his version of it) then you'll get a glimpse of someone most easily classified as a psychopath. Enzo wrote self-help books purely for profit. Hypocrite isn't a strong enough word to describe him. Michael recounts drug deals, catastrophic gambling losses, molestation of Virginia Ham, defiling the bathroom habits of cats and dogs alike, abandoning friends in need, sympathizing with underage prostitutes, supernatural proclivities in dorm rooms and the deaths of the closest of friends, some of whom he didn't even know. The confession that is most upsetting is that he would fall back on his tremendous talent, writing self-help, only as a last act to pay his debtors and ridiculous lifestyle.

Benjamin DeHaven is also a recurring character in Enzo's stories and it's easy to understand why the two are no longer friends. Research tells me the two scribes were business partners, several times over, with all enterprises ending badly for DeHaven. They may have been each other's sponsor at various times via multiple incarnations of anonymous meetings. Their bond is so close that they even shared the same love for a woman named, Susan, who may or may not have been a porn star. DeHaven shares his own perspective of the Enzo years and at times seems to be admitting some responsibility for his counterpart's bad behavior. However, he claims his goal in releasing this journal is to destroy any positive connotations of the Enzo name. Frankly, DeHaven is often times shown in a very negative light, which to me adds a much needed layer of credibility to such a fantastical story.

In conclusion, the confessions of both, Michael Enzo and Benjamin DeHaven, leave me wondering just how close these two actually were. I can't tell if DeHaven truly wants to ruin any remaining good name Enzo may have or if he's actually doing it out of love, reaching out to the one person who is still lost. Michael Enzo, wherever you are, pick up a self help book and give it a read. Who knows, you may have written it.

[Anthony Klatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Enzo. Sloth. Glutton. Avarice. Greed. Selfishness. These are words that describe the human condition, and the irony that is Michael Enzo, a self-pronounced guru of self-help writing, in having them be applied to his life is the contradiction that makes this book a metaphor for the Millennial Generation; a metaphor that has the ability to become massively relatable to the masses.

Our character, the ghost that is Michael Enzo is filled with wisdom, and his wisdom is given to us in unusual methods. For example, we find ourselves enraptured in the chaos and in the randomness that surrounds our hero, and his vagabond nature only causes us to admire the brazenness of his claims. Yet, it is those claims that make Michael Enzo the expert - the wandering nomad that everyone wishes he or she could become at one point in his or her life.

For the reader, “Confessions” is a journey through the soul of a tortured man that finds there is no one-way to live life except through a split personality. There will be the constant bipartite division of understanding who is the real Enzo and who is the narrator, but it is with the same voice that we find our love for Enzo. Yes, a true love because Enzo is a character that all of us can relate to, even if we don’t necessarily like him. And for that reason, “Confessions” stands out to as a piece of unique literature that should be remembered for its originality as much as for its actual relevance as a mantra for living life in today’s harsh reality.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Enzo and Benjamin DeHaven… I don’t know if I want to buy these men a drink or punch them in the nose. Confessions of a Self-Help Writer is a short read with far more life lessons cleverly hidden within its depths than the modest page count might suggest. Granted most of those lessons are given as a firsthand account of what not to do, but they’re there nonetheless. The novel is a breezy, easy read thanks to the impact of the characters and short chapter length. The book is presented as a journal of the main character, Enzo, with the occasional inserted timeline chapters and frequent margin comments from his former friend and patsy-in-crime, DeHaven.


Enzo’s journal chronicles his descent down the same slippery slopes he is often trying to warn us against, but can’t seem to avoid himself. Doing whatever he wants with no real regard for the consequences, Enzo leaves a trail of destruction in his wake without ever purposely being malicious. His frequent lack of any sense of morality makes those rare moments where his conscience takes control even more pointed and sincere. While Enzo is a charismatic ass people seem to gravitate towards, DeHaven, who sticks mostly to the background of the story, is more relatable and human. While some of DeHaven’s comments may border on the self-righteous, remember that no saints would consider Enzo a friend.

Benjamin DeHaven’s Confessions of a Self-Help Writer may be one of the most standout books written in 2014. The book almost demands a second read through for multiple reasons. Firstly, even with visual formatting clues, at times its difficult to separate Michael Enzo and DeHaven’s narrative. Initially this can be confusing and might throw a reader off but I don’t feel it dissuades from the overall content or impact of the book. Also it seems to make much more sense upon second reading and to quote the book “There are signs everywhere, the secret is reading them.” Secondly is that those pearls of wisdom standout even more the second time around. And finally the truly hysterical moments in the first reading are still humorous on later passes (occasionally even more so). You would be doing yourself a huge injustice to read this book only once.

[Rob Slaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual I received this book for free in exchange for a review. Also as usual I give my completely candid opinions below.

Most of the time after reading a book I don't have any difficulty whatsoever forming a strong opinion. This book, with its unorthodox style, left me rather puzzled though. The story is written in the form of excerpts from the mysterious main character's journal interspersed with the publisher's commentary on the personally absent Mr. Enzo.

On the positive side, the use of language and writing in this book is bold and amusing. The author writes about himself and his adventures in an entertaining way that makes it hard to look away from. His experiences are rough and roguish beyond the majority of normal human experience.

To the negative, it did take me a while to find the proper rhythm of the book. Despite typographical clues when the narrator shifted it took me a several pages to realize that there were two completely different people speaking throughout the book. Once one acclimates to this fact, things make sense but it's not a completely natural realization to come to. Finally, in many ways I think the main character is just too enigmatic. Yes, we're reading his very personal journal but it failed to inspire much emotion from me as a reader aside from a sort of sad but interested ambivalence.

In summary, this book was well-written but just didn't have a lot of narrative "pop" to it. It was pleasant enough to pass my eyes over but upon arriving at the end I can't really say that it made much impression on me; at the least not enough of an impression to inspire me to tell other people to read it. This is an quirky and amusing book that just doesn't quite live up to its well-worn words.

[Edythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

“So Jonathan (African American) and I were each other’s key to a world neither of us had ever known….It was Jonathan’s group of friends that just couldn’t get past our friendship….In their eyes, I didn’t understand the blues and I wasn’t invited.”

“So I’ll just have to stick to ghostwriting self-help books for now, I guess. Damn it.”

Benjamin DeHaven and Michael Enzo were friends until Michael backed out on a business deal leaving the country with the money arising out of the sale of New Orleans newspaper, the Nola Shopper. DeHaven comes to the conclusion that the only way to get revenge is to publish the personal journal of Michael Enzo who as Dehaven states is a fugitive from justice for fraud and hunted by organized crime. Each entry of Michael Enzo’s journal discloses personal information and events surrounding his life journey through his gambling, drugs, and women that necessitated an essential determination to create capital opportunities to support his rich addictions.

The novel is truly interesting in its format of journal entries with intertwining philosophical quips and is unmistakably clear and concise as to the nature of events taking place and revealing them with wit and satirical humor. Conversely, the rhythm is somewhat unbalanced while reading triggering uncertainty as to which person is divulging the story. I recommend this novel to persons interested in Michael Enzo’s life as revealed in his personal journal entries and whether he will ever compensate those, he befriended yet defrauded.

I received this book free from the Net Galley Reviewer Program in exchange for an unbiased opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

[Lisa Turnage · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was different from what I normally read but it was entertaining on some of the things that happened.

I do hope Enzo reads the book. I would love to be the fly on the wall to hear what he had to say about some of his journal being printed.

At the end, it states "Because of the lawsuit, I printed only the "nice" stuff. But rest assured, when I am through, all will be revealed". WOW- loved that. Makes me wonder, ok if I just read "nice" stuff, I hate to hear the bad, lol. Now I can not wait until the "all will be revealed" comes out. I wonder how much longer will that be? Enquiring minds want to know.

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Got to love Goodreads :)

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read it, and what a wild ride it was! I especially like the quotes or offers of advice in the outlining type, very creative and I think I've heard some of them before but it might have been written by somebody else I was reading at the time.
The book feels like an open letter to capture a man who may or may not want to be found.
I laughed a lot, felt sympathy and then wished I was Enzo a few times but I don't have the guts or ten lives it would take to get the nerve up to be him.
Well written and entertaining and this book leaves more questions to be answered that actually answers them, could a sequel be in the works, maybe an answer to a petition filed in court, who knows, either way it was a great read and something I'll keep as a perennial

[Mark Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and easy read with short chapters to give you time to think about what you just read. An interesting story and an entertaining book. Neither of these guys would be a friend of mine, but i was quite amused with the writing style! Good book! I received a free copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads.

[Charlotte Monaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God! I don't know whether I was drawn into the sleaze bag characters in the story or the story itself which bowled me over. I have to read it again. Great, great reading. Will there be a sequel?

[Benjamin DeHaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo

D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, MBR (Midwest Book Review)

Michael Enzo was a fraud. He was also a philanthropist. He was also a gigolo. And a devout Catholic. He profited from people's insecurities and when that wasn't enough he began systematically psychologically destroying those closest to him - including author Benjamin W. DeHaven.

So why would DeHaven then salvage his former friend's journal from his New Orleans estate after Hurricane Katrina and publish it; especially since he was involved in Enzo's self-help industry deceptions?

Simple: the act of publishing a journal exposing the roots of deception is an act of contrition and an effort to undo the harm that they caused .

And who will be the likely reader of Confessions of a Self-Help Writer? That would be the reader already interested in the self-help field (possibly even those already familiar with Enzo's works) who want a deeper understanding of the entire operation, from Enzo's personality and motivations to the author's own rationale for participating in Enzo's schemes.

Now, forgiveness is a powerful motivator - and so is guilt. Without either in place, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer likely wouldn't have seen the light of day. And another powerful force at work here is egotism: specifically, Michael Enzo's drive to control and change his world and the worlds of others. Without THAT piece in place, he wouldn't have formed the schemes he did, nor candidly wrote about them in this journal. Consider the power of the voice that explains his perspective: ""I am one of the feeble who have to hit rock bottom before they can put things in perspective. Besides, once you hit rock bottom, you can start publishing self-help books in your own name, as long as you're famous. Mine will be a great testimonial to the will of men. When you've physically and mentally demolished the physical representation of your soul, suddenly you become an incredible healer, according to my books."

