What do you think?
Rate this book
Crazy Town: Money. Marriage. Meth.
Sterling Braswell has two tickets to crazy one is his riveting personal account of meth addiction and the other is a thorough global history of the methamphetamine epidemic.. Sterling Braswell was a millionaire -- palatial ranch, stock options, and money in the bank. Then he met his high school sweetheart after not seeing her for over ten years. With their love rekindled, they were married. Life was beautiful. They had no real worries, a lovely son, and a bright future. Then she started using meth. The craziness of the next few years would leave Sterling almost completely broke financially, emotionally, and spiritually ... and nearly murdered.
- GenresNonfictionMemoirDrugs
267 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
117 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Sterling R. Braswell
3 booksSterling Ray Braswell was born September 14, 1963 to Eddie Roy and Carolyn Ruth Childress Braswell in Colorado City, Texas, the third of four children.
Sterling graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas in 1982 and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. Sterling landed in Dallas and worked for IBM and Micro Solutions, where he found a large group of friends.
He left Dallas to work for Microsoft in Los Angeles, Seattle and Brazil. He returned to Texas where he continued to work for Microsoft and other technology interests.
Braswell passed away quietly at home at age 49 in College Station, Texas on Monday, September 24, 2012.
He is survived by his son Spencer Ray Braswell, age 12 of Waco, Texas. He is also survived by his father Eddie Roy Braswell of College Station, Texas; his sister Ginger Carole Williams and her husband Matt Williams of The Woodlands, brother Eddie Van Braswell and wife Elissa of Crowley, and brother Gentry Braswell of Houston. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends and extended family. He is preceded in death by his mother Carolyn Ruth Childress Braswell.
Sterling graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas in 1982 and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. Sterling landed in Dallas and worked for IBM and Micro Solutions, where he found a large group of friends.
He left Dallas to work for Microsoft in Los Angeles, Seattle and Brazil. He returned to Texas where he continued to work for Microsoft and other technology interests.
Braswell passed away quietly at home at age 49 in College Station, Texas on Monday, September 24, 2012.
He is survived by his son Spencer Ray Braswell, age 12 of Waco, Texas. He is also survived by his father Eddie Roy Braswell of College Station, Texas; his sister Ginger Carole Williams and her husband Matt Williams of The Woodlands, brother Eddie Van Braswell and wife Elissa of Crowley, and brother Gentry Braswell of Houston. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends and extended family. He is preceded in death by his mother Carolyn Ruth Childress Braswell.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 26, 2018
Crazy Town: Money. Marriage. Meth.
“But she seems to have arrived at the realization that this is the way adjusted people live, that we are all at best mildly unhappy, that human existence is not an uninterrupted series of incredible highs and lows. Life is dull but bearable and sustainable.”
Oh, this is twisted good. Drugs, sex and betrayal, it’s got all the basic food groups to make a good book, and it’s non-fiction. But you have to bear with it a bit and let it build. The chapters go back and forth between the history of amphetamines & methamphetamines, and then Sterling’s life. And at a certain point the stories do meet, or cross paths. Sterling Braswell and Lucille have history, the kind that went way back, all the way back to high school. They went steady, got drunk for the first time together, went skinny dipping, and lost their virginity together. Since then, Lucille had become a physician’s assistant, and Sterling had gotten rich in the technology boom. They hadn’t seen one another since they went off to different colleges and now it had been years, when she called after running into one of his friends. They make plans for dinner and later go meet some of his tech friends. When he takes her home later, she pays the sitter and he realizes that she’s a single mom now. This is the start of something, but what? It’s the start of a trip to Crazy Town. And it does get quite crazy along the way. There are some good points in the history part of this book, and Sterling’s story is an excellent lesson in itself. A good read for those interested in addiction stories, biographies dealing with such, and reads along those lines. I found it quite good.
“Narcissists also require unlimited admiration, are themselves arrogant, and most significantly, lack feelings of empathy.“
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
“But she seems to have arrived at the realization that this is the way adjusted people live, that we are all at best mildly unhappy, that human existence is not an uninterrupted series of incredible highs and lows. Life is dull but bearable and sustainable.”
Oh, this is twisted good. Drugs, sex and betrayal, it’s got all the basic food groups to make a good book, and it’s non-fiction. But you have to bear with it a bit and let it build. The chapters go back and forth between the history of amphetamines & methamphetamines, and then Sterling’s life. And at a certain point the stories do meet, or cross paths. Sterling Braswell and Lucille have history, the kind that went way back, all the way back to high school. They went steady, got drunk for the first time together, went skinny dipping, and lost their virginity together. Since then, Lucille had become a physician’s assistant, and Sterling had gotten rich in the technology boom. They hadn’t seen one another since they went off to different colleges and now it had been years, when she called after running into one of his friends. They make plans for dinner and later go meet some of his tech friends. When he takes her home later, she pays the sitter and he realizes that she’s a single mom now. This is the start of something, but what? It’s the start of a trip to Crazy Town. And it does get quite crazy along the way. There are some good points in the history part of this book, and Sterling’s story is an excellent lesson in itself. A good read for those interested in addiction stories, biographies dealing with such, and reads along those lines. I found it quite good.
