Acid for the Children: A Memoir

by Flea

Book Overview

With "virtuosic vulnerability" (The Atlantic), the iconic bassist and Red Hot Chili peppers co-founder pens a love letter to a youth spent wild in Los Angeles in his raw and riveting coming-of-age memoir.
In Acid for the Children, Flea takes readers on a deeply personal and revealing tour of his formative years, spanning from Australia to the New York City suburbs to, finally, Los Angeles. Through hilarious anecdotes, poetical meditations, and occasional flights of fantasy, Flea deftly chronicles the experiences that forged him as an artist, a musician, and a young man. His dreamy, jazz-inflected prose makes the Los Angeles of the 1970s and 80s come to gritty, glorious life, including the potential for fun, danger, mayhem, or inspiration that lurked around every corner. It is here that young Flea, looking to escape a turbulent home, found family in a community of musicians, artists, and junkies who also lived on the fringe. He spent most of his time partying and committing petty crimes. But it was in music where he found a higher meaning, a place to channel his frustration, loneliness, and love. This left him open to the life-changing moment when he and his best friends, soul brothers, and partners-in-mischief came up with the idea to start their own band, which became the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Acid for the Children is the debut of a stunning new literary voice, whose prose is as witty, entertaining, and wildly unpredictable as the author himself. It's a tenderly evocative coming-of-age story and a raucous love letter to the power of music and creativity from one of the most renowned musicians of our time.

New York Times BestsellerA #1 LA Times BestsellerA USA Today BestsellerOne of NPR's "Favorite Books of 2019"

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1455530530
• ISBN13: 9781455530533
• Release Date: November 2019
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

This book is awesome

Flea did a fantastic job narrating his life before starting the Red Hot Chili Peppers. His book is a captivating journey through his formative years, filled with raw honesty and vivid storytelling. It's both funny and heartfelt, capturing the essence of his experiences with a unique voice that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The narratives are entertaining and provide deep insights into the events and people that shaped him into the person he is today. At times, the narrative takes a more somber turn, showing the profoundly moving moments of hardship and struggle. These glimpses into Flea's personal life add depth that elevates the memoir beyond just a rock star's tale. Overall, the writing is exceptional, balancing humor with heartfelt reflection. Flea's distinctive perspective and authentic storytelling make this book a joy to read. I found myself excited to learn more with each page. It’s a must-read for fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and anyone interested in a compelling life story. 10/10