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A review by saryy
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
I kept trying to formulate an
coherent opinion on this book even while reading but always came up empty. The one word that kept coming up however is "meh"
It's not revolutionary, it's not a masterpiece, and it's not a new look on things, and this is all true despite it being my first ever book on the subject matter.
It's a bit misleading in its premise ngl. It's basically a biography where the author goes into harrowing detail about his depression. Which is fine, but it never really struck me as helpful for me to read, as a person who's suffering from mental health issues. It was just odd that even after this incredibly deep dive that he didn't really go into similar details when it came to his recovery, which is what I was looking for in the first place (with his past/present conversation being summed up as "it gets better." "how" "it gets better")
I find his take on medications really dangerous. yes he comes out and says he isn't anti pill, but that's after paragraph after paragraph dismissing medication and pills, when he never really bothered trying again when the first medication didn't help. it's his right not to take pills obviously but saying that he was grateful he didn't because it somehow helped him came off as him feeling superior because he manged to get out of it "without help."
Like I said the book wasn't really helpful. read, write, love, sure. people do all that and are still depressed. I wasn't going to pick this book up after reading The Midnight Library by him and finding its message extremely lacking and simplistic, but that's on me for changing my mind.
Another review mentioned how the author came from a place of great privilege, yet failed to recognize that, or even factor it when it came to his generalized advice.
The one thing I can say good in this book's favor is that it was written accessible-y, NOT well, just accesible. I would say it's easy to follow, in the sense that it's directly written, but definitely not an easy read, especially those first few chapters.
I don't think I'd ever recommend this book. I'm sure there are better self help books out there about mental health. and definitely my last ever Matt Haig read.
coherent opinion on this book even while reading but always came up empty. The one word that kept coming up however is "meh"
It's not revolutionary, it's not a masterpiece, and it's not a new look on things, and this is all true despite it being my first ever book on the subject matter.
It's a bit misleading in its premise ngl. It's basically a biography where the author goes into harrowing detail about his depression. Which is fine, but it never really struck me as helpful for me to read, as a person who's suffering from mental health issues. It was just odd that even after this incredibly deep dive that he didn't really go into similar details when it came to his recovery, which is what I was looking for in the first place (with his past/present conversation being summed up as "it gets better." "how" "it gets better")
I find his take on medications really dangerous. yes he comes out and says he isn't anti pill, but that's after paragraph after paragraph dismissing medication and pills, when he never really bothered trying again when the first medication didn't help. it's his right not to take pills obviously but saying that he was grateful he didn't because it somehow helped him came off as him feeling superior because he manged to get out of it "without help."
Like I said the book wasn't really helpful. read, write, love, sure. people do all that and are still depressed. I wasn't going to pick this book up after reading The Midnight Library by him and finding its message extremely lacking and simplistic, but that's on me for changing my mind.
Another review mentioned how the author came from a place of great privilege, yet failed to recognize that, or even factor it when it came to his generalized advice.
The one thing I can say good in this book's favor is that it was written accessible-y, NOT well, just accesible. I would say it's easy to follow, in the sense that it's directly written, but definitely not an easy read, especially those first few chapters.
I don't think I'd ever recommend this book. I'm sure there are better self help books out there about mental health. and definitely my last ever Matt Haig read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness