
Straight Pepper Diet
A Memoir
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Narrated by:
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Joseph W. Naus
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By:
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Joseph W. Naus
About this listen
Joseph W. Naus was living the American dream. He'd survived a brutal childhood, graduated from Pepperdine Law School, and become a successful attorney. Then one night his American dream life became a nightmare when his sex and alcohol addictions collided and exploded.
"On Tuesday I was a respected civil trial lawyer making six figures. On Wednesday I woke up handcuffed to a hospital bed, charged with attempted murder...and then it got worse."
Straight Pepper Diet is a book about surviving one's own wreckage. It's harrowing, sometimes hilarious, and surprisingly hope-filled.
©2015 Joseph W. Naus (P)2016 Joseph W. NausListeners also enjoyed...
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The narration was tough to listen to. The story was interesting but I had to stop listening mid way through.
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What listeners say about Straight Pepper Diet
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Maureen McDaniel
- 10-17-16
Totally engrossing memoir of addiction
What made the experience of listening to Straight Pepper Diet the most enjoyable?
The straight drive through this turbulent and often terrifying story. Great writing that rings astonishingly of truth.
What does Joseph W. Naus bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Both his legal perspective and his keen notice of detail is very compelling.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Oh, easily.
Any additional comments?
Hope he keeps writing.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Chris Barry
- 08-05-19
Read by author. Great job
Joseph Naus has written an awesome book. Just as many addicts relate to another's story, I felt as if this book was written for me. Five Stars!!!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Joseph Bauer
- 04-08-18
WOW!! I can't stop listening!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this book!
What was one of the most memorable moments of Straight Pepper Diet?
I really found the prison scenes fasinating!
Have you listened to any of Joseph W. Naus’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
He is the best!
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Yes!
Any additional comments?
Buy this book!
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1 person found this helpful
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- T
- 06-29-16
Great listen
Booze, sex, addiction and breaking the law. I laughed. I cringed. I was able to think back on stupid things I've done. Nothing to this extent but still pretty stupid stuff. This is a great memoir and I really enjoyed the author narrator. He wrote his story what better person to read it right?
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12 people found this helpful
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- Denise Morrill
- 02-02-18
Bravo!
A very well-written, detailed account of the insanity of addiction. I found myself rooting for Joseph then entire time! Listening to this has helped me with my food addiction, one day at a time. Thank you for sharing!
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1 person found this helpful
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- stephanie
- 07-08-16
Awesome read
Loved this book! I may listen again! Very thoughtful, emotional and raw...I felt for Joseph and what he went through
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- S.S.
- 09-05-21
Excellent memoir
This is an incredible story, and I love that you read it yourself. Thank you for sharing. You are helping everyone who comes across your story.
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- Leah
- 07-06-16
Heart wrenchingly healing!
Who was your favorite character and why?
Joseph and his Grampa because they had a quiet bond. No words or expressions of love needed to know it was just comfortably there and without judgement.
Which character – as performed by Joseph W. Naus – was your favorite?
None. He sucks at it.
Any additional comments?
The heart dropping in the court rooms. The panic in prison. All of those moments caused me to hold my breath. What a shining example of using second chances wisely. I wish Joseph all the best!
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- Autumn S.
- 10-11-16
Riveting, Relevant, and Raw
What made the experience of listening to Straight Pepper Diet the most enjoyable?
Joseph's transformation from degenerate to spiritually enlightened is inspiring. He is so honest, so vulnerable and open to judgment, it's truly admirable. It doesn't matter that he'll disgust you at first because you will be able to empathize with the circumstances that led him to deplorable behavior, and you will be proud of him when he frees himself from it.
What other book might you compare Straight Pepper Diet to and why?
I've read other memoirs about addiction and transformation, but nothing like this. SPD made me feel a gamut of positive and negative emotions, which is what books should do.
What does Joseph W. Naus bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Having the story read by the author makes him feel very real, like I was one of his friends or exes. It was great to have his voice contribute to the overall picture of the narrator. His honest thoughts in his own voice maintain the story's authenticity and, again, make him real and likable.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
YES
Any additional comments?
I expected to hate this book. I bought it because I was married to someone like Joseph and I wanted to understand him better. In the end, I don't know if it helped me with that--my ex may very well be a sociopath and Joseph is not-- but I found value in the story anyway. I would read it again and strongly recommend it if you like memoirs.
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13 people found this helpful
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- Bill P.
- 01-19-20
One of the most honest recovery memoirs I’ve read
To work your way to success from desperate circumstances, and then to lose it all in one night, is a tragic set of circumstances. Naus describes how it all unfolded with startling honesty. His is an amazing story of redemption through three months of incarceration and years of patient struggle. I can’t recommend the book enough for anyone who has encountered personal crisis and seeks a model for transcending truly harrowing setbacks.
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