Add to this dose of autobiography a series of revelations that systematically show how darkness enters a common man's soul and how it twists motivation to ultimately foster deceptive practices and you have a satisfying blend of autobiography, journal entries, and insights into not just one man's obsession, but the psychological trappings of the self-help industry as a whole.

Eye-opening (even eye-popping, at points) and involving, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer reads like a thriller but is true life confession at its best.



— Marc Hershon is co-author of I Hate People! Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job. He has written a number of movies for the Hallmark Channel, writes a blog and reviews for Huffington Post, and hosts Succotash, the Comedy Podcast. As Creative Director of Lexicon Branding in Sausalito, CA, he has helped to create a number of internationally known brand names, including BlackBerry, Dasani, and Swiffer.

Review: Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) A Novel by Benjamin W. DeHaven

The best books start with an engaging premise and Benjamin DeHaven’s can be reverse engineered into a kind of conspiracy theory: What if the most popular self-help books were secretly written by one person? Then consider that the person behind the writing abuses alcohol and drugs to excess, has no sense of social responsibility, and is the very last person someone in need would seek out for counsel or advice.
That person would be Michael Enzo.
Author DeHaven has come into possession of Enzo’s voluminous journal, outlining a number of his exploits and encounters in the first person. It’s a rollicking ride with some somber encounters sprinkled throughout, a diary of sorts from a man possessed of a writing skill which keeps getting him work, so long as he’s writing in another person’s voice. (Along the way, Enzo also manages to pen two novels under his own name, neither of which finds much in the way of critical acclaim or financial success.)
By his claims, Enzo has ghostwritten tell-all books for movie stars, politicians, and business leaders, in addition to a fleet of books in the self-help genre. As his life of addiction and disorganized crime unfolds, we see these books were mostly written while on the run or in hiding, mostly in an effort to scrape together enough money to survive or to pay off a debt just in time thus allowing Enzo to scurry off to his next odd encounter.
From time to time, DeHaven himself surfaces during the adventure, to be alternately enthralled with Enzo or swindled by him in some way. (At one point, DeHaven gets stuck running an “art newspaper” when Enzo invites him to join the staff, only to bolt and leave him holding the reins of a publication on the brink of failure.)
We feel a sense of Enzo’s displacement through the non-linear telling of his exploits, time-slipping as it does from drug-addled adult moments to Enzo’s youth, his college days (with several institutions being involved), and early business beginnings.
There’s love, or loves, of a sort and here the tale of Michael Enzo engenders a true sense of confusion – or perhaps it’s merely fusion – as every women with whom he has anything resembling a relationship with is named Susan. (Including his mother) Each Susan is distinguished by one characteristic or another - Susan, the Dove soap model; Susan, the crazy cheerleader; Susan, who sells toilets. To blur the lines between author and subject even more, DeHaven is living with one of the Susans that Enzo was in love with (Confessions is even dedicated to “Susan”.)
Throughout the book, Enzo has peppered his journal with self-help tidbits, mostly the kinds of affirmations that adherents to such literature scribble onto Post-It notes and stick on their bathroom mirrors: The best things are usually done on impulse. To be successful in any venture, you must appreciate the failure of the heroes around you. Escape is impossible without knowledge.
And Enzo mentions enough run-ins with celebrities that we must have caught a glimpse of him, though perhaps only in our peripheral vision. There’s the incident where he almost gets on Oprah but is deemed just uninteresting enough to not be on the show. He claims to have worked on TV’s E/R, the job given as a favor from an unnamed star on the show for whom Enzo ghostwrote yet another self-help book. (He tells the story of the show’s Director of Photography betting him he won’t hit cast member George Clooney in the face with a snowball. He does.)
Vast amounts of money seem to slip through Enzo’s hands like water, most of it from other people’s pockets for whom he is supposed to place bets or purchase things, only to always drink, snort, or piss it away. The resulting balance of his exploits invariably forcing Enzo into slaving away to pay it off or running away into the night, only to surface in another situation where he has metamorphosed into something else to get by. Enzo’s final journal entry gives us hope that he has perhaps begun to take some of his own advice, as well as reveals that he’s flying off to begin a life with much of his old baggage left behind.

ED Held, Studio News:

Here is a novel that is crazy, intriguing and tells of ghost writing and bankrupting a New Orleans newspaper! Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo, hardcover by Benjamin DeHaven. A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. He defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them. After failing
to make an impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him, including Benjamin DeHaven, the author of this book. Here’s one book you must read that also asks you- “What Is the Meaning of Life?” and isthere really a God upstairs guiding your decisions!



Broadway World Books: http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks...

If you've ever picked up a tell-all biography of a celebrity or a title from the self-help section at the bookstore, you don't want to miss Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) by Benjamin W. DeHaven from Lagniappe Publishing.

A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. "He's defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them," says DeHaven, former friend and collaborator. Some sources credit Enzo with ghost-writing more than 108 self-help books on behalf of celebrities, politicians and business leaders.

"After failing to make what he considered to be a positive impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him," DeHaven says, "including me." More than likely these two friends contributed more to the field of self-help, while profiting from it, than they will ever know. Believing they could only understand people's problems by suffering along with them, they lived on the razor's edge.

