Details from Audible:
- Written by: Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Andy Symonds
- Narrated by: Mike Sorrentino, Lauren Sorrentino, Linda Sorrentino, Jordan Marc, Andy Symonds
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 2023-12-13
- Language: English
- Publisher: Ballast Books
- 4.7 out of 5 stars (49 ratings)
Publisher’s Summary
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino gives fans the inside scoop they’ve been begging for with his explosive tell-all.
In this whirlwind of action-packed, unbelievable stories, Mike paints a raw and uncensored picture of his rise to stardom, steep fall, and amazing renaissance, all told with unwavering honesty. Divulging everything from drug-fueled orgies to what really happened behind the scenes of reality television’s most loved and dysfunctional family, Mike’s book reveals all for the first time.
In his familiar, straightforward voice, he hilariously tells of intoxicated run-ins with celebrities like The Rock, Robert Downey Jr., Drake, Jay Leno, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Hasselhoff, Jason Statham, Lil Wayne, Kristin Cavallari, Whoopi Goldberg, and more. Alongside the comical moments, he describes more poignant events, such as the frantic searches for opiates to sate excruciating withdrawals, including one such time in Italy, which led to the infamous wall headbutt fight with Ronnie.
No punches are pulled in this unfiltered tale, relating Mike’s darkest thoughts after trying heroin, going to prison, and grieving his wife’s tragic miscarriages. However, like in all true redemption stories, Mike never gave up, and listeners are sure to be inspired by his determination to get clean and sober and become the man he is today. With pure candor and vulnerability, he delivers details on the mindset that got him through those dark times and onto the enlightened, sober path he walks today. Through personal anecdotes and invaluable life lessons, Mike teaches listeners how to overcome obstacles and embrace change. From conquering personal demons to finding redemption, he proves that it’s never too late to turn your life around and make the best of any situation. Get ready for a reality check like no other, and join Mike on a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of living your best life.
©2023 Mike Sorrentino and Andy Symonds (P)2023 Mike Sorrentino and Andy Symonds
Initial Thoughts:
You know life is funny and I mean both in the laugh out loud and the peculiar sense. I used to hate “Jersey Shore” but as time went by I gradually got to like it and now I enjoy it (maybe even love some episodes) enough to listen to Mike’s book. It’s a simple criteria for me, non-fiction and read by the author and this had both. Plus it got good reviews and it was a unique experience to listen to someone’s book about a reality show and then watch him on that show every week. There’s a reason why Jersey Shore and JS: Family Vacation are hit shows on MTV, you know the people and you know what you’re going to get and it can be a lot of fun and a good laugh, it can also be serious and is (at least sometimes) fairly honest too. That’s what you get here, I believe a (mostly) honest account of Mike’s life, the good, the bad and the ugly, let’s get to it.
Main Points:
That was a long intro! So as I said I’ve been watching “Jersey Shore” with my wife for a while now, not since the beginning but for all of “Family Vacation” and I’ve got to say when you’re stoned (and it’s a funny episode) it is good entertainment and a lot of that reason is Mike. I love funny people and Mike comes across and very funny and genuine in the show and he’s the same in the book. Don’t be mistaken there are plenty of serious parts, when he gets into his addiction and how he barely cared if he lived or died, that was not easy to listen to. The same goes for prison, losing their dog Moses, two miscarriage’s and health trouble early on with their son Romeo, all tough life stuff but well worth a listen and it give you an idea of the strength of the human spirit. I think anyone who has been through addiction/recovery and/or depression/hard times will get a lot from this book and I can see why it’s done well.
There are lots of fun parts in this book as well, some really good behind the scenes Jersey Shore trivia and while he doesn’t give much graphic detail, there is a good bit of sex, including the fact he openly acknowledges having a sex tape and almost releasing it when he needed the money! The best parts of the book, though, are when Mike reflects on his life and you can see he has learned from all his mistakes, he’s grown as a person and is appreciative of everything he has and what life has to offer. I think a lot of people miss this, if you are thankful about what you have in life and positive about the future, you’ll not only be a happier person but you can spread positivity to others and the world a little brighter.
Final Thoughts:
Time for a little harshness, if Mike somehow reads this I hope I don’t hurt your feelings, I think there are parts of the book that could have used a little more polish. I also think that while I’m sure Mike recounts everything as best he can remember (he was high for like 10 years almost non-stop and admits he forgets a lot of it), I think Andy Symonds did a lot of the actual writing. Really that’s not a negative, if someone offered to transcribe the story of my life, so it would be an interview broken up into segments, I’d do it, would be a hell of a lot easier (and probably better) than writing it myself, I think rose colored glasses would have a big effect on most autobiographies. All that said the book has Mike’s style, he loves to make up his own sayings and I appreciate someone who sticks with a theme. Mike is a naturally funny, friendly, outgoing and positive person and that shines in the book, he is someone I would love to meet and hang out with for a while, I admire his ability to live in the moment and stay so positive. I give this book a 7.5 out of 10. He has a good voice and reads this well, it was also nice to hear Lauren (his wife) and his Mom read, little disappointed that Vinny’s part was not read by him though. Please don’t let your kids read this, due to mature subject matter I would say ages 17+. I hope he does more writing and I wish him all the best in anything he does in the future.