The Fifth Vital

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.

I just finished the entire book tonight and had to come right onto Amazon and write a review. The book took me 2 days to finish and was by far the best read I’ve ever had. The fifth vital is an amazing story of redemption, overcoming, and never giving up. The story is so well written and every chapter fits perfectly in the order they are presented. The detailed descriptions of Mikes traumatic past and early teen life make this book so griping I couldn’t put it down. If I’m being honest, I am 100% sure I will find myself reading this book again and again. There are so many lessons to be learned throughout this book but by far the most important is to adapt the “warrior” mentality that Mike did. Through the worst of times Mike never gave up and I cannot wait to apply his lessons to my own life. I feel blessed to have been able to read this book and I am so thankful Mike shared his story with the world. I may be biased because Mike is my favorite YouTuber and I’m a die hard Night Shift fan but all jokes aside BUY THIS BOOK!!! It will change your thinking, challenge your views on life, and teach you things you didn’t even know you had to learn. I am so glad I bought this book!!! 5 stars all the way! NOTE TO MIKE: Thank you for sharing your story with us. I wish I knew you in person but after reading your story I already feel like I do. You are an incredible person for overcoming what you did. As someone who struggled with addiction myself, this book brought me right back into all those feelings but in a good way. I am so glad I chose to get sober and this book just confirmed that for me!

Mike Majlak’s story is proof of the power of just hanging on. The spark within all of us, our inner warrior, to keep fighting and never give up. As this story shows, mike fought and continues to fight his own demons, and through it he turned from a junkie that people would look away from on the street to a celebrity that people want to go up and take pictures with. His determination to keep moving is an inspiration to many, with a story that everyone can relate to. You don’t have to be a former addict to find value in his story. All of us, in one way or another, experience pain. After all, that is what makes it the fifth vital sign. But it is how we handle this pain and push through that determines our lives. Mikes story is proof that we create our own destiny, that we must not look back on our regrets but instead work hard to improve everyday, and through it we can overcome the low-points in our lives that haunt us everyday. Not buying this book would be a massive mistake. It is one of the best I have read, with lessons everyone can learn from. I strongly suggest anyone reading to buy this book and give it a shot. I’ve already finished and reread multiple sections, and I expect to keep coming back to this book when I find myself in hardship.

My teenage son recommended this book to me. He had not read it, but wanted to. As a mother, I constantly worry about my son heading into his high school years. Some may say this book is a little much for a teenager, but I decided to allow my son to read it. It tells the raw truth about how easily it is to get mixed up in the drug scene. The author tells his story in a way that I feel like young teenagers/adults can relate. I think it is an excellent eye opener for people who think it can never happen to them or their children. If you are a parent, that can get past the cussing and sex part of the book, I would 100% recommend this book for not only yourself, but for your teenager as well. They've probably heard of the famous You Tuber, Logan Paul. This is one of his very close friends, which is how my son heard about the book.

I loved this book! It was so sad but at the same time inspiring to see Mike going from a drug addict to a social media influencer! I usually take like 1 month to finish a 300 paged book haha but this one took me 3 days (and i read slowly) Probably my favourite book! Keep doing you Mike Majlak!!!!

Great story, gripping from the start and very hard to put down! I've known about Mike from the Impaulsive podcast and always wondered about his backstory. Its a story everybody who is directly or indirectly affected by addiction, or is just curious about the horrendous effects and lifelong consequences needs to read. It should be read in class! Its so worth it, and is not only very educative and entertaining, but also really inspiring and motivating, with the positive message that you can get out of even the darkest place and make a better life for yourself, if you just keep going day by day. Absolutely recommend it.

This book has been written with great emotion and while I was reading i could feel every beat of the book. Mike has gone through a lot and he has given this book a very disturbingly dark tone to it which kept me engaged throughout. All the accidents that he went through have been narrated with such intricate detail it feels as if you're going through it all yourself. At one point I had to take a break from reading because it struck a nerve somewhere deep down. All in all this book is a must read for people who want to dive deep into the life of a person who has gone through a dark journey with drugs. From Mike's stories with drug abuse i have been repulsed by the thought of smoking anymore. Truly serving the purpose of his life through the book! God speed Mike 🙏

As of now I've read half of this magnificent book and all I can say is that it already changed my perspective of life in so many things. I really needed this. Thank you big brother.

Uno de los mejores libros que he leído, sin dudas. La narrativa es perfecta y te sumerge en la historia, te hace sentir todo el proceso por el que va pasando Mike. Recomendadísimo.