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Wasted Youth: The Narcissism Recovery of a Punk Rock Kid from Flint
IN FLINT, MICHIGAN, THE WATER ISN’T THE ONLY THING THAT’S TOXIC!My family was too. It was a household of narcissists after all, so abuse was the norm. In a move typical of many alienated Gen Xers, I sought refuge in punk rock. I was up to my eyeballs in the anarchy of my local punk scene so I couldn’t see this one sad fact of life…Wherever you go, there you are.I thought music was my escape but I was having problems wherever I went. I blamed everyone but myself. When that didn't work, I lashed out at the people I cared about. Then one day, I got punched in the face by the ugly truth about myself. It knocked me out of my shortcomings and into self-discovery. It's from this place that I share my cautionary tale. I hope it helps anyone suffering the scars of childhood trauma.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 6, 2022
John Ribner's "Wasted Youth" is a riveting autobiography. So much so that you will find it hard to put down, once you start reading it. John's dysfunctional childhood, and his parents own failures in life, (which they projected on him) left him with a big chip on his shoulder, and something to prove.
He chose Flint Michigan's legendary Punk rock scene, as his proving ground. Angry, sometimes violent, and uncompromising, John set on a path to blaze a trail to glory with his music.
First though, to do that, he had to find like-minded individuals to help him. That proved challenging, as so many musicians in the scene were flaked out, and useless, in spite of his best efforts to keep everything together with his bands. To be honest, it wasn't a comfortable book to read, and in many ways, I personally related to his story, because John cut his teeth in the music scene of Flint's Capitol Theater, like myself.
Many of the characters in the tale are people I know, and even though many of the names have been changed, some of them I still recognized from John's uncanny descriptions. So many people shoot themselves in the foot with their music careers but John struggled mightily to stay the course, against some pretty tough odds.
His recollections of gigs and personalities are uncanny, and to be honest, he was pretty tough on himself. Wasted Youth is a hard, critical look at his own motivations, and he spares himself no quarter, recalling his failures as a person in various situations, with band mates, girlfriends and family members. Still he gives as good as he gets, and you have to root for him all through his struggles, as bad minded jealous people dig pits in his way, trying to undermine his success. Watching him try to outwit the worst of them, is stark and painful. I have to hand it to him for his bravery in not staying with just one genre of music either. He swerved between Hardcore Punk to Outlaw Country, and back, and did it without pretense.
Overall, his stark, even brutal honesty (the word uncompromising keeps coming up), guides the reader through the tale. In many ways his experiences mirrored my own in the music business, and I came away with a whole lot of respect for John after reading Wasted Youth. At the end, the finds himself in a better place, with a loving supportive wife and family. However, he leaves the music scene behind.
Here's hoping John finds his way back to it, with new-found wisdom, gained through painful experience. I hope he does. Get this book, I highly recommend it.
David Asher
He chose Flint Michigan's legendary Punk rock scene, as his proving ground. Angry, sometimes violent, and uncompromising, John set on a path to blaze a trail to glory with his music.
First though, to do that, he had to find like-minded individuals to help him. That proved challenging, as so many musicians in the scene were flaked out, and useless, in spite of his best efforts to keep everything together with his bands. To be honest, it wasn't a comfortable book to read, and in many ways, I personally related to his story, because John cut his teeth in the music scene of Flint's Capitol Theater, like myself.
Many of the characters in the tale are people I know, and even though many of the names have been changed, some of them I still recognized from John's uncanny descriptions. So many people shoot themselves in the foot with their music careers but John struggled mightily to stay the course, against some pretty tough odds.
His recollections of gigs and personalities are uncanny, and to be honest, he was pretty tough on himself. Wasted Youth is a hard, critical look at his own motivations, and he spares himself no quarter, recalling his failures as a person in various situations, with band mates, girlfriends and family members. Still he gives as good as he gets, and you have to root for him all through his struggles, as bad minded jealous people dig pits in his way, trying to undermine his success. Watching him try to outwit the worst of them, is stark and painful. I have to hand it to him for his bravery in not staying with just one genre of music either. He swerved between Hardcore Punk to Outlaw Country, and back, and did it without pretense.
