When I Died for the First Time

About This Audiobook

Tim Booth’s *When I Died for the First Time* isn’t your standard addiction recovery tale—it’s a howlingly funny, profanely poetic spiral into the absurdity of trying to stay sober while the world keeps handing you excuses. Seth Brakes, Booth’s fictionalized alter ego, is a musician with a self-destructive streak long enough to make Keith Richards nod in approval. Three hundred and twenty days without a drink sounds like a victory, but Seth’s brain is a jukebox stuck on the same toxic tracks: cravings, bad decisions, and a knack for turning every AA meeting into a one-man show. Booth’s writing crackles with the energy of someone who’s been there, done that, and is still wearing the same stained T-shirt. The result is a novel that’s equal parts confessional and comic relief, with a soundtrack no one asked for but everyone will remember.

The audiobook’s dual narration—Booth himself sharing passages with Pippa Nixon—adds a raw, unfiltered chemistry that elevates the material. Booth’s voice is rough and unpolished, like a guy who’s spent too many nights in dive bars, while Nixon’s sharp, measured delivery balances the chaos. Together, they turn Seth’s misadventures into a listening experience that’s as dynamic as a live gig, with Nixon’s comedic timing nailing the quieter ironies and Booth’s growls selling the emotional gut-punches. It’s a production that doesn’t just tell a story; it feels like you’re eavesdropping on a confession where the punchline and the pain are delivered at the exact same decibel level.