“Narcissists also require unlimited admiration, are themselves arrogant, and most significantly, lack feelings of empathy.“
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
May 27, 2019
It's a shame -- with a good editor, this book could have been excellent.
Some people hated the format of alternating between a chapter of the history of meth and a chapter of memoir. I think putting meth in historical context and breaking up the bleak story was a good thing. Like everything else, it needed editing and fact-checking because I noticed some things right off that were incorrect.
The first 2/3 or so of the book is not perfect but a good read, then the tone shifts abruptly. He clearly had not yet processed the traumatic events, because when he gets into his divorce and custody battle, the memoir shifts from storytelling into spleen-venting and he takes the tone of a mens' rights activist. An editor would have helped him get some emotional distance and avoid extreme and emotionally loaded language (such as "toothless hillbilly" and "retard").
A good memoir is about self-reflection, including the good, bad and ugly, and I don't think the author accepted his part in what happened. In addition to having his own addiction issues, he would have benefited from Al-Anon and some counseling. At the time of writing, he seemed to be in the victim mentality, very angry, and not ready to learn about himself from the experience. I can't judge him for that, because it takes what it takes to recover from such a horrible ordeal, but bear in mind that it hurt the quality of the book.
I don't read about authors until I finish the book, and sadly, I discovered on this Goodreads bio that the author passed away in 2012. I hope that he was able to find peace and that his son is doing well.
Some people hated the format of alternating between a chapter of the history of meth and a chapter of memoir. I think putting meth in historical context and breaking up the bleak story was a good thing. Like everything else, it needed editing and fact-checking because I noticed some things right off that were incorrect.
The first 2/3 or so of the book is not perfect but a good read, then the tone shifts abruptly. He clearly had not yet processed the traumatic events, because when he gets into his divorce and custody battle, the memoir shifts from storytelling into spleen-venting and he takes the tone of a mens' rights activist. An editor would have helped him get some emotional distance and avoid extreme and emotionally loaded language (such as "toothless hillbilly" and "retard").
A good memoir is about self-reflection, including the good, bad and ugly, and I don't think the author accepted his part in what happened. In addition to having his own addiction issues, he would have benefited from Al-Anon and some counseling. At the time of writing, he seemed to be in the victim mentality, very angry, and not ready to learn about himself from the experience. I can't judge him for that, because it takes what it takes to recover from such a horrible ordeal, but bear in mind that it hurt the quality of the book.
I don't read about authors until I finish the book, and sadly, I discovered on this Goodreads bio that the author passed away in 2012. I hope that he was able to find peace and that his son is doing well.
December 7, 2009
I liked how this wasn't just a memoir of a guy married to a meth head, but it also detailed the history of the drug. Very interesting and I learned some new things (like its use with the military). Normally meth is associated with "white trash" so I thought it was an interesting angle that this guy was a millionaire. It made him more relatable, not the wealth angle, but the average-guy-with-a-nice-house-and-career part. Granted, he made a lot of mistakes. For instance, marrying the chick in the first place despite knowing her penchant for Stadol. His actions were at time frustrating. The writing itself was rather plain and the whole "crazy town" metaphor got a little old at the end. Still, though, a fascinating read and a solid "3." And you definitely realize there are no "happy endings" where meth is concerned.
June 10, 2019
Money doesn't buy happiness
Or sanity. Looking past the authors obvious high self regard, ego, overuse of big words and innumerable typos, within these pages is a sad, astonishing, hard to believe account of what happens when meth enters and takes over a life. The meth problem is very prevalent in my area. It's true that it's not a white trash drug problem. It's in doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, business owners homes as much or more than any trailer park. It's been delivered on UPS and bread trucks, by the mail lady and the church deacon. It's cooked in the ritziest neighborhoods until an explosion wipes out a couple of houses. I've seen the most beautiful women turn into the most hideous monsters. One thing Sterling never touched on was the fact Carter was born addicted. I wonder how this has affected his development. I know dad has sole responsibility of providing for Carter but he's being left to be raised by a nanny. His mom has abandoned him. Dad's gone a lot. Poor Damien is the biggest casualty after the child molestation on top of everything else. It really bothered me the way that was addressed in this book. No one uses the retarded word to describe someone with learning disabilities anymore. It's truly sick what people do to themselves and others in the throes of madness.