Their roller coaster friendship was eventually ruptured by their mutual involvement with an adult film star and entered a new chapter in a federal courthouse in Philadelphia last year. Enzo mysteriously disappeared before sentencing and is still wanted.

"This journal was salvaged from Enzo's New Orleans estate after hurricane Katrina and was originally hidden by his wife," says DeHaven. In an effort to clear his conscience, DeHaven has released the personal journal of his longtime friend Michael Enzo. It is DeHaven's hope that people will start helping themselves again after reading it. "To read it is to discover what turns someone from preaching salvation towards seeking its destruction. This is a true story."

A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Benjamin DeHaven earned an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans. Currently residing in Virginia, DeHaven began his writing career with Stone United, a Chicago-based film company that works primarily in independent film. He has written for numerous magazines and media outlets and edited screenplays. Additionally, he was the editor-in-chief of the Nola Shopper, a free art newspaper and the second-largest monthly paper in the New Orleans MSA.

For more, please visit the website: www://bdehaven.com

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo)
Lagniappe Publishing (July 1, 2014)
Available to pre-order now at http://bdehaven.com

[Maggie Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This did not make a bit of sense.

[Chris Craddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Unreliable Narrators for the Price of One

What we have here is Apocrypha. The "writer" claims to have found the diary of another "writer." The second author is also the author of numerous self-help tomes. Some ghost written for various unnamed celebrities with their permission, and some without. The first author, Benjamin W. DeHaven, claims to have learned a lot from the second author, Michael Enzo. Some by negative example, some by gleaning a kind of crazy wisdom from the man and his musings, and his private journals.

* If you're not ready to receive the message, you will not hear it.

Nevertheless, he blames him for destroying his life, and is bent on some kind of apocalyptic vendetta, should he ever encounter him again. Is the second author, Enzo, an imaginary friend who also serves as whipping boy? A scapegoat for when things go horribly awry? Two unreliable narrators for the price of one?

* Life is not like the movies and it's ruined me.

One blurb writer called him a thinking man's Max Tucker or an idiot's Hunter S. Thompson. That sort of gives you an idea of where he lies on the Gonzo Spectrum, but I think this text is a bit too fragmentary for his stories to come to life as vividly as either of those two examples, regardless of his intelligence or lack thereof. The story is all sub text, not enough substance. Reading between the lines.

* Beware of anyone who says, "I love you" without hesitation; they've had a lot of practice saying it.

The Dead Sea Scrolls would appear to be a rough draft of the Bible. They are still remarkable even if a rough draft, because it shows there WAS a rough draft, and it was not divinely inspired, springing forth, fully formed, from the brow of Zeus. Confessions of a Self-Help Writer is kind of like a fragmentary rough draft, but not of the Bible.

* There are signs everywhere. The secret is reading them.

Spoiler Alert: All of the women in this book are named Susan. Is it all the same person, or does Enzo just call all women Susan, or is it just a coincidence that they all happen to be named Susan? If you do read this book, you might want to wrestle with that enigma.

* Even dogs know how important it is to hear somebody else breathing.

I liked reading this and would be interested in further writings of Benjamin W. DeHaven, now that he has purged some of his demons, and confessed to his and Enzo's prevarication and subterfuge. I hope his next efforts are a little less fragmentary and rough draft, and a little more final edit.

* Beware of people who offer advice about problems that aren't theirs; they usually don't know what they're talking about.

[Christine Zibas · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no one less worth taking advice from than Michael Enzo, the main character of this book. Yet, the author claims that Enzo is one of the most prolific authors of self-help tomes and biographies of famous people (penning these volumes as a ghostwriter, of course). The book suggests it is selections from a found diary of said author, who takes up his craft solely to support his raging drug and alcohol habits. That said, there are real gems of self-help found within. So what gives?

First of all, there's the question of whether Michael Enzo is even real, or merely a figment of the author's vivid imagination. (He claims in the book that they were friends, but Enzo is missing after a run from the law...supposedly. I will leave it for others to figure out if this enigma exists.) If he's not real, this elaborate hoax is taking readers just where the author claims he doesn't want them to go via self-help, into the land of delusion.

I honestly did not know what to make of the book, having known some larger-than-life characters myself. Still, there's something that just doesn't ring true, and that is the real distraction here. Readers will spend so much time debating with themselves whether the main character is real or not that much is lost along the way to enjoyment.

As someone who has lived in Chicago, much of the action described there rings true, but then I discovered that the author himself had attended Columbia, an arts college in downwtown Chicago (the Loop), so I am no further along in the search for the truth. If the author's main goal was to leave his readers questioning what they think they know, well done. If he was attempting to tell the story of a true person, it's a massive failure. You be the judge.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I do not see what everyone else seems to like about this book, but maybe it's just not the type of book that I'm interested in. I felt like the comments made throughout the journal by Benjamin DeHaven made him come across as a grudge-holding man who isn't taking responsibility for his own situation. Rather than fully admitting to himself that he is the reason his life isn't great, he has put the blame on Michael Enzo. While I agree that Michael Enzo is no saint, I do feel like one must take the information in his journal entries with a grain of salt. As a writer, I feel like the journal entries aren't just ramblings of what happened to me today, but each is a short story. Almost as if Enzo was writing each entry to practice his writing. While the book itself wasn't completely awful, it seemed pointless to me and is definitely not something I would spend time reading again. I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.