Overall, his stark, even brutal honesty (the word uncompromising keeps coming up), guides the reader through the tale. In many ways his experiences mirrored my own in the music business, and I came away with a whole lot of respect for John after reading Wasted Youth. At the end, the finds himself in a better place, with a loving supportive wife and family. However, he leaves the music scene behind.
Here's hoping John finds his way back to it, with new-found wisdom, gained through painful experience. I hope he does. Get this book, I highly recommend it.
David Asher
December 13, 2022
In the frontmatter, Ribner recalls
Having had my own band in Detroit over basically the same time period as his in the greater Flind scene (mine was 1988 - 1992), I can relate much to Ribner's experience. It is what drew me to the book. I found most of the main story felt like the type of plan-upending petty squabbles any hardly successful band goes through. However, in total, Ribner puts it together in to a philosophic transformation of progressive from childhood trauma and dysfunctional family life to grow out of a narcissistic reaction.
Personally, I think anyone that survived into adulthood can benefit from Ribner's hard-earned wisdom. From his final reflection, there are things I feel strongly about myself:
I honestly don't recall Pure Spun Evil, let alone his outlaw country project, but that doesn't matter and now I want to hear both!
“Nobody cares about your stupid band!” That’s what a family member said when I told him I was writing this book. Hearing him say it sent that familiar feeling of white-hot rage surge through my veins.
Having had my own band in Detroit over basically the same time period as his in the greater Flind scene (mine was 1988 - 1992), I can relate much to Ribner's experience. It is what drew me to the book. I found most of the main story felt like the type of plan-upending petty squabbles any hardly successful band goes through. However, in total, Ribner puts it together in to a philosophic transformation of progressive from childhood trauma and dysfunctional family life to grow out of a narcissistic reaction.
My family was ... a household of narcissists after all, so abuse was the norm. In a move typical of many alienated Gen Xers, I sought refuge in punk rock. I was up to my eyeballs in the anarchy of my local punk scene so I couldn’t see this one sad fact of life…
Wherever you go, there you are.
I thought music was my escape but I was having problems wherever I went. I blamed everyone but myself. When that didn't work, I lashed out at the people I cared about. Then one day, I got punched in the face by the ugly truth about myself. It knocked me out of my shortcomings and into self-discovery. It's from this place that I share my cautionary tale. I hope it helps anyone suffering the scars of childhood trauma.
Personally, I think anyone that survived into adulthood can benefit from Ribner's hard-earned wisdom. From his final reflection, there are things I feel strongly about myself:
1. The Path to Self-Awareness is Your Most Important Journey
...
You Can Criticize Your Parents Without Hating Them
....
Nobody Cares About Your Feelings but You
...
Be the Friend You Want Others to Be for You
Seems simple, right? Unfortunately, it’s easy to forget this take on “The Golden Rule.” As humans, it’s our nature to selfishly focus on all the things we expect from our friends. ...
You Can’t Find Self-Worth Outside of Yourself.
There’s really no end to the journey to being a better version of myself. It’s an ongoing boot camp that makes me confront my shame, trauma, and narcissism every day. It’s far from comfortable, but I’m not running from my pain anymore. These days, I accept the pain because those uncomfortable feelings are just weakness leaving my body and mind. I’m better off without it… and that’s punk as fuck!
I honestly don't recall Pure Spun Evil, let alone his outlaw country project, but that doesn't matter and now I want to hear both!
July 29, 2021
The Review
This was such an insightful and gritty memoir! The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of life growing up both personally and as a whole in Flint, Michigan in the 1980s and beyond. The detail and the emotion that the author puts into his writing as he describes some of the harrowing moments of his life, from his first betrayal from a former band member to the abuse both verbally and physically he suffered at home and even the shocking events that led to the author losing the friends who had always been in his corner.
