If there is one celebrity memoir where the audiobook format isn’t just an option but a requirement, it is Charlie Sheen’s The Book of Sheen. I just finished listening to it, and I have to say: hearing Charlie tell his own story, in that distinct, rhythmic cadence of his, absolutely saved this book for me.
The Good: It’s a Wild Ride
There is something undeniably magnetic about Charlie’s voice. He brings a level of energy and “winning” enthusiasm to the narration that makes even the darker chapters feel electric. Hearing him recount stories about growing up on the set of Apocalypse Now with his dad, or the grueling filming of Platoon, feels incredibly intimate, like you’re sitting at a bar with him at 2 AM while he spills the beans.
He is surprisingly candid about his spirals, his time on Two and a Half Men, and the absolute circus his life became during his public meltdowns. There is a charm to his delivery that makes you root for him, even when he’s describing objectively terrible behavior. The audio performance adds a layer of self-awareness (and occasional comic timing) that I suspect would feel flat or just obnoxious on the printed page.
The Mixed: Exhausting and sometimes Shallow
However, the charm wears thin after a few hours. While the book is “honest” about events, it often lacks deep emotional introspection. At times, it feels less like a confession and more like a victory lap for surviving his own bad decisions. The slang—he actually uses words like “dood” and “kool” unironically—can get grating, though hearing him say them is slightly less painful than reading them would be.
By the last third of the book, the “rock star from Mars” energy becomes exhausting. It’s a relentless barrage of chaos, drug abuse, and Hollywood excess that eventually numbs you. You get the story, but you don’t always get the lesson.
Final Verdict: One and Done
Is it entertaining? Absolutely. I don’t regret the 9 hours I spent listening to it. It’s a fascinating, train-wreck slice of Hollywood history told by one of its most eccentric survivors.
But would I ever listen to it again? Never.
There is no timeless wisdom here, and the novelty of the “Charlie Sheen Voice” works exactly once.
Recommendation
Do not use a full Audible credit or pay full price for this.
- Wait for a sale.
- Borrow it from the library (Libby/Hoopla).
It’s the perfect “free rental” listen for a long road trip, but it’s not a book you need to own.
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