[Mike Zinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this one for free, not sure from where. Anyway, this was a pre-release eBook version and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. It made me laugh a lot, and I always like that in a book. It also made me think about things that I hadn't thought about much. It is a rather unstructured book, but for this type of book it added to the enjoyment. It was a nice break from longer and more serious reading.

[Shelli King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I had to bear in mind while reading this that this was a story from the prospective of the victim of a wastrel and a user. It is a cautionary tale of excess and of addiction. A man who knows what he should learn, but refuses to heed the lesson.

Michael Enzo - by this account - was the dregs of humanity and yet he could get people to eat up his abuse with a spoon.

It is a short book, but it is a dark and painful read.

[Susan Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just bought my copy of Confessions of a Self -Help Writer:The journal of Michael Enzo so excited to read the book i have seen and heard so many reviews and am looking forward to having my own :)..so far i LOVE the way the author Ben Dehaven writes and describes in detail certain senarios..cant wait to finish and read this awesome piece!

[Kim Johnston]

Just received my free copy! Am looking forward to reading this book!

[Susan Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo

D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, MBR (Midwest Book Review)

Michael Enzo was a fraud. He was also a philanthropist. He was also a gigolo. And a devout Catholic. He profited from people's insecurities and when that wasn't enough he began systematically psychologically destroying those closest to him - including author Benjamin W. DeHaven.

So why would DeHaven then salvage his former friend's journal from his New Orleans estate after Hurricane Katrina and publish it; especially since he was involved in Enzo's self-help industry deceptions?

Simple: the act of publishing a journal exposing the roots of deception is an act of contrition and an effort to undo the harm that they caused .

And who will be the likely reader of Confessions of a Self-Help Writer? That would be the reader already interested in the self-help field (possibly even those already familiar with Enzo's works) who want a deeper understanding of the entire operation, from Enzo's personality and motivations to the author's own rationale for participating in Enzo's schemes.

Now, forgiveness is a powerful motivator - and so is guilt. Without either in place, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer likely wouldn't have seen the light of day. And another powerful force at work here is egotism: specifically, Michael Enzo's drive to control and change his world and the worlds of others. Without THAT piece in place, he wouldn't have formed the schemes he did, nor candidly wrote about them in this journal. Consider the power of the voice that explains his perspective: ""I am one of the feeble who have to hit rock bottom before they can put things in perspective. Besides, once you hit rock bottom, you can start publishing self-help books in your own name, as long as you're famous. Mine will be a great testimonial to the will of men. When you've physically and mentally demolished the physical representation of your soul, suddenly you become an incredible healer, according to my books."

Add to this dose of autobiography a series of revelations that systematically show how darkness enters a common man's soul and how it twists motivation to ultimately foster deceptive practices and you have a satisfying blend of autobiography, journal entries, and insights into not just one man's obsession, but the psychological trappings of the self-help industry as a whole.

Eye-opening (even eye-popping, at points) and involving, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer reads like a thriller but is true life confession at its best.



— Marc Hershon is co-author of I Hate People! Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job. He has written a number of movies for the Hallmark Channel, writes a blog and reviews for Huffington Post, and hosts Succotash, the Comedy Podcast. As Creative Director of Lexicon Branding in Sausalito, CA, he has helped to create a number of internationally known brand names, including BlackBerry, Dasani, and Swiffer.

Review: Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) A Novel by Benjamin W. DeHaven

The best books start with an engaging premise and Benjamin DeHaven’s can be reverse engineered into a kind of conspiracy theory: What if the most popular self-help books were secretly written by one person? Then consider that the person behind the writing abuses alcohol and drugs to excess, has no sense of social responsibility, and is the very last person someone in need would seek out for counsel or advice.
That person would be Michael Enzo.
Author DeHaven has come into possession of Enzo’s voluminous journal, outlining a number of his exploits and encounters in the first person. It’s a rollicking ride with some somber encounters sprinkled throughout, a diary of sorts from a man possessed of a writing skill which keeps getting him work, so long as he’s writing in another person’s voice. (Along the way, Enzo also manages to pen two novels under his own name, neither of which finds much in the way of critical acclaim or financial success.)
By his claims, Enzo has ghostwritten tell-all books for movie stars, politicians, and business leaders, in addition to a fleet of books in the self-help genre. As his life of addiction and disorganized crime unfolds, we see these books were mostly written while on the run or in hiding, mostly in an effort to scrape together enough money to survive or to pay off a debt just in time thus allowing Enzo to scurry off to his next odd encounter.
From time to time, DeHaven himself surfaces during the adventure, to be alternately enthralled with Enzo or swindled by him in some way. (At one point, DeHaven gets stuck running an “art newspaper” when Enzo invites him to join the staff, only to bolt and leave him holding the reins of a publication on the brink of failure.)
We feel a sense of Enzo’s displacement through the non-linear telling of his exploits, time-slipping as it does from drug-addled adult moments to Enzo’s youth, his college days (with several institutions being involved), and early business beginnings.
There’s love, or loves, of a sort and here the tale of Michael Enzo engenders a true sense of confusion – or perhaps it’s merely fusion – as every women with whom he has anything resembling a relationship with is named Susan. (Including his mother) Each Susan is distinguished by one characteristic or another - Susan, the Dove soap model; Susan, the crazy cheerleader; Susan, who sells toilets. To blur the lines between author and subject even more, DeHaven is living with one of the Susans that Enzo was in love with (Confessions is even dedicated to “Susan”.)
Throughout the book, Enzo has peppered his journal with self-help tidbits, mostly the kinds of affirmations that adherents to such literature scribble onto Post-It notes and stick on their bathroom mirrors: The best things are usually done on impulse. To be successful in any venture, you must appreciate the failure of the heroes around you. Escape is impossible without knowledge.
And Enzo mentions enough run-ins with celebrities that we must have caught a glimpse of him, though perhaps only in our peripheral vision. There’s the incident where he almost gets on Oprah but is deemed just uninteresting enough to not be on the show. He claims to have worked on TV’s E/R, the job given as a favor from an unnamed star on the show for whom Enzo ghostwrote yet another self-help book. (He tells the story of the show’s Director of Photography betting him he won’t hit cast member George Clooney in the face with a snowball. He does.)
Vast amounts of money seem to slip through Enzo’s hands like water, most of it from other people’s pockets for whom he is supposed to place bets or purchase things, only to always drink, snort, or piss it away. The resulting balance of his exploits invariably forcing Enzo into slaving away to pay it off or running away into the night, only to surface in another situation where he has metamorphosed into something else to get by. Enzo’s final journal entry gives us hope that he has perhaps begun to take some of his own advice, as well as reveals that he’s flying off to begin a life with much of his old baggage left behind.

ED Held, Studio News:

Here is a novel that is crazy, intriguing and tells of ghost writing and bankrupting a New Orleans newspaper! Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo, hardcover by Benjamin DeHaven. A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. He defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them. After failing
to make an impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him, including Benjamin DeHaven, the author of this book. Here’s one book you must read that also asks you- “What Is the Meaning of Life?” and isthere really a God upstairs guiding your decisions!



Broadway World Books: http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks...

If you've ever picked up a tell-all biography of a celebrity or a title from the self-help section at the bookstore, you don't want to miss Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) by Benjamin W. DeHaven from Lagniappe Publishing.

A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. "He's defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them," says DeHaven, former friend and collaborator. Some sources credit Enzo with ghost-writing more than 108 self-help books on behalf of celebrities, politicians and business leaders.

"After failing to make what he considered to be a positive impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him," DeHaven says, "including me." More than likely these two friends contributed more to the field of self-help, while profiting from it, than they will ever know. Believing they could only understand people's problems by suffering along with them, they lived on the razor's edge.

Their roller coaster friendship was eventually ruptured by their mutual involvement with an adult film star and entered a new chapter in a federal courthouse in Philadelphia last year. Enzo mysteriously disappeared before sentencing and is still wanted.

"This journal was salvaged from Enzo's New Orleans estate after hurricane Katrina and was originally hidden by his wife," says DeHaven. In an effort to clear his conscience, DeHaven has released the personal journal of his longtime friend Michael Enzo. It is DeHaven's hope that people will start helping themselves again after reading it. "To read it is to discover what turns someone from preaching salvation towards seeking its destruction. This is a true story."

A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Benjamin DeHaven earned an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans. Currently residing in Virginia, DeHaven began his writing career with Stone United, a Chicago-based film company that works primarily in independent film. He has written for numerous magazines and media outlets and edited screenplays. Additionally, he was the editor-in-chief of the Nola Shopper, a free art newspaper and the second-largest monthly paper in the New Orleans MSA.

For more, please visit the website: www://bdehaven.com

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo)
Lagniappe Publishing (July 1, 2014)
Available to pre-order now at http://bdehaven.com

[Natasha Nogueda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo

D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, MBR (Midwest Book Review)

Michael Enzo was a fraud. He was also a philanthropist. He was also a gigolo. And a devout Catholic. He profited from people's insecurities and when that wasn't enough he began systematically psychologically destroying those closest to him - including author Benjamin W. DeHaven.

So why would DeHaven then salvage his former friend's journal from his New Orleans estate after Hurricane Katrina and publish it; especially since he was involved in Enzo's self-help industry deceptions?

Simple: the act of publishing a journal exposing the roots of deception is an act of contrition and an effort to undo the harm that they caused .

And who will be the likely reader of Confessions of a Self-Help Writer? That would be the reader already interested in the self-help field (possibly even those already familiar with Enzo's works) who want a deeper understanding of the entire operation, from Enzo's personality and motivations to the author's own rationale for participating in Enzo's schemes.

Now, forgiveness is a powerful motivator - and so is guilt. Without either in place, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer likely wouldn't have seen the light of day. And another powerful force at work here is egotism: specifically, Michael Enzo's drive to control and change his world and the worlds of others. Without THAT piece in place, he wouldn't have formed the schemes he did, nor candidly wrote about them in this journal. Consider the power of the voice that explains his perspective: ""I am one of the feeble who have to hit rock bottom before they can put things in perspective. Besides, once you hit rock bottom, you can start publishing self-help books in your own name, as long as you're famous. Mine will be a great testimonial to the will of men. When you've physically and mentally demolished the physical representation of your soul, suddenly you become an incredible healer, according to my books."

