Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything
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4.7 • 123 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER*
Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner narrates their revelatory and incisive memoir—from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma—may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age. This audiobook contains clips from the song "Stripped Bare," by the author, Alyson Stoner.
Raised on soundstages and studio lots from the age of six, shuffling between auditions for Disney Channel, Cheaper by the Dozen, or Missy Elliott music videos, Alyson Stoner experienced many of the defining moments of childhood inside the bizarre fishbowl of Hollywood. From working eighty hours a week at eight years old, to learning how to distinguish fan mail from kidnapping plots, to TV execs saying they weren’t “anorexic enough” to stop working and get help, Alyson struggled to find stability and sanity in a chaotic world.
In Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, Alyson shares their powerful story for the first time, detailing a turbulent home life fractured by substance abuse, harrowing accounts from rehab, the messy process of discovering their sexuality in church, rebuilding a life after an early professional peak, and charting a path of self-discovery and advocacy. With striking introspection, Alyson connects the dots across the entertainment industry ecosystem, child development, and media culture, exposing the “toddler to trainwreck pipeline” of child stars and sparking timely conversations about success and society’s enchantment with fame.
Bold, entertaining, warm, and galvanizing all at once, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is more than a personal memoir: it’s a beacon for industry reform, a road map for breaking the bonds of generational trauma, and a testament to the freedom and strength that come from finally trusting your own voice and power.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Customer Reviews
Thank you!
It took me a minuet to get into it, but once I was in; I was hooked! Thank you for sharing your story!
Glad I got the audio.
I debated whether physical or audio… I had a lengthy dental procedure, 4hrs to be exact. I made the decision to do the audiobook, since I remember the author reads the book. A beautiful listen while my tooth was getting ready for a crown, the laser was supplementing the deep cleaning and fillings were happening. After the procedure, I kept listening nonstop until the end. Beautiful, beautiful!
Run, Don’t Walk!! 🏃🏻♀️
Candid, captivating, and gut-wrenching. This incredibly well-written tale takes you on an un-edited journey through the many twists and turns of Alyson’s life. It’s smart and written with exceptional care and intention.. with a greater purpose than merely exposing a shocking Hollywood story. Seriously, read this.