Mackenzie Phillips shares “a raw glimpse” (Entertainment Weekly) into her lifelong battle with personal demons and near-fatal addictions—and reveals the shattering truth behind her complex, secretive, and damaging history with her father, the legendary John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas.
Not long before her fiftieth birthday, Mackenzie Phillips made headlines with her arrest for drug possession at Los Angeles International Airport; the actor-musician-mother had been on her way to a reunion of One Day at a Time, the hugely popular ’70s sitcom on which she once starred as the lovable rebel Julie Cooper.
Born into rock-and-roll royalty, flying in Learjets to the Virgin Islands at five, making pot brownies with Donovan at eleven, Mackenzie grew up in an all-access kingdom of hippie freedom and heroin cool. As a rising Hollywood star herself, she joined the nonstop party in the hedonistic pleasure dome of her father’s making, and a rapt TV audience watched as Julie Cooper wasted away before their eyes. By the time Mackenzie discovered how deep and dark her father’s trip was going, it was too late.
As an adult, she has paid dearly for a lifetime of excess, working tirelessly to reconcile her wonderful, terrible past and the pull of her magnetic father. By sharing her journey toward redemption and peace, the star who turned up High on Arrival has finally come back down to earth—to stay.
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"WOW! Holy train wreck that keeps you wanting more and more. You just keep wondering what on earth could possibly happen next. Mackenzie Phillips certainly lived a wild and colorful life. It's really amazing that she has lived has long as she has. Very interesting and worth the read."
— Angie (4 out of 5 stars)
I felt many things while reading this book -- which I did in one overnight sitting -- but when I reached the last page I felt only one: a tremendous respect for its author and a deep appreciation of just exactly how courageous she is to publish this book. This is no celebrity addiction memoir. And it is no 'former child star falls from grace' saga, either. It is the heart-wrenching and perilous story that thousands and thousands of perfectly ordinary women and men lived themselves, silently, numbly, and with obedience and love. By making her search for redemption public -- despite the inevitable backlash -- Mackenzie Phillips may very well help others find it for themselves. Rich with compassion, forgiveness, and wisdom, this is a brave memoir executed with an unwavering loyalty and commitment to truth.
— Augusten Burroughs" best strung out celebrity reading ever! "
— Extremelywitty, 2/17/2014" Great book! Its always good to see someone overcome addiction and trauma. i hope she continues her path to recovery "
— Shanda, 1/25/2014" UGH! This book sucked! Enough said! "
— Janine, 1/23/2014" It's fascinating as Well as sad and tortured. Read it! "
— Ton, 1/21/2014" Book was good. I read it fairly quickly. It is surprising that Mackenzie is still alive today after all of the partying and drug abuse. "
— Emily, 1/18/2014" Whoaaa...druggie. Talk about missed opportunities. "
— Janeane, 1/15/2014" Was a little disturbing, but an easy read. You can't help but feel for Mackenzie and the life she was subjected to. I thought my childhood was tough until I read this book. "
— Laura, 1/12/2014" I'm slumming, I know. "
— Kate, 12/4/2013" Easy read. Trashy. But nonetheless, a helluva book. "
— Justin, 10/25/2013" Frank - I felt for her - as opposed to her dad (& his book) - oy. "
— The, 8/2/2013" I knew she had a hard life but this was disappointing. "
— Jane, 6/7/2013" This was a tremendous story. Who knew Mackenzie was as messed up as she was? It was a cliffhanger in such that you couldn't wait to see how much lower she'd sink. "
— Sign, 8/13/2012" How "Mack" survived her drug-filled life is a miracle. Pretty shocking indictment of her father. "
— Heidi, 6/18/2012" All I can say is that I had some daddy issues but no way does it compare. This is sad story but a very interesting read. "
— Miranda, 1/19/2012" I don't know what I think about this book. I am amazed that she survived the many years of drug abuse and I am glad that she is now clean and sober. I hope that she will be able to maintain that status. "
— Danthony74, 9/18/2011" This book was fantastic. Mackenzie Phillips wrote a tragic memoir yet full of hope, forgiveness, and empathy, even for her musical genius father, who was amoral and criminally self-indulgent. "
— Heather, 8/11/2011" I liked this book. Interesting story about her life as the daughter of John Phillips from the Mamas and Papas. "
— Lesley, 6/1/2011" I found the book poorly written. Her writing jumps all over the place. At times I felt like I was reading jumbled thoughts. Despite this, it was an interesting story. I do hope she makes it through the rest of her life sober. "
— Laurie, 5/20/2011" WOW, hard to believe that people actually live/lived like this. Glad my family was "normal". Ha "
— Mary, 5/20/2011" She isn't a good author as she jumps around A LOT, but it was interesting to read. Hard to believe she is still alive. "
— Jessi, 5/13/2011" SO glad I'm not rich and famous! "
— Michelle, 5/1/2011" I love Mackenzie Phillips after reading this. It gives you a glimpse into a whole other world. So interesting. "
— Lindsay, 4/27/2011" A journey through a childhood where unlimited wealth meets complete lack of personal restraint. I think I have my final candidate for "worst parent in the history of the world". "
— Rosie, 4/25/2011" Was a little disturbing, but an easy read. You can't help but feel for Mackenzie and the life she was subjected to. I thought my childhood was tough until I read this book. "
— Laura, 4/11/2011" needed some mindless reading, this sure covers it. Holy crap what a disaster. Like watching a train wreck. She spared nothing and seemed to have miraculously come out the other side a whole person. Her fortitude is nothing short of staggering. "
— Lizzie, 4/4/2011" One things for sure, Mack certainly lead a crazy and sad life. She was a hardcore drug user that learned most of her behavior from her father. For me, this book started out fine, but soon I got sick of reading about a coke and heroin addicts drama. "
— Megan, 3/23/2011" can't help hoping that she remians clean and sober "
— Josie, 3/15/2011" Really good and a little disturbing. "
— Christine, 3/7/2011Mackenzie Phillips is the daughter of John Phillips and stepdaughter of Michelle Phillips, both lead singers of the 60s band The Mamas and The Papas. She starred as Julie Cooper Horvath on the sitcom One Day at a Time.