Add to this dose of autobiography a series of revelations that systematically show how darkness enters a common man's soul and how it twists motivation to ultimately foster deceptive practices and you have a satisfying blend of autobiography, journal entries, and insights into not just one man's obsession, but the psychological trappings of the self-help industry as a whole.

Eye-opening (even eye-popping, at points) and involving, Confessions of a Self-Help Writer reads like a thriller but is true life confession at its best.



— Marc Hershon is co-author of I Hate People! Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job. He has written a number of movies for the Hallmark Channel, writes a blog and reviews for Huffington Post, and hosts Succotash, the Comedy Podcast. As Creative Director of Lexicon Branding in Sausalito, CA, he has helped to create a number of internationally known brand names, including BlackBerry, Dasani, and Swiffer.

Review: Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) A Novel by Benjamin W. DeHaven

The best books start with an engaging premise and Benjamin DeHaven’s can be reverse engineered into a kind of conspiracy theory: What if the most popular self-help books were secretly written by one person? Then consider that the person behind the writing abuses alcohol and drugs to excess, has no sense of social responsibility, and is the very last person someone in need would seek out for counsel or advice.
That person would be Michael Enzo.
Author DeHaven has come into possession of Enzo’s voluminous journal, outlining a number of his exploits and encounters in the first person. It’s a rollicking ride with some somber encounters sprinkled throughout, a diary of sorts from a man possessed of a writing skill which keeps getting him work, so long as he’s writing in another person’s voice. (Along the way, Enzo also manages to pen two novels under his own name, neither of which finds much in the way of critical acclaim or financial success.)
By his claims, Enzo has ghostwritten tell-all books for movie stars, politicians, and business leaders, in addition to a fleet of books in the self-help genre. As his life of addiction and disorganized crime unfolds, we see these books were mostly written while on the run or in hiding, mostly in an effort to scrape together enough money to survive or to pay off a debt just in time thus allowing Enzo to scurry off to his next odd encounter.
From time to time, DeHaven himself surfaces during the adventure, to be alternately enthralled with Enzo or swindled by him in some way. (At one point, DeHaven gets stuck running an “art newspaper” when Enzo invites him to join the staff, only to bolt and leave him holding the reins of a publication on the brink of failure.)
We feel a sense of Enzo’s displacement through the non-linear telling of his exploits, time-slipping as it does from drug-addled adult moments to Enzo’s youth, his college days (with several institutions being involved), and early business beginnings.
There’s love, or loves, of a sort and here the tale of Michael Enzo engenders a true sense of confusion – or perhaps it’s merely fusion – as every women with whom he has anything resembling a relationship with is named Susan. (Including his mother) Each Susan is distinguished by one characteristic or another - Susan, the Dove soap model; Susan, the crazy cheerleader; Susan, who sells toilets. To blur the lines between author and subject even more, DeHaven is living with one of the Susans that Enzo was in love with (Confessions is even dedicated to “Susan”.)
Throughout the book, Enzo has peppered his journal with self-help tidbits, mostly the kinds of affirmations that adherents to such literature scribble onto Post-It notes and stick on their bathroom mirrors: The best things are usually done on impulse. To be successful in any venture, you must appreciate the failure of the heroes around you. Escape is impossible without knowledge.
And Enzo mentions enough run-ins with celebrities that we must have caught a glimpse of him, though perhaps only in our peripheral vision. There’s the incident where he almost gets on Oprah but is deemed just uninteresting enough to not be on the show. He claims to have worked on TV’s E/R, the job given as a favor from an unnamed star on the show for whom Enzo ghostwrote yet another self-help book. (He tells the story of the show’s Director of Photography betting him he won’t hit cast member George Clooney in the face with a snowball. He does.)
Vast amounts of money seem to slip through Enzo’s hands like water, most of it from other people’s pockets for whom he is supposed to place bets or purchase things, only to always drink, snort, or piss it away. The resulting balance of his exploits invariably forcing Enzo into slaving away to pay it off or running away into the night, only to surface in another situation where he has metamorphosed into something else to get by. Enzo’s final journal entry gives us hope that he has perhaps begun to take some of his own advice, as well as reveals that he’s flying off to begin a life with much of his old baggage left behind.

ED Held, Studio News:

Here is a novel that is crazy, intriguing and tells of ghost writing and bankrupting a New Orleans newspaper! Confessions of a Self-Help Writer: The Journal of Michael Enzo, hardcover by Benjamin DeHaven. A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. He defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them. After failing
to make an impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him, including Benjamin DeHaven, the author of this book. Here’s one book you must read that also asks you- “What Is the Meaning of Life?” and isthere really a God upstairs guiding your decisions!



Broadway World Books: http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks...

If you've ever picked up a tell-all biography of a celebrity or a title from the self-help section at the bookstore, you don't want to miss Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo) by Benjamin W. DeHaven from Lagniappe Publishing.

