It's Hard for Me to Live with Me

A Memoir

By: Rex Chapman, Seth Davis

Narrated by: Rex Chapman

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A powerful memoir from the University of Kentucky basketball legend, NBA veteran, and social media influencer about his recovery from addiction.

He is considered by many the greatest basketball player ever produced by the hoops-crazy state of Kentucky. In two years at the University of Kentucky, he scored over 1,000 points, led the Wildcats to a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and was nicknamed “King Rex.” The first player ever drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, he spent twelve seasons in the NBA, dazzling in dunk contests and sinking one of the most memorable buzzer-beaters in league history. But by the end of his career, Rex Chapman was harboring a destructive secret.

Years before America’s opioid crisis would become national news, Chapman developed a dependency on Vicodin and Oxycontin, ultimately ingesting fifty painkillers a day. In addition, he developed a severe gambling addiction, once nearly losing $400,000 at a Las Vegas blackjack table. All this would cost him his family as well as most of the $40 million fortune he’d made in basketball, leaving him to live in his car and shoplift to support his addictions. Only when he was arrested—and his mugshot made national news—did he finally commit to getting clean.

In It’s Hard for Me to Live With Me, Chapman—who has amassed millions of social media followers for his relatable and uplifting posts—tells the story of his addiction and recovery in unflinching detail. With equal frankness, he describes his history with depression; the racism he witnessed growing up and how that shaped his outspokenness on matters of social justice; and his complex and volatile relationship with his father, also a former professional basketball player. Cowritten with New York Times bestselling author Seth Davis, Chapman’s memoir is an equally devastating and inspiring story about the human struggle for self-acceptance.

Critic reviews

"Former University of Kentucky great, NBA player, and social influencer Rex Chapman narrates a brutally honest account of his fall from basketball stardom to opioid addiction...His story is never self-aggrandizing, and hearing his words in his own voice adds to the authenticity of this audiobook."

Great Book

As a long time basketball fan and one who enjoys listening to inspiring books, this satisfied me on both counts. Above all I appreciated Rex’ honesty about all the mistakes he had made and his emphasis on his pride in his family, which has more or less stood with him in his dark times. His regret about not speaking out until he had nothing to lose was heart-wrenching to me.

it's hard to live with me

I like the story telling and honesty. he was able to discuss mental health and addiction also told great basketball stories.

Great Read!

This was one of my favorite books I ever read. Rex makes you want to keep going until the end!

Unbelievable!

Listening to this book is truly eye-opening. It’s hard to comprehend that most of us walking this earth really do not know what another person is experiencing in their life. Growing up in Kentucky and playing basketball, #3 was the ultimate, he could do no wrong in my eyes, and it’s heartbreaking to understand what he had to live through, however it could never make me more proud to see the battles won in the war of winning his life and his family. In the words of another great Kentuckian, Cawood Ledford keep “ playing string music” #3 in your championships of loving your family!

Love the honesty

I'm a lifelong Kentucky fan and Kentucky bred. I never knew the obstacles Rex went through throughout his life and I appreciate his honesty and openness to talk about it. I also agree that it's hard being a liberal living in Kentucky and the south in general. I'm a Kentucky transplant living in North Alabama now. Keep speaking up for what's right Rex and I'm proud of you for overcoming your problems and putting forth the effort to change. #BBN