Follow the author as he goes on a harrowing journey from the US Olympic Training Center to homeless shelters to shooting heroin on the job to being declared dead. This story goes beyond addiction. It is about the fragility and tenacity of the human spirit and how that spirit can redeem each and every one of us by helping to push us through the darkness; whether the darkness is from death; divorce; or the disease of addiction.Acrobaddict is a story about the close relationship between athletics and drug addiction—how the same energy; obsession; and dedication that can create an Olympic athlete can also create a homeless drug addict.PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (Starred review) After reading former Olympic gymnastics hopeful Putignanos sinister yet intoxicating memoir of addiction; recovery; and more addiction; you wind up feeling like one of his closest friends. The first-time author; who now portrays Crystal Man in Cirque du Soleils traveling production of Totem; divulges what must be nearly every significant detail of his journey from the basement of his parents Massachusetts home; where as an 8-year-old he taught himself flips using old couch cushions; to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs; where the authors insane quest for perfection exposed his insecurities and triggered his self-loathing; and finally to a seemingly never-ending series of addict escapades throughout his college and post-college years that somehow did not even climax after he was twice declared clinically dead. Putignanos homosexuality plays a crucial role in his story; and it is the one topic here he handles delicately. Elsewhere; his prose is unfiltered: graphic and intimate. Prone to hyperbole to the point of distraction; Putignano nevertheless writes so vividly about his highs that readers practically experience them with him. Similarly; his lows drop them into the private circles of hell on earth he created. A more powerful anti-drug missive would be tough to find. (Sept.)LIBRARY JOURNAL (July 22; 2013) Dale Farris; Groves; TX–Former star acrobatic contortionist and gymnast of the Cirque du Soleilrsquo;s “Totem;rdquo; performer in Twyla Tharprsquo;s musical The Times They Are Arsquo;changin; and guest on Dr. Sanjay Guptarsquo;s CNN show Human Factor; Putignano; shares his heartfelt; emotionally wrenching story of addiction to heroin. Putignanorsquo;s memoir takes readers on an unsettling journey from his experience in the U.S. Olympic Training Center to homeless shelters to shooting heroin on the job; and even being declared dead. His vivid; brutally honest story begins with his realizing at an early age his innate talent for gymnastics; followed by his obsession with becoming an Olympic gymnastic champion; how he abandoned his Olympic hopes to chase his love of heroin; and ultimately how he managed to overcome his addiction and move into long-term recovery and stability. The narrative is replete with colorful descriptions of his many harrowing experiences; and deep musings that have formed the foundation for his commitment to remain free of drugs and a shining light for others who may be seeking guidance. VERDICT Putignanorsquo;s honest memoir of drug abuse is a valuable addition to substance-abuse literature. His status as a successful gymnast and performer helps connect readers; and his impressive; erudite style results in a highly credible addition to this rapidly saturating genre.
#1450585 in eBooks 2013-08-01 2013-08-01File Name: B00EA7UK7W
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A non fiction history bookBy Beachbum 904A big book filled with information. It was entertaining and very interesting. I first read Schubertrsquo;s life. After all; I like his inpromptus. It was a mistake: girls; parties; wine; night life; venereal diseasehellip;; but I discovered later that the whole book did not treat only of sex.Composers have always been good at finding the most beautiful; romantic; and lush places in Europe: Austrian forests; Russian villages; lake Como and Bellagio; islands in the Mediterranean Sea - the nicest in Italy; and even Vatican - all were frequented by composers.Politics: they did not have Internet; but they were well aware of the political movements: invasion by the French armies; fall of Napoleon; revolutions in France every 20 years; invasions of Poland and of France; iron hand of Bismark; fall of various dynasties; and later dictators of communist Russia; etc. In fact; they were often directly impacted by politics. They had their own opinions which sometimes did not match the newly established government; and at all times; they needed sponsors; publishers; money; and concert halls. Some of them had to hide in order not to be arrested.I wonder if contemporary composers are confronted to the same problems.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. It reads like a novel- but the lives of these composers is anything but ordinaryBy Hal 9000It read like a novel- As most musically trained people know is that the evolution classical music spanned about 150 years. An also that these musician were isolated primarily from Italy to Western Russia to the Baltics. What this book also teaches is how many of these composers knew each other or their families or were their instructors or pupils or whos wife ran off with whos husband. Of course there is talk of their individual approaches to music but more from a listeners POV. Great read20 of 21 people found the following review helpful. Any lover of classical music might want to buy this book.By Stanley HauerI am not a professional musicologist; just a passionate amateur. I read a lot of musical biography and such; so I was pleasantly surprised to see just how much I learned from this book. It is a real joy to read; the sort of book one doesnt want to end. In my view; it is generally balanced and fair (though the chapters on Wagner and R. Strauss come close to assassination at times). Rather like Edward Gibbon; Steen lives out his sex life in his footnotes; which are often hilarious. The book is elaborately; even tediously; documented; but the source notes are in the back; so as not to distract from the text notes. This is not a book on music; it is a book on composers: biography not musicology. (As Steen explains in a humorous introduction; music is about cellos; biography about fellows.)I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. At the risk of sounding petty; I wish that so distinguished publisher as Oxford could have employed an editor to rid this otherwise fine work of numerous grammatical errors. But put down your red pen for a while and just have a good time with Steens exploration of Western music.