Ludes

by Ben Stein

The story of a young, ambitious, and successful American couple, whose lives, built on the promise of increasing affluence, fall apart when their financial "angle" fails and who seek solace in the drug Quaalude

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

Benjamin Stein is a multifaceted American figure known for his work as a writer, lawyer, actor, comedian, and commentator on politics and economics. He began his public life as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, later gaining widespread recognition in the entertainment world for his deadpan comedic style. Stein became a pop culture icon through his role as the monotone economics teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and as the host of Win Ben Stein’s Money, a game show that earned multiple Emmy Awards. He also played Dr. Arthur Neuman in The Mask and its sequel. A Yale Law School valedictorian, Stein worked as a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission and taught law and economics at Pepperdine University.
A prolific columnist, Stein has contributed to The American Spectator, Newsmax, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His books, often co-authored with Phil DeMuth, address financial planning and economic commentary. In 2008, he wrote and starred in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a controversial documentary criticized for promoting intelligent design.
Politically conservative, Stein has defended Nixon's legacy, expressed strong views on U.S. foreign policy, and advocated higher taxes on the wealthy to support military initiatives and reduce national debt. During the 2008 financial crisis, he came under scrutiny for downplaying early warning signs and misjudging the scale of the economic collapse.
Stein has also had an extensive voice acting and television career, appearing in series such as The Wonder Years, Seinfeld, and Family Guy, and voicing characters in The Fairly OddParents, Rugrats, and Animaniacs. His personal life includes a long-standing marriage to entertainment lawyer Alexandra Denman and homes in California, Idaho, and Washington, D.C. Though often polarizing in his opinions, Stein remains a recognizable figure across political, academic, and entertainment domains.

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is completely different than what I thought it may be. Many, many years ago I picked this up at a used book library sale, during a brief moment when I thought I’d like to be a psychologist someday. I believed this book was a psychological case study, something academic. No, it is not that.

This is a non-fiction account of a friend of Ben Stein's descent into drug addiction. Stein, who used to host a game show called “Win Ben Stein’s Money” and has appeared in films and such. He’s a writer as well, starting with the Nixon presidency. This book takes place shortly after the political writing ended and now in 1976 he’s writing for The Wall Street Journal, mostly cultural type pieces. Ironically he was the only one with any graduate work in economics on the editorial staff, yet he’s the one not writing the economic pieces.

Stein writes about his friend Lenny Brown, from their first meeting at The Wall Street Journal where Lenny tried to sell him on a financial real estate tax shelter deal on a cold call. For some reason the two clicked and they become friends. The book is a slightly autobiographical, but primarily a profile of his friend and his demise into becoming addicted to quaaludes, or ludes. Yet even here it takes a very good portion, about 40 percent of the book, before Lenny takes his first pill.

We learn all about Lenny’s life of selling and not quite making it, then he gets his break and is hired this guy Max in Los Angeles. Finally Lenny is living the life he always thought he deserved. Eventually Stein makes his way to Los Angeles too, now working with production companies.

The book is non-fiction, but all names have been changed, except Ben Stein’s and one other that is noted in the book. Yet it is written like fiction, recanting conversations and other minute details. Stein mentions how he knows these things, but there are moments when some of this must be fictionalized for the sake of the story and flow.

It's quite readable and quick, but a bit unusual really. I expect this is something that has become a bit obscure.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Ludes, A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream by Benjamin Stein (St. Martin's / Marek 1982) (363.32). Well, well. Before Ben Stein was a financial guru, and before he taught Ferris Bueller's high school class, he apparently learned to love the pills we called “Wallbangers” when I was in college, for that's what one quaalude and one beer would cause. This is the fictionalized tale of a couple who went too far and became addicted. If there are other books about quaaludes, I don't know of them. My rating: 7/10, finished 8/4/15.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic true story of a married couple and drug addiction.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

seriously good

[Kim Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that shows the devastating affects of drug addition. This book was the basis for the movie "The Boost" starring James Woods and Sean Young.

[Steve Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently, I had a recollection of a film I saw when I was in my teens. It had james Woods and Sean Young playing a yuppie couple whose lives were shattered by cocaine. The movie is The Boost, and I found it on an obscure streaming platform and rewatched it. I was surprised to see in the credits that the film was based on a book by Ben Stein. As a fan of Mr. Stein's commentary and forrays into entertainment, I was quick to get a copy of 'Ludes. Set in the 1970s, Stein chronicles the meteoric rise and tumultuous fall of a friend who sees his lucrative career--and life fall apart after becoming addicted to Quaaludes. The story is dark and powerful; Stein spares no details of desperation or squalor in the characters' quest to feed their habits. The movie closely follows the story of the book--the obvious exception is the substitution of cocaine for 'ludes. Still, Stein's ending is worse than the film version. Not a light, summer read, but a terrific book nonetheless.

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gem from Ben Stein was difficult to put down. You could be going through your day and find your mind drifting back to Lenny & Linda. They are couple you love to hate but never wish them any harm.

I took my my first Quaalude in 1971. I was only 21 and remember sleeping for 2 days. It is a power drug and when used as prescribed will work wonders on your sleepless nights.

It didn't work that way for Lenny or Linda. I'm glad I found this book on a sale rack at Goodwill. It seems apropos for the story you are about to read.
Thank you Mr Stein for making it real and glorious and gritty.