Reasons to Stay Alive

I have never read a book that I felt I'd worn for my entire life. I slid into Reasons to Stay Alive and it turned out that it has not only been my clothing, but all my organs and central nervous system and everything I've breathed since at least 1968. It is me. Reading it was wonderful, sad and joyful and amazing and I felt myself on every page -- until I turned the page to arrive at the section beginning on page 198. I literally whispered to myself "Holy Crap. This really IS me." The book was written by Matt Haig and it's basically his stories and thoughts about Depression and Anxiety. And oh, that sounds so sad and, well, depressing -- but this isn't. It's written in sections and lists and pages and many wonderfully-succinct bits that capture his life and how it carefully unfolded. And no, it doesn’t have a sad ending. For me, it's a masterpiece. I started re-reading it the day after I finished it. And, surprisingly I just realized that I never cried reading it. Not once. I didn't have to -- all the emotions I felt were there, right in front of me, on the page.

I first read midnight library before this one and I have to admit I didn’t write the most favorable review. However, after reading this, I have a better understanding where Matt is coming from. He’s speaking to a specific audience (that is larger than professional critics probably want to admit). It’s not really an autobiography as much as it is a pivotal moment in his life where he went searching for answers and understanding. The book becomes more profound and to the point the closer it gets to the end. You feel the evolution almost on the same timeline as him. As a bipolar person, I can’t fully relate to his experience. BUT a depressive experience/existence and anxiety are the cornerstones of blood sweat and tears of all brain health issues. So I’m grateful for that simplicity. People find the concept of depression hard enough to accept in and of itself, yet alone bipolar. It’s a great book for people who deny depression as it might help them understand a little. It does have components of a self help guru vibe, but it isn’t THE vibe. So people looking for a strict autobiography, or self help book, or guide on how to scientifically actually not die might be disappointed. Go in with an open mind. I appreciated this book and it’s simple (but not basic!) language, I love his style of very appropriately structured paragraphs, it’s an easy ready, but of no less value. I’m guessing I’ll hear about this book the rest of my life, and well deserved. I know you like to read your reviews, Matt. I write too so I can imagine - just know that although your big hits don’t necessarily speak to me, this one did. And I get a better sense of who you are, which makes me appreciate your other works a lot more. Keep up your great work. I know you’re helping a lot of people while also getting some great writing out there. Maybe one day we’ll meet. Congrats and thank you.

As I get older, different things, different authors, different subjects one or all of these reading related things, make me feel better about my life, about where I’m at in life, and make me happier about this life. This book made me feel good, real good.

Insightful and brave admission on depression by a great author revealing that we are all human, susceptible to life’s challenges. Many varied references and examples were convincingly provided making for a very credible publication.

I think the book is really brave. I’m only 50 pages in and the author’s honestly vulnerability is appreciated. That said, if you are acutely struggling with suicidal ideation and desperately turning to the internet trying to find any shred of hope that that life is worth living, like I was… this is not the book you need right now. The author begins by describing his own battle with suicidal ideation and even the “hopeful” moments are still tinged with the cynicism of a depressed person. Reading the author’s story of depression, addiction, and suicidal ideation actually made my suicidal ideation and depression spiral worse. I had to put the book down. I will come back to this book in the future when I am more grounded and able to stick with it. I do believe it gets more positive later on and I’m assuming, based on skimming through, he talks eventually about his recovery, the hope, and actual reasons to stay alive. If you’re severely depressed, wondering if you can go on, and looking for a book that will help you “snap out of it” right from the first few pages, try “Uncovering Happiness” by Elisha Goldstein or “How I Stayed Alive When my Brain Was Trying to Kill Me” by Susan Rose Blauner. Hang in there.

This is genuinely the best mental health book I’ve ever read in my life. Matt Haig is an incredible author to not only take the time to help millions of people around the world with his life stories and research on mental health, but it’s so inspiring and has really taught me so much. I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety for 6 years now This is exactly the book I needed to read. Even if you don’t personally suffer with a mental illness, it helps to open your eyes and understand the world of someone who does suffer. I couldn’t recommend this book enough. I truly believe this is a book that EVERYONE should read. Thank you Matt Haig 🩷

Parts of it resonated with me, but a lot of it seemed like filler. It reads better as a memoir. In that sense it is helpful.

