Foxtail

by David Barnett

At age sixteen, with his home life shattered following his mother's breast cancer diagnosis, David Barnett's lust for the limelight took over, and he set out to conjure his very own rock and roll band. As he escaped into the underground music scene, and all the substances and temptations awaiting him, he underwent a fundamental shift in perspective and a fracturing of his relationship with his childhood best friend, Doug, the quintessential "golden boy," who possessed a latent rebellious streak.



In a high-intensity, coming-of-age memoir rooted in the counterculture that defined the turn of the 21st century, Barnett traverses the treacherous terrain of the road less traveled. He conducts an honest autopsy of his failed ambitions, as well as the collateral damage he caused. He subverts the traditional "addiction memoir" genre by playing with timelines and exploring relevant concepts through an atemporal lens. Barnett withholds judgment, abstains from moralizations, and encourages the reader to make their own evaluations and formulate their own analyses.



Ranging from his transformative first experience with drugs to the confounding nature of universal humanistic mysteries such as ego, identity, and consciousness, Foxtail takes readers on a journey through the pains of adolescence, the relationships gained and lost, and the heavy music that became his salvation. Featuring lyrics from bands and artists like Static-X and Lil' Keke, music serves not just as a background soundtrack but as a holy text throughout the book, making this sonically-saturated story perfect for those who find sanctuary in music of any genre. In this unflinching memoir, David Barnett explores whether the selves we create to survive the fire are the very ones destined to burn us down.

412 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 9, 2026

About the author

David Barnett is a Texas-based author, and washed up, burned out musician. After years of toiling within the underground music scene and a scorched-earth lifestyle of indulgence, Barnett learned to harness the power of his ghosts, channeling his legacy of reckless abandon and outlandish antics into the art that saved his life. His debut memoir “Foxtail” won the 2025 WriterCon First Place award for Memoir.

Reviews

[Alanna Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold Bloom argued in Shakespeare and the Invention of the Human that the reason Shakespeare’s characters feel so incredibly real and timeless across the ages is because they don’t simply speak; rather, they listen to themselves speaking and become someone new in the process.

Throughout Foxtail, David “The Barnett” doesn’t merely stand securely in the present like some sort of detached scribe, solemnly unspooling the TP roll of his formative years after conveniently sanitizing it with hindsight and years of moderate sobriety. No! He instead lets all the old versions of himself come crawling back: reckless, wounded, ambitious, self-important (critically so), funny, and occasionally a complete asshole. Each version of himself is handed a microphone and an unkowingly captive audience, which is both wildly brave and also historically a terrible idea where David is concerned.

The result? A violent neck snap of music, addiction, ego, and relationships supernova-ing beneath the weight of growing up. Beneath all that wreckage from each explosion, however, lies a much deeper reckoning: the identities we forge through chaos and combustion and what happens when the provocateur refuses to leave the stage.

David looks directly at these past selves of his without pretending that present-day wisdom has magically purified him. Growing up doesn’t truly erase who we were. It simply gives us the chance to embrace the whole embarrassing yet fundamentally glorious collection.

[Bob Rouder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book articulating the developing life of a young individual who experiences the vagaries and vicissitudes of the human condition, analyzes them philosophically, and reports on them through the lens of love and yet demonstrates their universality. For all of the superficial flaws of the central actors, the depth of decency in search of the good and the true is profound. This book evokes laughs, frustrations, cheers, pain and tears all in the rhythm of the life that many of us have experienced. By the end of this book, I yearned to actually meet the characters within and in a certain sense be a part of what the author refers to as "allies." It is hard for me to believe that this is the author's first work and equally hard for me to believe that it will be his last.

[James Kinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to read this and not come out the other side feeling like you've just spent a few hours listening to your friend tell you a story. Barnett's an articulate, entertaining master storyteller and even if you start out with a few reservations about the subject matter or some of the ways your outlook on life differs from his, you're drawn in because, as is evident from the way he accumulates friends throughout his school years, you don't have to be like David Barnett to be liked by him, or like him in return. His openness and frankness are admirable, as is his self-awareness and willingness to look back with the eyes of an adult and understand the actions of those he might not have at the time. A truly engaging and entertaining memoir of a troubled kid who might be an asshole, but is loveable with it.

[Books Forward · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this unflinching memoir, rock musician David Barnett takes readers on a journey through adolescent anguish, relationships and his salvation: music. From his first experience with drugs to ego, identity and consciousness, the book features lyrics throughout, making this a must-read for music lovers. Loved it!

[Max Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and deeply personal memoir. The honesty, vulnerability, and perspective David brings to his life experiences make this a truly compelling read. It takes courage to tell a story this openly, and he’s turned those experiences into something meaningful that others can connect with

[Alex Rouder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written, coming of age story from a young man’s perspective with riveting storytelling. Twists and turns abound.

[Ron Frampton · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A memoir of David Barnett life.

[Andy h · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book—well written, engaging, and thought-provoking. Barnett does an excellent job navigating the chaos of adolescence, addiction, friendship, identity, and ambition without forcing the reader toward any particular judgment. His reflections and realizations make the story feel deeply personal while raising bigger questions about who we become and why. The role of music throughout the memoir adds another layer of authenticity and emotion. Particularly engaging and nostalgic for those growing up in the 90's and early 2000's.

[Morgan Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foxtail felt like getting a front-row seat to the inner workings of David Barnett’s mind. I really appreciated how uncensored and honest he was in telling the story of his life—the good, the difficult, the awkward, and the hilarious.

This book genuinely made me laugh out loud more times than I expected, but what stayed with me most was how relatable so much of it felt. His stories of high school, growing up, and trying to find your way through difficult seasons captured experiences and emotions that felt incredibly familiar.

There’s something refreshing about a memoir that doesn’t feel overly polished or carefully filtered. Foxtail feels candid, vulnerable, funny, and very human. I came away feeling like I didn’t just read about Barnett’s life—I got a glimpse of what it was like to experience it through his eyes.