Reasons to Stay Alive (original 2015; edition 2016)

Raw, beautiful and profound. Don't expect any (direct) answers here on "staying alive". Matt Haig documents his battle with depression and anxiety. I like reading his work. He is brutally honest and well-versed in literature and philosophy.



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A light-hearted book about depression. That’s not something I ever expected to see, but that’s what Matt Haig produced. It’s chatty, with brief sentences and short chapters. Because sometimes, a heavy book with page after page of dense type can seem overwhelming.
From start (“depression lies”) to finish (a little over two pages listing “things I have enjoyed since the time I thought I would never enjoy anything again”), the book is filled with sound advice, offered in a low-key way.
I can’t know for sure, but I suspect this would have been a help at one of those times when. I suppose it might have been, since one aspect of depression is the feeling of isolation. Haig’s openness about his own struggle would be a reminder that at least one other person feels that way. Along with Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and a host of others he cites (including a surprising number of beautiful actresses).
Neuroscience is a work in progress, so this book isn’t the last word on coping with depression. But it’s good to be aware of it. ( )

I’ll need to reread this some time when I need reasons to stay alive. I don’t think I can give it a fair rating in my current frame of mind. ( )

I like stories of struggle and survival that show a person's true character. Matt Haig shares exactly what it's like to be depressed. So be ready for the truth. I now better understand depression. It's a difficult topic that I found captivating. I enjoyed The Midnight Library so much that I looked up Haig's other books. Thanks for sharing, Matt. ( )

meh ( )