Thank you for opening up and sharing such personal insights on your personal mental health challenges. It is difficult for many to talk about it or express what they are going through clearly. You hit the nail for me personally and I am excited to share this incredible book with others who may appreciate it as well.,

I bought this book as a recommendation. i stopped reading 1/3 of the way. I just think it's poorly written. It fails to keep me engaged I read plenty of books, about 1 a week. But this is one of the extremely few times that I couldn't force myself to finish what i was reading

Ziemlich gute Gründe, am Leben zu bleiben war ein absolutes Wunschlisten Buch von mir. Ich wusste, dieses Buch muss ich unbedingt lesen. Als ich es dann in den Händen hielt und die ersten Seiten gelesen habe, hat es mich dann doch schnell bedrückt und ich habe es wieder zur Seite gelegt. Einerseits wollte ich mich mit dem Thema Depression auseinander setzen aber andererseits wollte ich auch, dass mir das Thema nicht zu nahe geht. Schlussendlich habe ich Matt Haigs Buch gelesen und kann es uneingeschränkt weiter empfehlen. Es ist so viel mehr als nur eine Geschichte. Matt Haig erkrankte mit 24 an Depressionen und in seiner Geschichte erzählt er, wie ihm das Leben immer mehr entglitt. Er zeigt dem Leser die Abgründe der Krankheit und nimmt ihn auf eine schonungslose Reise mit. Manchmal hatte ich sogar das Gefühl, dass der Autor seine phasenweisen Schübe zu authentisch beschrieb. Bei so viel emotionaler Ehrlichkeit hatte ich oft Gänsehaut, besonders wenn Matt Haig nur Suizid als einzigen Ausweg sah. Er betont auch immer wieder, dass Depressionen eine unsichtbare Krankheit ist. Und dennoch hat er es geschafft, der zerstörerischen Gedankenspirale zu entkommen. Er hat für sich selbst einen Weg gefunden mit der Depression umzugehen. Der Autor hat einen tollen Sinn für Humor, das hat er bereits bei Ich und die Menschen bewiesen. Auch in diesem Buch steckt ein gewisser Witz drin, zwischen all dem traurigen, bedrückenden aber auch lebensbejahenden und schlauen Worten. Die Mischung ist ihm perfekt gelungen und das Gesamtkonzept des Buches hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Es hat alles ein bisschen aufgelockert. Ich könnte mich gar nicht entscheiden, welches Zitat mir am besten gefallen hat. Würde ich alle schönen Sätze markieren, wäre das ganze Buch bunt. Ziemlich gute Gründe, am Leben zu bleiben ist ein kleines Buch mit großer Wirkung. Ein Buch, welches für immer in meinem Regal bleiben darf. Matt Haig hat seine Geschichte unverblümt ehrlich erzählt und bei mir damit voll ins Schwarze getroffen. Eine Mischung aus Sachbuch, Ratgeber und Biographie und noch viel mehr. 5/5 Rawr's

It's quite difficult to review this book in terms of doing justice to it's greatness and it's goodness. Before I attempt to put my thoughts into words (I am still contemplating this book long after having read it three times over), I will just say this: read this book now, whoever you are, just find a way to read it, you absolutely must. The thing about depression is that it's just so hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. Matt Haig manages to accurately describe depression and anxiety and how he personally manages these illnesses without ever sounding maudlin, trite or preachy. I now feel I can just press this book upon people and say 'here, read this, this is me, you will know me now'. Matt Haig's writing is frank and beautiful and he manages to put into words thoughts that have been following me around for years. "If you have depression on its own your mind sinks into a swamp and loses momentum, but with anxiety in the cocktail, the swamp is still a swamp but the swamp now has whirlpools in it." - Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive. I found myself constantly nodding along whilst reading, there were just so many truisms, so many little realities and descriptions of feelings that I recognise so well and that I would never have been able to put into words. It was just such a relief to read. The structure of Reasons to Stay Alive is very helpful both for those attempting to understand depression, and for those in the midst of it. The book is separated into short chapters which are honest, insightful and beautifully succinct. I personally have found that when I am low and unwell I find it difficult to concentrate for long periods, so the short sections are very helpful in this respect and the book is never too heavy or overly academic. Little notes of humour made Reasons to Stay Alive light and hopeful as well as intensely emotional. One of my favourite sections is: 'things people say to depressives that they don't say in other life-threatening situations' with an example being 'Ah Meningitis. Come on, mind over matter'. I would love to be able to hand this book to every single person who has told me to pull myself together or be grateful for everything I have. I would like them to understand that I can happy and grateful at the same time as being depressed just like, as Matt Haig says, a person can be a sober alcoholic. As I said earlier, it is difficult to review this book when all that really needs to be said is that this book is incredibly important and EVERYONE should read it.

Reading this book let me know that I'm a far better well adjusted, happy, grateful, privileged person than I thought. I feel like we as a society throw around the words "I'm depressed" when we feel sad, and "I have anxiety" when we're just worried about what our next step in life is. The dictionary term of these words are what we're really talking about, not the weighted, complex feelings and issues these words currently have in our society. This books is up-lifting. I recommend it. It reminds you there are many reasons to be grateful for every day.

As a counsellor I found Matt's account of his personal struggles and experience with depression, interesting and authentic. I am sure many people can identify with Matt's portrayal of anxiety and depression, and would find comfort from his words. My only caution for readers would be to understand everyone's experience with depression is different. You should not compare your symptoms with Matt's, and not seek help from your GP because your symptoms may not seem as bad. We are all different and experience depression differently too. Thank you for writing this book. The world needs more people to bravely come forward and talk about mental health, and how to live alongside it as a productive member of society.