This story is based on the real life of a woman who had it all, lost it all, and fought her way back. Shannon Erickson’s memoir “From Privilege to Rock Bottom and Back” is a rollercoaster ride through the peaks and valleys of human existence. Raised by a successful California family in the 1970s, Shannon led a fairytale childhood – with horses, beach vacations, and all the extravagances money could buy. But her life was irrevocably altered after being raped at age 17 in a traumatic experience that resulted in years of addiction to methamphetamine, abusive relationships, and homelessness where she prostituted herself to survive. The book doesn’t sugarcoat.

 Shannon candidly describes life on the streets of Santa Monica, the seedy world of sex work, and the hold of addiction. But this isn’t a tale of destruction – this is a tale of redemption. A random encounter with a kind stranger who volunteered to help turned out to be her lifeline to recovery. In defiance of odds, Shannon was able to rebuild her life, become a mother, and find meaning.

Shannon’s voice makes this memoir unique. She’s candid in her errors, humorous about the more outrageous parts of her early days, and poignant when outlining her struggles and successes. Shannon’s tale shows that all people are reachable, from privileged upbringings to rock-bottom lows and redemption.

This book will interest anyone who loves real stories of second chances, people who have been touched by addiction, or readers who enjoy gritty, honest stories about second chances. It’s not always a comfortable read, but it’s necessary, demonstrating how far one can fall and how forcefully one can come back.