The Palsgraf Revelation: A Memoir of Love, Addiction, Recovery and Practical Spirituality

by Joseph W Naus

As chronicled in his sleeper-hit memoir, Straight Pepper Diet, one fateful summer night, Joseph Naus, a young LA lawyer, went out to have just a couple of drinks. He awoke the next morning handcuffed to a hospital bed and charged with attempted murder …. and then it got worse. The Palsgraf Revelation begins where Straight Pepper Diet left off. Joseph survived the initial blast of the nuclear bomb he dropped on his own life, but if he wants to become more than a shocking cautionary tale, he must now learn to live with the devastating fallout. He’s an active 12-Stepper, sober and free of sex-addiction for two years, but he’s got big problems. A disbarred lawyer, a two-strike felon, and permanently labeled a threat to society, he’s seemingly unemployable and un-dateable. He’s smoking a pack a day and can’t quit; and, he’s running out of money, speeding down the freeway to homelessness, unable to locate the offramp to “The Road of Happy Destiny.” The Palsgraf Revelation is more than an addiction and recovery memoir. It’s a documentation of American society leading up to and during the Great Recession. It’s a love story, a forgiveness story, a story of struggling to make a living, a story of hitting bottom in recovery and reluctantly and ever-critically seeking “outside help.”The Palsgraf Revelation is a story of acceptance and spiritual truth that reveals—in Joseph’s engaging style—the remedy for any ruined life.

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2020

Reviews

[Lisa Julien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binge-listened the audiobook in a week. I loved his first book, but finished it thinking: “what the hell is he going to do now?” This book is a satisfying answer. Compelling, insightful, and well-written, The Palsgraf Revelation follows Joseph’s day-to-day life in minute detail, yet miraculously never gets boring. Even the less enthralling golf sub-plot reminded me a bit of the 200 pages of Anna Karenina about agriculture, in which subjecting the reader to detailed documentation of throwing oneself at a goal becomes its own sort of literary device to effectively illustrate the reality of hard work. The detailed account about his past and post-arrest job search made me empathetic and I felt genuinely happy for him when things went well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of whether they read the first book.

[Alysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, harrowing and satisfying.

I had read Straight Pepper Diet three times before this follow up memoir was released, and I’m blown away again by the rawness and intricacy of JWN’s story and writing style. Recommend this a hundred times over, especially if you’re struggling with alcohol, sobriety or any stage in between. Brilliant and addictive (no pun intended) read, with no holds barred.

[Colby Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up

Another great piece of Naus’ life. Even though he’s had such undeserving disasters he keeps moving forward. I relate to his struggles with sobriety and saw myself in some of his struggles. Can’t wait to read whatever is in store next for the readers.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! So glad I found Joseph Naus when listening to RMA podcast. Looking forward to his next book!

[Michelle Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as straight pepper diet. But if you like reading about someone learning to play golf, it might be better.