 Furthermore, West states he wished to reach out to others like himself to show them that “they aren't alone, that there is hope.”

A review in "Time" called the book "awkwardly written", but the book reached "The New York Times" bestseller list for two weeks in March 1999.Sales of the book were boosted by the author's appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show".Screen rights for a potential film were purchased by Disney for $1.15 million and Robin Williams was cast to play West.