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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
It's the kind of book I would've loved to have when I was growing up and trying to understand myself. I'm glad new generations have it now for them.
Wow. This book was amazing. I’ve been watching Dan for years and his videos were always a safe place for me, where I felt understood. They made me laugh when I didn’t have much to laugh or feel about about. This book is described as a ‘toolkit’ for understand and coping mental health. Dan breaks it all down with personal stories, particularly about growing up a repressed queer in homophobic environments (which for me? Is extremely relatable) I loved how the sections were broken down into immediate solutions, (this night) ways to change habits to be happier/ healthier (tomorrow) and understanding your behaviour for the future(the days after that) I hardly ever pick up ‘self help books’ as I find them incredibly boring. However, Dan made it fun and easy to understand. His usual humour sprinkled throughout was perfect. This is the book I needed when I was a depressed, anxious emo lesbian teen. And frankly, it’s the book I needed now. 5/5 stars.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
It's a very good book. Obviously it's not going to fully cure you're mental health issues, whatever they may be, but, it will help you feel better in the tough times now and for the future. At times it's a tough read because some parts (for me anyhow) hit quite close to home. I think overall it's just nice to read something by someone so recognised in the entertainment industry, you feel heard, you feel accepted, from someone who doesn't know of your existence and they don't know how much theirs have had on yours.
DNF on page 67. 1 star to reflect that.
I didn't know going into this book that it was written by a Youtuber, so I didn't have really have any expectations to begin with (pls don't come for me, Daniel Howell stans). My biggest problem was that the author didn't seem to take it seriously, which, if I understand correctly, seems to be his trademarked style; again, I had neither seen nor heard of Dan Howell before picking up this book at random from the local library's shelves. The title appealed to me, and I'm a ho for a self-help book, but I think I learned my lesson here: please more books from psychologists and fewer from famous people with no credentials.
At some points, it also felt a bit self-indulgent and performative: "If I can get through x, y, and z, there's no excuse for you not to, either." It rarely accounts for extenuating circumstances and stations in life, and when it does, it seems to gloss over the large roles that social media, capitalism, and oppression of protected classes have contributed to continued deterioration in mental health. This may be addressed later in the novel, but I never made it there. Does Howell address how YouTube/social media impacts mental health and how he has benefitted from it?
My biggest qualm with the book is that self help books like this should have actionable advice, and this misses the mark. Although he does provide some solid advice (which tends to be the baseline you find most everywhere with mental health), other places were unclear and/or rephrased several times over without detailing how or why to implement the advice. The content seemed to vacillate between a memoir and surface-level mental health advice, and I think the author would have been better off focusing on it as a memoir instead.
Largely, I'd say this book is a decent introduction to basic concepts that you could find by Googling mental health, and it's presented in a conversational tone that is likely accessible to his intended audience (his social media followers ~<17), but it just didn't hit home for me.
I didn't know going into this book that it was written by a Youtuber, so I didn't have really have any expectations to begin with (pls don't come for me, Daniel Howell stans). My biggest problem was that the author didn't seem to take it seriously, which, if I understand correctly, seems to be his trademarked style; again, I had neither seen nor heard of Dan Howell before picking up this book at random from the local library's shelves. The title appealed to me, and I'm a ho for a self-help book, but I think I learned my lesson here: please more books from psychologists and fewer from famous people with no credentials.
At some points, it also felt a bit self-indulgent and performative: "If I can get through x, y, and z, there's no excuse for you not to, either." It rarely accounts for extenuating circumstances and stations in life, and when it does, it seems to gloss over the large roles that social media, capitalism, and oppression of protected classes have contributed to continued deterioration in mental health. This may be addressed later in the novel, but I never made it there. Does Howell address how YouTube/social media impacts mental health and how he has benefitted from it?
My biggest qualm with the book is that self help books like this should have actionable advice, and this misses the mark. Although he does provide some solid advice (which tends to be the baseline you find most everywhere with mental health), other places were unclear and/or rephrased several times over without detailing how or why to implement the advice. The content seemed to vacillate between a memoir and surface-level mental health advice, and I think the author would have been better off focusing on it as a memoir instead.
Largely, I'd say this book is a decent introduction to basic concepts that you could find by Googling mental health, and it's presented in a conversational tone that is likely accessible to his intended audience (his social media followers ~<17), but it just didn't hit home for me.
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Audiobook - 4 hours 36 minutes - I have never actually read a self-help book before - in general, I view them as exploitative and manipulative of vulnerable people just looking for something to help them get by. And while I acknowledge that I am biased, having been a fan of Dan Howell for over 8 years now, I did actually see a lot of value in this book. Dan provided helpful advice while peppering the narration with funny, relatable anecdotes, and throughout the book, there were exercises for the reader that I actually want to take a note of. I think reading this as an audiobook elevated my experience - I always love listening to audiobooks read by the author, and this was no exception.
unfortunately i did listen to this on the plane and i do think there are some good nuggets of mental health knowledge that i will probably take into my life. i think also if you’re a real youtuber-head from back in the day you will learn more about why dan did not come out earlier and all the shit he went through and creates an understanding if you’re interested in that
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced