I Just Woke Up Dead: A Memoir

by Justin Donner, Layne Dungan (Editor)

An examination of addiction and domestic violence unlike any other, "ijwd" was compiled using a lifetime collection of journals, notes, photos, arrest records, hospital documents, and candid conversations with those involved in the self-destruction contained herein. As much a research project as a memoir, details and perspective never found in domestic violence, addiction or mental health literature are recounted in a way that will relate to addicts, enlighten professionals, and educate the loved ones who watch lives fall apart. That they may understand why sobriety is so hard to obtain, that willpower is never enough for the masses who die each day fighting the battle against all types of addiction, that one person leaves a violent relationship, those are the hopeful goals of this story.

Genres: Addiction

Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2014

About the author

Originally way back from County Donegal, Ireland, the great grandson of an Irish patriot, Justin is an elder millennial father of an amazing kid known as Corrigan. After many travels from the Bellingham bay to the barns of North Dakota and back to the beaches of Oceanside, California, academia to addiction, days are now spent trying to be better than yesterday to help somebody else.

Reviews

[Scarlett O.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride.... This book really made me think. I loved it! I'm adding it to my favorite books. I personally think that having the storyline of the recovery alongside the storyline of the ruin of mr Justin Donner was genius. What a brutaly honest book to write.
Strangely the inside look at what it takes to make a change in your mindset so recovery really works was the biggest eye opener for me. I would recomend this book wholeheartedly!

[Shey Saints · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary

I Just Woke Up Dead is a memoir by Justin Donner. In this book, the author shares his life story using a collection of journals, notes, documents, and other significant means to show what could possibly derail a bright future. This book aims to discover the strength and courage to deal with addiction, mental illness, and domestic violence.

Review

I have to be honest. I had a hard time reading this book because it really was written to show, not tell. It was too detailed and my heart just kept getting broken because of the gravity of the author's life experiences. I hope this is not a trend in pre-med students. I know that in every endeavor, there's always an overwhelming pressure and other factors that hinder us from getting what we truly desire to achieve and there will always be situations, people, or inner demons that will block our road to the right path, but hopefully, people will believe there is always hope, and that recovery is possible no matter how hard and long it takes to get there. Overall, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was well written, well researched, very informative, and eye-opening. Warning: This book contains explicit language and sex, and very sensitive topics.

[Wendy Paoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully ppwritten about the people who are affected by this matter.

Great memoir. A lot sad to see but easy to relate to. I enjoyed the mockery back and forth between Justin and his 'friends ' the whole book makes u think.......think....alot

[Justin Donner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good. Great. Obviously!