What really stands out in this narrative is the expertise with which the author balances setting with a theme in this memoir. The town and era for which this story takes place really capture the real experience of not only life in Flint, Michigan but the familiar but crucial nature that drove so many young people to embrace and love the punk-rock scene. As a fan of the rock genre overall, it's always fascinating to see the path that brought musicians of all kinds to the bands and genres they loved. This, blended with the introspective nature of the memoir’s narrative that saw the author examining not only the foundation for his youth’s hardships, but his role in both his failures and his successes later in life, made this a true one-of-a-kind read.
The Verdict
A brilliant, honest, and engaging memoir, author John P. Ribner’s “Wasted Youth” is a must-read nonfiction book. The relatable and memorable way the author delivers the heartfelt and at times brutal reality of his life growing up, and the lessons that led from heartbreak to hope found, made this a mesmerizing and enlightening read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
This was such an insightful and gritty memoir! The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of life growing up both personally and as a whole in Flint, Michigan in the 1980s and beyond. The detail and the emotion that the author puts into his writing as he describes some of the harrowing moments of his life, from his first betrayal from a former band member to the abuse both verbally and physically he suffered at home and even the shocking events that led to the author losing the friends who had always been in his corner.
What really stands out in this narrative is the expertise with which the author balances setting with a theme in this memoir. The town and era for which this story takes place really capture the real experience of not only life in Flint, Michigan but the familiar but crucial nature that drove so many young people to embrace and love the punk-rock scene. As a fan of the rock genre overall, it's always fascinating to see the path that brought musicians of all kinds to the bands and genres they loved. This, blended with the introspective nature of the memoir’s narrative that saw the author examining not only the foundation for his youth’s hardships, but his role in both his failures and his successes later in life, made this a true one-of-a-kind read.
The Verdict
A brilliant, honest, and engaging memoir, author John P. Ribner’s “Wasted Youth” is a must-read nonfiction book. The relatable and memorable way the author delivers the heartfelt and at times brutal reality of his life growing up, and the lessons that led from heartbreak to hope found, made this a mesmerizing and enlightening read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
July 25, 2022
Since I have known John from the time we were in the 9th grade, I thought I knew this story inside and out. Let me just tell you this book opened my eyes to many different things. I thought this was going to be about his time trying to break into the music scene in our hometown, and it was, but it was also so much more than that. This book is such an easy page turner that you can’t put it down because you have to know what happens next.
August 11, 2021
An emotional journey I couldn't put down.
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
Wasted Youth was a personal journey for me. I rediscovered my hometown of Flint, I discovered new parts and scenes of Flint, and more importantly, I discovered myself as I related to the stories in the book.
From the start, Wasted Youth took me on a trip down memory lane. I know the streets and places J.P. spoke of. I could see the streets, the houses, the businesses, the parking lots and driveways. The picture he painted of Flint was everything I could remember from my youth. The detail and descriptions painted a graphic picture.
The graphic detail and descriptions helped me discover parts of Flint I was not familiar with as well as scenes I was not familiar with. The places I had been I could see again, the places I had never been, felt familiar in the story because of J.P. care of detail. When he spoke of the clubs, or bars, I could see the wall, the floors, the people. I felt as if I were there with him during the stories.
The scenes I discovered during this story described a Flint that I had always heard of, but never got to experience or understand. All I ever knew of my hometown was its rapid economic decline and equally rapid crime increase. J.P. painted a picture of a world that offered a refuge, albeit gruff refuge, in an otherwise decaying cesspool of a city.
The most important part of the book, for me, was the personal character journey. I felt myself relate and grow with J.P. through the stories. While I didn’t have it as good as J.P., I definitely didn’t have it half as bad as J.P. I saw pieces of myself in these stories. Were we all actually misfits trying to find a place where we fit in? I related my life’s journeys to his and reflected deeply on my life choices.
Wasted Youth will take you on an emotional journey. You will laugh, you will feel anxiety, anger, and grief. Wasted Youth will also paint a picture of Flint and its Punk Rock scene that you likely didn’t know, even if you were a part of the scene.
