Courtesy Boy: A True Story of Addiction

by Mike Matson

"If we were to choose someone to become an addict, Mike Matson would be my choice. I know that sounds strange, but his skill to recall his past and describe it is invaluable. He’s cut open a vein to give us a gift."

--Bill Kurtis, Television journalist, producer, and documentarian

356 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

Mike Matson is a lifelong Kansan whose career has touched various aspects of communications: Deejay, radio news, TV news, press secretary to a governor, systems advocacy and newspaper columnist.

His professional success paralleled an addiction-related downward trajectory featuring all the drama one might expect. This dichotomy is the premise of Courtesy Boy: A True Story of Addiction.

He wrote the book to help those still suffering - and their loved ones - connect the dots between destructive personality traits/behaviors and the potential for addiction.

Matson lives where he was born, in Manhattan, Kansas, with his wife and their two Australian Shepherds.

Reviews

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Matson is an incredibly talented writer who I’ve enjoyed reading for many years. From his pithy blog posts to his insightful column in the Manhattan Mercury to his first book exploring his family’s history with addiction, Mike always has something interesting to say. This book is his magnum opus. Mike builds a compelling story, expertly adding logs to the fireplace until it becomes a roaring blaze that you can’t put down. But beyond the expert writing and nostalgia, Mike’s message of addiction and recovery will resound with all his readers, no matter what their own personal struggles may be.

[Phil White · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a self-awareness and memory that are nothing short of amazing, Mike Matson takes the reader on a journey through his formative years and his battle against addiction.

Matson’s excellent storytelling helps us recognize traits within ourselves or within some of those close to us and helps to provide a better understanding of addiction, which touches us all, whether directly or adjacently.

[Melinda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

On point nonfiction details Mike Matson's experiences with addiction. Easy to find relevance.

[Mace Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true tale of transformation...over and over and over again...until he gets it right. Mike's bravery in sharing his story of addiction was riveting. A great cast of real-life characters and a gripping tale of a grocery store courtesy boy turned broadcaster turned professional communicator. This story of personal and professional growth and relapse ran on multiple parallels, some negative, but also some positive -- sometimes even intersecting. It was almost as if his entire life was a singular 12-step process of discovery. The story was brutally transparent and tenderly triumphant at the same time. I knew how it was going to end, but I found myself rooting for him through all the adversity.