Reasons to Stay Alive Book Review

January 07, 2021

Title: Reasons to Stay Alive

Author: Matt Haig

Genres: Self-help, memoir, biography, autobiography

Published: March 2015

Length: 264 pages

“The key is in accepting your thoughts, all of them, even the bad ones. Accept your thoughts, but don't become them”

Book Summary

One day Matt Haig felt that he has died, with little to no understanding of depression. He felt that living was too much pain. He went to the edge of a cliff, intending to end all his pain and suffering. he thought of all the people who loved him, and he thought of death. He tried to gather up the courage to end everything, but the fear that he might remain paralyzed, trapped in his body forever restrained him from ending his life. He figured that to survive such tragedy would only bring more suffering. Reasons to Stay Alive uncovers Matt Haig's personal experience of depression, anxiety, the stigma around it and how he overcomes it.

Review

It's 2021, and yet we find ourselves having to spend another month, or possibly months, in quarantine. But this time around, I made a promise to myself that I would spend my days more mindfully. Looking back at how much 2020 has affected everyone, including myself, I realized that in order to be more mindful and content, I needed to create the conditions for it.

I read The Humans back when I was still in high school, and I enjoyed the book. To know that someone who writes comedy (slash science fiction) has experienced depression intrigued me. It proved how little we know about others. For thiss reason, I decided to pick up this book.

I really enjoyed reading Reasons to Stay Alive. It opened my eyes to how stigma can result in so many misconceptions that sadly might trap people in a cycle of illness. This book taught me to become more aware of what is happening to me and the people around me. Matt not only shared his journey of overcoming depression but also the symptoms of depression, the challenges, and the solutions that worked for him. Another strength of the book is how Haig incorporates his love for literature into his writing. He references books, authors, and quotes throughout the book, making it a literary journey as well. The writing is beautiful, poetic, and often humorous, making it an enjoyable read despite its heavy subject matter. I deeply appreciate how Matt keeps things open. He doesn't lecture his readers on what is right and what will work for them (no one-size-fits-all fix). He simply encourages readers to find what works for them.

One possible weakness is that some readers may find the book's structure a bit disjointed, as it jumps between personal anecdotes, research and lists of "reasons to stay alive". But, overall, this book is a powerful and beautifully written memoir.

My rating: 4⭐

If you loved this book you might also enjoy Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig, When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron, Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom by Pattie Mallette

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