P.S. F*&^ Wally
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
Wasted Youth was a personal journey for me. I rediscovered my hometown of Flint, I discovered new parts and scenes of Flint, and more importantly, I discovered myself as I related to the stories in the book.
From the start, Wasted Youth took me on a trip down memory lane. I know the streets and places J.P. spoke of. I could see the streets, the houses, the businesses, the parking lots and driveways. The picture he painted of Flint was everything I could remember from my youth. The detail and descriptions painted a graphic picture.
The graphic detail and descriptions helped me discover parts of Flint I was not familiar with as well as scenes I was not familiar with. The places I had been I could see again, the places I had never been, felt familiar in the story because of J.P. care of detail. When he spoke of the clubs, or bars, I could see the wall, the floors, the people. I felt as if I were there with him during the stories.
The scenes I discovered during this story described a Flint that I had always heard of, but never got to experience or understand. All I ever knew of my hometown was its rapid economic decline and equally rapid crime increase. J.P. painted a picture of a world that offered a refuge, albeit gruff refuge, in an otherwise decaying cesspool of a city.
The most important part of the book, for me, was the personal character journey. I felt myself relate and grow with J.P. through the stories. While I didn’t have it as good as J.P., I definitely didn’t have it half as bad as J.P. I saw pieces of myself in these stories. Were we all actually misfits trying to find a place where we fit in? I related my life’s journeys to his and reflected deeply on my life choices.
Wasted Youth will take you on an emotional journey. You will laugh, you will feel anxiety, anger, and grief. Wasted Youth will also paint a picture of Flint and its Punk Rock scene that you likely didn’t know, even if you were a part of the scene.
P.S. F*&^ Wally
September 29, 2021
I asked for Wasted Youth as a Christmas gift, excited to read about the experiences of a fellow Flint-Native in a music scene I knew nothing about. It did not disappoint! It's a raw, honest and gritty memoir of the many ups and downs in his life that seem to run parallel to the many ups and downs of the town we both call home. I enjoyed being familiar with some of the Flint icons he mentions: The Capitol, Torch, Genesee Valley Mall, etc. The familiarity offered the opportunity to feel as if I had stepped into the story as a fly on the wall, and brought a unique perspective to understanding his story. Having been a student of his father's at Whittier Middle School, I was stunned to see his abusive side, but relieved that in the end, he reached out to make amends in the only way he knew how. It was a redeeming moment that brought tears to my eyes. He encapsulates growing up in Flint in a very accurate way, and is brutally honest about his own experiences and family life and what he's learned from it all. It's definitely worth reading!
Read
September 29, 2021Entertaining yet real
JP paints an accurate picture of life in Flint and the punk rock scene as it was in its final heydays. He illuminates the struggle of keeping a band together and making his mark upon a music world full of cliques and judgement. I was also part of this scene and let me tell you it's as tough as walking Flint streets. JP makes it entertaining and adds twists at every turn throughout his book. I enjoyed reading about his experiences and felt like I was there with him as each chapter unfolded. If you want an inside story on what it is like to pursue a music career this is an accurate depiction on what it takes. I respect JP for sticking to his guns for what he wanted to do in music and calling the shots as long as he could. That's determination and by all means a success as far as I'm concerned. This is a great story and an excellent read. Don't hesitate buy this book!
JP paints an accurate picture of life in Flint and the punk rock scene as it was in its final heydays. He illuminates the struggle of keeping a band together and making his mark upon a music world full of cliques and judgement. I was also part of this scene and let me tell you it's as tough as walking Flint streets. JP makes it entertaining and adds twists at every turn throughout his book. I enjoyed reading about his experiences and felt like I was there with him as each chapter unfolded. If you want an inside story on what it is like to pursue a music career this is an accurate depiction on what it takes. I respect JP for sticking to his guns for what he wanted to do in music and calling the shots as long as he could. That's determination and by all means a success as far as I'm concerned. This is a great story and an excellent read. Don't hesitate buy this book!
October 8, 2021
As a Flintoid that knew JP "back in the day" , I enjoyed (and got a little melancholy) reading about some of the old haunts around Flint town. The author goes through a lot of self discovery in this book solely centered around the pursuit of music for self validation more than the love of the art. There is the feeling of many a "Burnt Bridge." I would have loved to hear more about how this changed his relationships with his kids, extended family, and friends. It also provides that opposite view of the music industry you rarely hear..."what about those thousands of bands that never made it?" - "A man who views the world same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life." - Muhammad Ali. This book tells me the author hasn't wasted his youth, but learned some hard lessons from it.
August 12, 2021
J.P.'s writing style is an excellent blend of straight-forward narration mixed with page-turning honesty. I could not put it down.
Rife with humility, aggression, nostalgia and progress, J.P. manages to tell a truthful story about a shifty city and its underground music culture from the perspective of a man who has walked it out and has the scars to show you.
It is neither condescending nor pleading.
Neither cheerfully idealized nor foolishly exaggerated.
I absolutely recommend this book to other Flintstones drawn towards examining our communal roots or to anyone on the outside who'd like to poke their heads into the Flint punk scene and possibly get smashed in the nose.
Rife with humility, aggression, nostalgia and progress, J.P. manages to tell a truthful story about a shifty city and its underground music culture from the perspective of a man who has walked it out and has the scars to show you.
It is neither condescending nor pleading.
Neither cheerfully idealized nor foolishly exaggerated.
I absolutely recommend this book to other Flintstones drawn towards examining our communal roots or to anyone on the outside who'd like to poke their heads into the Flint punk scene and possibly get smashed in the nose.
September 29, 2021
A book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, while giving precious recounts of a time when Punk Rock was just starting to blossom. This author has bared his soul to his audience, he is amazingly talented and extremely brave! I appreciate the lessons he has taught through this work, and am thankful to have witnessed the writing of this book. You will not regret the purchase or the time you invest in reading this or any other of his works. A must read indeed!!!
September 16, 2021
If you want a great ride, read this book. I was expecting just another biography, and believe me I've read a lot of them. But I was drawn in by the taut storytelling and the passion of one person's journey through the wilds of urban Michigan. Forget about Michael Moore, if you want to really know what it was like, read J.P. Ribner.
August 11, 2021
PUNK DREAMS!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wasted Youth is a shocking, dramatic real story of failure, perseverance and success. Recounting a young man’s dreams of making music and the nightmares along the way. Trying to survive and thrive in America’s armpit is Punk As F$#%
Wasted Youth is a shocking, dramatic real story of failure, perseverance and success. Recounting a young man’s dreams of making music and the nightmares along the way. Trying to survive and thrive in America’s armpit is Punk As F$#%
August 3, 2021
OK, so normally when I call a book a train wreck, it's not a compliment. When I say that "Wasted Youth" is more than a train wreck, it's a series of train wrecks, though, it is. A compliment, that is.
If Ribner weren't so dead-serious, this book could well be punk rock's (and, to a lesser extent, outlaw country's) answer to "This Is Spinal Tap." At times, it's humorous in ways that I don't think the author intended... in that guilty sense in which we all secretly find it a little funny when someone else falls in the mud (it's not OK, really, but you can admit it; you do it, too, if you're not really careful). In fact, I could easily see this as a screenplay (or a pair of screenplays, even).
So, the good, the bad, and the ugly...
THE GOOD: By far, the best part of the book is the ending. Again, that's not something that's normally a compliment, but it is in this case. I spent the last half of the book mentally yelling at the author. I don't want to spoil it, but I do want to say that the ending floored me and brought the book up from the four stars I was going to give it to five. As a musician myself, I loved the peek into the often dysfunctional family dynamics that take place in bands. I was never personally a fan of either punk (didn't hate it, but wasn't really exposed to it in my youth) or outlaw country (which I actually like but never really did a deep dive into), so it was interesting to see behind the curtain into those worlds. Interestingly, I found that it wasn't much different, once you take off the veneer, than the scenes in any other genre (at least as far as the human element goes). I have to say also that this book was especially interesting for me to read having just finished a basic Psychology class (and not so long ago, a basic Sociology class) and having worked many years alongside therapists in residential home settings. The book is worth the read for the psychological aspect alone. On top of all that, the book is ENTERTAINING. It will draw you into the punk rock and (to a lesser extent) outlaw country worlds.
THE BAD: Like 100% of the indie published books I've read to date, "Wasted Youth" needed a good editor. That's not to bust Ribner's writing chops. They're solid, but like any other writer (including myself), Ribner misses some things that an objective and skilled second pair of eyes would have caught. I didn't hold this against him in the ratings for a couple reasons: (1) I've found the same thing in every indie book I've ever read (in all fairness, in some traditionally published books, too) and (2) I've done a lot of professional editing, so I know that I am inordinately fussy. Honestly, while I'm picking nits, this was one of the better indie books I've read when it comes to these kinds of issues.
THE UGLY: Because I am a Christian writer, much of my readership (and presumably those who would care about what I have to say in review) will find some of the language in this book off-putting. If you can get past the four-letter words, though, the book is worth reading. There is a lot of abuse detailed in the book, and a lot of dysfunction (there's also valuable lessons to be learned from both). There are also brief references to psychics and astrology. That's part of Ribner's story, and I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be included; I'm merely putting it out there since the review bears my name and I know what sorts of things those who read my writing would want to be forewarned about.
OVERALL, "Wasted Youth" was well-worth the read. I'm planning to go through it a second time, maybe taking notes because, as I mentioned, I think it's valuable from a psychological/sociological standpoint. My hope, much like a hope that Ribner states towards the end of the book, is that people who read it will be able to learn and incorporate those life lessons, which truly are invaluable.
If Ribner weren't so dead-serious, this book could well be punk rock's (and, to a lesser extent, outlaw country's) answer to "This Is Spinal Tap." At times, it's humorous in ways that I don't think the author intended... in that guilty sense in which we all secretly find it a little funny when someone else falls in the mud (it's not OK, really, but you can admit it; you do it, too, if you're not really careful). In fact, I could easily see this as a screenplay (or a pair of screenplays, even).
So, the good, the bad, and the ugly...
THE GOOD: By far, the best part of the book is the ending. Again, that's not something that's normally a compliment, but it is in this case. I spent the last half of the book mentally yelling at the author. I don't want to spoil it, but I do want to say that the ending floored me and brought the book up from the four stars I was going to give it to five. As a musician myself, I loved the peek into the often dysfunctional family dynamics that take place in bands. I was never personally a fan of either punk (didn't hate it, but wasn't really exposed to it in my youth) or outlaw country (which I actually like but never really did a deep dive into), so it was interesting to see behind the curtain into those worlds. Interestingly, I found that it wasn't much different, once you take off the veneer, than the scenes in any other genre (at least as far as the human element goes). I have to say also that this book was especially interesting for me to read having just finished a basic Psychology class (and not so long ago, a basic Sociology class) and having worked many years alongside therapists in residential home settings. The book is worth the read for the psychological aspect alone. On top of all that, the book is ENTERTAINING. It will draw you into the punk rock and (to a lesser extent) outlaw country worlds.
THE BAD: Like 100% of the indie published books I've read to date, "Wasted Youth" needed a good editor. That's not to bust Ribner's writing chops. They're solid, but like any other writer (including myself), Ribner misses some things that an objective and skilled second pair of eyes would have caught. I didn't hold this against him in the ratings for a couple reasons: (1) I've found the same thing in every indie book I've ever read (in all fairness, in some traditionally published books, too) and (2) I've done a lot of professional editing, so I know that I am inordinately fussy. Honestly, while I'm picking nits, this was one of the better indie books I've read when it comes to these kinds of issues.
THE UGLY: Because I am a Christian writer, much of my readership (and presumably those who would care about what I have to say in review) will find some of the language in this book off-putting. If you can get past the four-letter words, though, the book is worth reading. There is a lot of abuse detailed in the book, and a lot of dysfunction (there's also valuable lessons to be learned from both). There are also brief references to psychics and astrology. That's part of Ribner's story, and I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be included; I'm merely putting it out there since the review bears my name and I know what sorts of things those who read my writing would want to be forewarned about.
OVERALL, "Wasted Youth" was well-worth the read. I'm planning to go through it a second time, maybe taking notes because, as I mentioned, I think it's valuable from a psychological/sociological standpoint. My hope, much like a hope that Ribner states towards the end of the book, is that people who read it will be able to learn and incorporate those life lessons, which truly are invaluable.
September 29, 2021
J.P. Bares His Soul
Well, that took balls. JP Ribner has called out those that did him wrong in this raw, telling book; Wasted Youth: A Flint Punk Rock Memoir.
I wasn’t into punk and didn’t recognize most of the musical references. As I read through though, it became clear that I didn’t need to know his music. Dreams are universal. He shares with us, not only his dreams but, the forces that worked to dash them.
JP takes us through the abuse, the torment and the horrifying shooting that would define who he became. There’s a surprise in his story though, he calls himself out as well. In allowing for self-discovery and holding himself fully accountable, he teaches us all that a little humility goes a long way.
Grace would shine on him the day he met his wife, Rose. Together, they navigate a healing process. It’s not a spoiler that JP Ribner does not become an international punk superstar. But, did he “give up?” No. Rather, he switched it up and made new dreams. Partner-hood and parenthood refocused his heart. Now, he’s a successful husband, father and writer. Good for you JP! Thanks for sharing your journey.
Well, that took balls. JP Ribner has called out those that did him wrong in this raw, telling book; Wasted Youth: A Flint Punk Rock Memoir.
I wasn’t into punk and didn’t recognize most of the musical references. As I read through though, it became clear that I didn’t need to know his music. Dreams are universal. He shares with us, not only his dreams but, the forces that worked to dash them.
JP takes us through the abuse, the torment and the horrifying shooting that would define who he became. There’s a surprise in his story though, he calls himself out as well. In allowing for self-discovery and holding himself fully accountable, he teaches us all that a little humility goes a long way.
Grace would shine on him the day he met his wife, Rose. Together, they navigate a healing process. It’s not a spoiler that JP Ribner does not become an international punk superstar. But, did he “give up?” No. Rather, he switched it up and made new dreams. Partner-hood and parenthood refocused his heart. Now, he’s a successful husband, father and writer. Good for you JP! Thanks for sharing your journey.
February 17, 2022
Punk Rock, family, friends, and growing up collide to form JP Ribner's life story.
JP has provided a brutal, honest, and at times ugly life story. He weaves his formative years into the landscape of Flint. The story of punk, band members, and life is both entertaining and gut wrenching. JP doesn't pull punches, and shows the person he was and the lessons he learned from it - good, bad, and in between.
JP paints a picture of a family in chaos, but he eventually escapes it, but out of the frying pan and into the fire as the saying goes. Fire is a great purifier though, and his years in the flames have produced a pretty well tempered guy. One not afraid, or ashamed, to show how the impurities were worked out in the process of forging who he is now.
I highly recommend Wasted Youth: A Flint Punk Rock Memoir. A great arching story of life, learning, and the tribulations along the way. A story worth telling, a story worth reading.
JP has provided a brutal, honest, and at times ugly life story. He weaves his formative years into the landscape of Flint. The story of punk, band members, and life is both entertaining and gut wrenching. JP doesn't pull punches, and shows the person he was and the lessons he learned from it - good, bad, and in between.
JP paints a picture of a family in chaos, but he eventually escapes it, but out of the frying pan and into the fire as the saying goes. Fire is a great purifier though, and his years in the flames have produced a pretty well tempered guy. One not afraid, or ashamed, to show how the impurities were worked out in the process of forging who he is now.
I highly recommend Wasted Youth: A Flint Punk Rock Memoir. A great arching story of life, learning, and the tribulations along the way. A story worth telling, a story worth reading.
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