A ghost, a philanthropist, a con man, a devout Catholic, a gigolo, a savior, an heir, a common man, a writer, and an addict are just some of the words used to describe Michael Enzo. "He's defrauded an industry for almost 20 years by exploiting people's insecurities and profiting from them," says DeHaven, former friend and collaborator. Some sources credit Enzo with ghost-writing more than 108 self-help books on behalf of celebrities, politicians and business leaders.

"After failing to make what he considered to be a positive impact on society he began to destroy those closest to him," DeHaven says, "including me." More than likely these two friends contributed more to the field of self-help, while profiting from it, than they will ever know. Believing they could only understand people's problems by suffering along with them, they lived on the razor's edge.

Their roller coaster friendship was eventually ruptured by their mutual involvement with an adult film star and entered a new chapter in a federal courthouse in Philadelphia last year. Enzo mysteriously disappeared before sentencing and is still wanted.

"This journal was salvaged from Enzo's New Orleans estate after hurricane Katrina and was originally hidden by his wife," says DeHaven. In an effort to clear his conscience, DeHaven has released the personal journal of his longtime friend Michael Enzo. It is DeHaven's hope that people will start helping themselves again after reading it. "To read it is to discover what turns someone from preaching salvation towards seeking its destruction. This is a true story."

A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, Benjamin DeHaven earned an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans. Currently residing in Virginia, DeHaven began his writing career with Stone United, a Chicago-based film company that works primarily in independent film. He has written for numerous magazines and media outlets and edited screenplays. Additionally, he was the editor-in-chief of the Nola Shopper, a free art newspaper and the second-largest monthly paper in the New Orleans MSA.

For more, please visit the website: www://bdehaven.com

Confessions of a Self-Help Writer (The Journal of Michael Enzo)
Lagniappe Publishing (July 1, 2014)
Available to pre-order now at http://bdehaven.com

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing bumps this to a 3.5. If you’re looking for likable characters, you won’t find any here. But you will find consequences for greed, sloth, addiction, amorality, and corruption. It’s not pretty.

[Mitt Soyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and informative book! Thank you!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I was torn between liking this book and thinking it was okay. There were a number of great passages throughout the book, whether they're found in the writings of DeHaven or Enzo. What could've been a brilliant career in ghostwriting turned into a wave of destruction that took down everyone and everything close to Enzo.

After one of Enzo's women gave him a journal, DeHaven sought to make sense of the portion of his life in which he'd been under Enzo's spell. We, the readers, are then led through the twisted journey of Enzo's descent, augmented by DeHaven's own experiences. Some of the passages or anetdotes that come from either author entertained me or made me wonder how someone with such a grip on the things people need to hear could toss it all aside instead of truly making something of himself. Even though DeHaven made it clear that he was using Enzo's journals, passages from Enzo's books and other relevant experiences, it was a little difficult to decipher exactly who was speaking when unless I paid close attention at the beginning of each chapter.

Despite the disjointed feeling I had while reading this, there was a clear story of a person's life dissolving before his eyes. The more Enzo attempted to use his talents and strengths to make himself appear greater than he was, the further away from that very goal he moved. It was obvious the man had talent, but his own demons and little understanding of himself drove whatever good he might have accomplished away.

Definitely wasn't a bad book, but simply took some time to read without confusion. Entertaining and unapologetic, Enzo was quite the character and one whom would have things his way or no way at all. Not sure to which genre of reader I'd recommend this book. It's one of those books you simply have to read yourself in order to form your own opinion. You'll either like it or hate it.

[Rob Ballister · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was unique, that's for sure.

Book was not as funny as I had hoped. It was at times funny, at times deep, at times depressing, and at times quite confusing. The concept of the book (as near as I could figure out) was that it was essays from a self help writer that was slowly spiraling down into self-destruction, and those essays were interspersed with accounts by the author, the reported "friend" of the self-help writer, which narrated what was going on in the writer's life as he slowly degraded.

Author's style used a lot of interesting metaphors, but some of them were a bit overdone. While the book moves well, by the latter half it was a lot like a visit from in-laws; regardless of anything positive, I was just ready for it to be over. Not sure I could follow exactly where the story was going, and by the end I didn't really care.

The concept was fairly unique, and it could be that this author's skills and talents were just over this reviewer's head, but I think the publisher's copy on the back of the book is a bit misleading.

[Abe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a giveaway in return for an candid review. I'm not sure if I received it from Ben DeHaven or Michael Enzo.
Anyone looking for an easy and fun read that has something different, this is for you. I found myself laughing out loud and more confused by each page. I wasn't sure what or who to believe, as DeHaven uses a mixture of creative style and wit to mix the narrative in a journal entry satire. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it. After reading some, I found myself wanting to know more, or rather wanting to read the depositions and court transcripts that surely exists, to separate DeHaven from Enzo. It was difficult to determine whether or not the journal entries serve a broader purpose. In its current form it's an entertaining tale of excess, but seems more a chapter or set of chapters from a missing 'set' of collections.

[Natasha Nogueda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions Of a Self Help Writer was AMAZING! i recommend this book to anyone that has a "personality" lol and wants a good read…the author Benjamin Dehaven is so entertaining and brings you in with his story telling..Michael Enzo is definitely a character and i hope he comes out with a second book! i absolutely loved it and no wonder this author has won numerous awards he definitely deserves it!..cant wait for more to come i hope and to even read it again! :)