Or sanity. Looking past the authors obvious high self regard, ego, overuse of big words and innumerable typos, within these pages is a sad, astonishing, hard to believe account of what happens when meth enters and takes over a life. The meth problem is very prevalent in my area. It's true that it's not a white trash drug problem. It's in doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, business owners homes as much or more than any trailer park. It's been delivered on UPS and bread trucks, by the mail lady and the church deacon. It's cooked in the ritziest neighborhoods until an explosion wipes out a couple of houses. I've seen the most beautiful women turn into the most hideous monsters. One thing Sterling never touched on was the fact Carter was born addicted. I wonder how this has affected his development. I know dad has sole responsibility of providing for Carter but he's being left to be raised by a nanny. His mom has abandoned him. Dad's gone a lot. Poor Damien is the biggest casualty after the child molestation on top of everything else. It really bothered me the way that was addressed in this book. No one uses the retarded word to describe someone with learning disabilities anymore. It's truly sick what people do to themselves and others in the throes of madness.
May 24, 2017
Interesting
Barnwell clearly danced with the devil, but the interruptions of the chapters detailing the history of meth break up the flow of the story. The narrative doesn't fill out in a smooth transition and make for easy reading. You want to know more about the personal interactions and it comes across as light and impersonal. Understandably, he is angry and many kudos to him for fighting for his son, but it could have been more concentrated on the details. It was interesting, but not fantastic.
Barnwell clearly danced with the devil, but the interruptions of the chapters detailing the history of meth break up the flow of the story. The narrative doesn't fill out in a smooth transition and make for easy reading. You want to know more about the personal interactions and it comes across as light and impersonal. Understandably, he is angry and many kudos to him for fighting for his son, but it could have been more concentrated on the details. It was interesting, but not fantastic.
July 20, 2019
Almost 5 stars
I’m a sucker for sub culture books and this one did not disappoint. The only reason I held back one star is because the author’s bitterness ( and he’s more than allowed his bitterness) seeps into several parts of the book. This personal bitterness, I feel, takes away some of the absolute horror this poor man has endured.
Over all it’s an excellently told tale that gives anyone tremendous food for thought.
I’m a sucker for sub culture books and this one did not disappoint. The only reason I held back one star is because the author’s bitterness ( and he’s more than allowed his bitterness) seeps into several parts of the book. This personal bitterness, I feel, takes away some of the absolute horror this poor man has endured.
Over all it’s an excellently told tale that gives anyone tremendous food for thought.
January 27, 2023
Idk why this book was suggested to me online—maybe since I read lots of memoirs—but the writing was much finer than I expected, particularly given the author’s background as a tech engineer, not a writer.
The history of the drug was engrossing, as well as well-timed: I was curious to learn more after reading about the Finnish soldier Aimo Koivunen and his absolutely bananas Pervitin adventure.
The history of the drug was engrossing, as well as well-timed: I was curious to learn more after reading about the Finnish soldier Aimo Koivunen and his absolutely bananas Pervitin adventure.
July 11, 2017
Very good!
Amazing book and very well written by the man who lived this nightmare! I learned a great deal of history about drugs and substances, going back through the years to eventually to current times and the many similarities. Sterling has very good insight into a better way of handling our drug epidemics and the people involved with them. Good book!
Amazing book and very well written by the man who lived this nightmare! I learned a great deal of history about drugs and substances, going back through the years to eventually to current times and the many similarities. Sterling has very good insight into a better way of handling our drug epidemics and the people involved with them. Good book!
June 27, 2017
Interesting memoir of a man who had his life changed by meth despite never using the drug himself. Nicely done story with a history of stimulants and how they were developed, used and eventually why most were banned.
April 16, 2018
Excellent account of what methamphetamines can do to a stable family.
Good , interesting book, but a little annoying because after every chapter dedicated to the author's personal experience, there is a chapter detailing the history of drugs in America.
Good , interesting book, but a little annoying because after every chapter dedicated to the author's personal experience, there is a chapter detailing the history of drugs in America.
May 7, 2018
Interesting - loved the way the writer went back and forth with history and his story. Usually that type of writing style frustrates me but he kept it tight and factual. Just enough to not take away from the story. Learned interesting facts along with a heartbreaking story.
July 8, 2018
Interesting true story about the authors life dealing with a drug addicted wife. Intermittent chapters about drug facts and statistics. Loved the book and read it in one day. Unreal what he went through!
April 7, 2020
History lesson
Seems more like a history of the drug than anything else. Feel sorry for the guy but in truth, his story is just like many others, including those of people I know. So sorry Mr. Braswell and hope all is ok now
Seems more like a history of the drug than anything else. Feel sorry for the guy but in truth, his story is just like many others, including those of people I know. So sorry Mr. Braswell and hope all is ok now
July 17, 2017
Drug Is God
This is very well written. Mixing history about all Drugs from 1218 CE
to 2000 is an education for the reader.
This is very well written. Mixing history about all Drugs from 1218 CE
to 2000 is an education for the reader.
