The Fifth Vital

This book started out rough and extremely jumbled. The first chapter started in 2006 and then told a story that was the most gruesome in the entire book about him breaking his leg then the next page jumps to 2018 and talks about his friend Logan paul. Then the next page jumps back to the early 2000’s and talks about the town he grew up in but he wasn’t a child. I wish they would of just started at this childhood and build up the story like in true memoir fashion. The beginning was hard to get through and should of been reorganized but because I’ve supported Mike for years I stuck this book out, even through time it was unorganized and hard to read. This book gets better the farther you read but it’s not nearly perfect and almost basic.The Fifth Vital seems and feels like it was rushed and there are definitely a lot of mixed message in which direction the book is going. Not to mention this book could’ve been drafted better and needs some editing. It was advertised by Mike as extremely graphic and that people were shocked by some stories told in this book. Truly I was hoping to learn about his downfalls/rock bottom and some of the gruesome things he experienced as an addict. But none of that was included in this book or it seems like a lot of memoir quality/ writing style of this book was cut out.Nothing in this book made me cringe or felt like he was at rock bottom, I know a lot of stories of addicts and this didn’t really explain at all what he went through or was struggling with. Mike didn’t capture what he was truly living and going through on a daily basis. This book is more of an educational book then a memoir. Especially with the opioid death tolls with each year and chapter. He educated us about the town he lived in and how it got worse but only as an after thought.My biggest pet peeve about this book besides the haphazard and incorrect facts about the opiate crisis that are constantly told throughout the book that none of his story lines are clear. The biggest example is the mystery on how he ended things with Uncle Nicky aka the biggest drug runner in the game and how he magically cut dies with someone who he was living with and dealing with for years. Not to mention you didn’t give a back story on him. I found more interesting about Uncle Nicky on google than you included in your book! I would of loved to know. So tell me how do you magically cut dies with him without exposing how or why?! Just months before everyone in your clique testified against him so he got sent to jail for life, so you what just walked away? Why not tell us about what really happened? One of the most critical parts of your story was over looked and not elaborated on. How do you just cut ties with the mob and one of the largest track traffickers and importers? Let alone not tell us that he was the Connecticut version of Al Capone and you lived with this guy. Just like many of the stories in the book there just wasn’t a clear storyline or you got off track with the purpose. Those are my notes but since he’s a first time writer, I congratulate him on getting this book out.I will continue to support Mike but I almost wish he would make a part two or a rewrite of this book and finally tell us all the stuff that this book is lacking like the juicy stories and everything that is left untold. Please stop educating the people who don’t know about addiction or the opiate epidemic they’re not the ones who will by this book. You say this book is for people in treatment centers or that are at rock-bottom. These people are living that life and it would be better to give them relatable stories then try and educate them with numbers and death statistics then in very government, in your face type of way. Since you’re someone in marketing you should of picked your target audition better instead of trying to please everyone. The book is very chaotic and not well organized. This is anything but a memoir, it falls short of the education book on the opiate crisis and it’s far from a self help book for addicts in recovery. You mixed up all three and you’ve come out with a mediocre mess at best. This is coming from someone who’s your biggest fan. Congratulations again on the book but you can do better.

Amazing story, eye opening

I’m an addict in recovery. I know the level of darkness many of us addicts experience that Mike refers to. By the grace of God, I also know a brighter light than most humans in this life get, that many of us addicts get to experience as well, when we find recovery and a Higher Power, but many of us don’t get that far. Thanks for the honesty, vulnerability and real talk Mike. Redemption is real. WE know that. We live it daily.

I have always loved watching Mike on youtube and he has been open about his struggle with drug addiction but I had no idea actually how much he has gone through and survived . This book is incredible. He doesn’t hold anything back about his story and is incredibly detailed and allows you to feel and deeply understand the nightmare that addiction really is. He doesn’t sugar coat anything and doesn’t try to make you feel bad for him. He’s incredibly honest and and gives you a fly on the wall perspective on the life of someone severely addicted to drugs. At times it can be incredibly emotional and slightly disturbing. But you can feel through his words that Mike poured his heart out in this book and for someone like myself who has never struggled with addiction it definitely opened my eyes and taught be a lot. For anyone who has struggled with drug addiction in the past or present, I can only imagine you will feel represented, seen, and incredibly inspired by this book. To anyone in high school or college or has a child/loved one in that age range, I would 100% recommend this book for them. It is an extreme version of a cautionary tale and a splash (or more like a bucket) of ice cold water to the face of just how insanely serious and dangerous trying drugs is (even just once) and what the consequences could lead to. It also shows that no matter what your going through, the human spirit is a beautiful, complex, and extremely powerful thing that can overcome anything no matter how impossible it may seem. That’s not to say in any way that it will be easy. But Mike shows that it is possible to overcome addiction even though you may have to go through literal hell to get there. He explains the process of getting clean with brutal honesty but also in a way that I hope can inspire anyone struggling with addiction or any hardships in life that it is possible to overcome even in the worst possible cases. This book is intense but incredibly inspiring.

fantastic book! really got an in depth view of one of the best content creators on youtube, good job Mark ( Mike Majlak). I have to say, I don't necessarily like reading books but this was very entertaining throughout and gives valuable life lessons.

Amazing story. Encouraging words, nuggets of wisdom, and advice throughout.I read it in 5 hours when I couldn't sleep this morning. First time I cried reading a book.Thank you Mike Majlak for writing and sharing The Fifth Vital

since starting this book I’ve been unable to put it down I’ve been a fan of mike for a long time now and this book is incredible so much emotion and truth and I feel for the first time I can relate to someone who is in the world of fame,i would recommend that you read this book it’s amazing and shows the struggles of everyday life

Amazing story through and through, gives hope to anyone struggling in life and gives an insight into the dark world of the opioid crisis in America.

Incredible book - literally could not put this down. Thrilling story from start to finish, thank you God for what you have done in Mike's life - I pray you continue to bless him and may his story point people toward your grace and freedom 🙏

Definately recommend! A great read particularly in these uncertain times, such an inspirational story of overcoming great struggle and turning your life around. Go buy it!