Never Enough: A Way Through Addiction

As a failed music journalist myself, I've always quite envied the perceived lifestyles of writers such as Barney Hoskyns. I realise now that, while reading interviews and articles by rock writers, I'd seldom given any thought to their personalities and inner workings, so this book was both fascinating and very gripping. Hoskyns has often proved how readable his style is, and so it is here; I finished the memoir in less than a day. The first part is a grim analysis of the heroin addiction that he knowingly entered into in his early twenties. It's gruesome stuff, but perhaps no more or less so than many biographies of addicted musicians - I am thinking of books about Johnny Thunders, for example, who features here. Part 2 of the book is even more intriguing, as Hoskyns very frankly reveals himself to be crippled by anxieties that dominate almost every aspect of his waking life (and attempted sleep). He ruminates at length on depression, death, compulsion (forever driven to covet unattainable women, for example). As someone with a family member who suffers from OCD, constantly tormented by terrifying fears, I recognise this all too well, even though Hoskyns never uses the term. Personally, I was lucky enough to read Robert Musil's "The Man Without Characteristics" as a young student and learn its lesson that the only way to deal with life without getting overwhelmed is simply to accept it for what it is and go along with it without questioning it. The "elephant in the room" (forgive the cliché) here is: What happened in the author's youth that might have contributed to his adult traumas? We only meet him when he is twenty. This issue is eventually addressed towards the end, almost as if he'd purposely postponed talking about it. It is with a sense of relief that you find he is able to hold down both a successful career and a rewarding life as a middle-aged family man, but still those doubts and fears dominate his life. It must be absolutely exhausting, but you end up liking and caring for him very much.

Thanks for sharing Barney. I've enjoyed book, articles and the Rock's Back Pages podcast for some years and was around in London for some of the earlier parts of the unfolding tales. For anyone seeking insight into the process of addiction and recovery and the ongoing nature of both, this is a very good little book. Very readable for all the conceptual aspects. Thanks again sir. Always a pleasure.

Refreshing to read something by someone who has lived through it, rather than just helped others to escape it. I found the first half very engaging. The second half was a bit harder going, but nevertheless full of some very insightful adviceAlthough the topic is obviously specifically about a particular type of addiction, there are some useful insights into living life more at peace for everyoneI’ll definitely be reading some more by this author

This is very difficult. The guy needs to be congratulated for giving up heroin and other drugs.However the book is so bleak and his self loathing is too much. The self hatred is endless. Even something simple like perfectionism is seen as self hatred. It is utterly joyless. He talks about his humour helps him. It would also help the reader to demonstrate this or give a few examples instead of the endless exploration of what makes an addict, the spiritual longing, the lack of connection etc etc.The writing style doesn't help. The endless quoting of different books or gurus doesn't add to the narrative, it stilts it. Then referring to pop songs is even worse. For example on the kindle version one page is simply a list of pop songs. I got the point after two. not a page.Yet he is a great writer. His book on Zeppelin is one of the best but he never mentions his achievements. He needs to recognise the great skills he has and congratulate himself. That can be enough.But this is very bleak and I'm concerned about the man.

No doubt this was a brave book to write. The unblinking admission of insatiable narcissism (his words) isn’t easy. But as a read it’s oddly monochrome - like the old NME. Music has a bit part (well, Nick Cave really) mostly there’s a lot of middle class angst - even if it is authentic it makes this a slightly sterile account . 3.5 stars

A beautiful account of a terribly dark period of the authors life and it probably took a great deal of courage to write. I found it inspirational, especially when set along side Mr Hoskyns other work.

It must be me! Having looked at almost all the Amazon and press reviews which are fulsome in their praise (apert from two on Amazon ) I have to conclude that it must be me. Am I the only person who feels that an upper middle-class writer with a very expensive private education - Westminster School, Oxford and an au pair to look after him when young,(and a father who was knighted) is possibly not too convincing as a desperate addict. It is not worth me going into detail - there is far too much cod- psychology and philosophy. Was he ever short of money,did he ever have to beg or steal? Did he ever get busted? Does he not go on about the women in his life! It is a litany of middle class angst, try living in Toxteth or a high rise in Birmigham not some squat in London with cool rock stars flitting in and out. As far as I could see and the I skipped a fair bit. He never relates to real people at all. It is so much about himself. Sorry I am sure it is brilliant really,but not for me.

Brilliant words from a very eloquent writer that will help to bring anyone, an addict or not, out of difficult spells in their lives. It is honest and unafraid to tackle the very darkest parts of our existence, but very much illuminates the fact that there is no situation too difficult to be bettered. Read this if you want it affirmed to you that it is every part of life - the pain and the confusion alongside the laughter and music and happiness - that makes it worth living. To numb yourself from all the richness of existence isn’t worth doing, and Hoskyns illustrates this point beautifully. Definitely read this book.