February 23, 2018
Crazy Town is a sad story. I am sure it was healing for the author to tell his story and for that reason I give it 3 stars. A book I would not recommend.
April 12, 2020
Crazy Town
Well written, and very informative. Gives a deeply personal story and very educational, too. I hope to read more from this author.
Well written, and very informative. Gives a deeply personal story and very educational, too. I hope to read more from this author.
March 19, 2023
Poor Carter.
March 3, 2013
Thia memoir, written by a man whose life has been irrevocably changed and damaged by amphetamines is well worth reading. First of all, Mr. Braswell, is not an amphetamine user himself. However, after many years, he ran into his high school sweetheart, and the two married. What the author did not know was that his wife had become totally addicted to amphetamines, to the point she emptied their joint bank accounts while having an affair with one of their employees, so that this employee could "cook" batches of meth to make money and for personal use. This is one crazy and almost unvbelievable story. However, the author tells it very well. He has also done his due diligence in researching the history of meth, Ecstasy and other related drugs. I would be willing to be that if the public in general knew that Adolf Hitler had an amphetamine shot daily (not to mention the factory workers in both Japan and Germany to increase work production, as well as to fly Kamikaze missions), the drug would not be so popular. JFK, too, also had shots of amphetamine and Vitamin B12 daily. However, at that time no one could see the future. This group of drugs has helped to bring down western society, not to mention it is physically harmful both to the user, the "cooker", and the environment. (I once saw an idiot pouring his used motor oil out on the ground by Shasta Lake; wonder how many meth cooks have done the same with their waste? These materials get into the water table and help to destroy the planet). What amazes me is that this drug is still popular;however, there have been scientific studies done showing that "altering" our own reality may be hardwired into the human brain. If that is so, instead of wasting all this money on an unwinnable "war", perhaps scientists should find more benign alternatives to these most dangerous and terrible chemicals. A perfect example is alcohol, although there will always be the people who abuse any substance. However, this particular class of drugs is especially dangerous because it has killed people because of overdoses, explosions, not to mention home invasions and related crimes that go along with the extreme craving some people have for the drug. It has been shows that after long time use, the drugs in this class can cause permanent psychosis, Parkinson-like symptoms, and brain damage on the cellular level. And those are only the ones which have been strongly studied. Mr. Braswell ended up divorced from his wife, and he ended up with the custody of their child, but as he says, once you have a child with someone, they are always in your life, one way or another. I am sure there are millions of people out there who wish they never had gotten involved with so-called "tweakers." At one time, I knew a few of these people because I had met them before they got involved with the drug. Lord please don't judge me for wanting to move away from the area where I used to live because these folks are like fleas. They leave irritating bites and you can't get rid of them...... Overall, a very well-written book!
July 31, 2014
It is very rare that I hand out a one star review but this book is a train wreck. The author alternates chapters between his story and the history of amphetamines. While this might have been good in concept in reality it just annoyed the hell out of me. Every time I started to get into the narrative I was ripped away into this separate tangent.
As for the'actual' story this is where the real train wreck occurs. It jumps all over the place and has no flow what so ever. The editing is atrocious and really impacts on the readability of the story. For example during one passage the story jumps from one scene to the next, excuse me a new paragraph would have been nice. This book is only the second one I have never able finish and this is a shame because the story had so much potential. It highlights the danger of quality control the self-publishing movement can bring.
As for the'actual' story this is where the real train wreck occurs. It jumps all over the place and has no flow what so ever. The editing is atrocious and really impacts on the readability of the story. For example during one passage the story jumps from one scene to the next, excuse me a new paragraph would have been nice. This book is only the second one I have never able finish and this is a shame because the story had so much potential. It highlights the danger of quality control the self-publishing movement can bring.
October 1, 2010
An interesting and sometimes downright frightening book about the meth epidemic. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it but found myself really drawn into the story.
March 12, 2012
Read it:
Very interesting, a good strong history lesson slashed with crazy meth psychos. Ike, yep it kept me hanging on till the last page.
Very interesting, a good strong history lesson slashed with crazy meth psychos. Ike, yep it kept me hanging on till the last page.
June 11, 2014
I was intrigued by Sterling Braswell's point of view and loved his story. I did like the history of meth and a background of meth in general. I found this book very interesting.
December 18, 2018
So weird! A trashy tale of meth. Not the best writing, despicable characters. But, I had to see what happened to everyone!
May 10, 2020
Meth is a hell of a drug but that isn’t news to anyone.
Read
March 12, 2019Openion
The book was real or told the truth about the drug pandemic in this country,there will soon be a society of zombies as a result of drug abuse in this country, where people are so unhappy they resort to feel numb
The book was real or told the truth about the drug pandemic in this country,there will soon be a society of zombies as a result of drug abuse in this country, where people are so unhappy they resort to feel numb
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews