About the book
Novelist Matt Haig writes about the depression and anxiety that struck at 24, while he and his girlfriend, Andrea, were in Spain. He describes how his world caved in, how close he came to ending his life, and the years that followed. His recovery, as he tells it, came minute by minute and day by day, helped by reading and writing and by the support of his parents and of Andrea, later his wife. In some passages his present self speaks across time to the younger man in crisis. Haig also notes depression in his own family history. The memoir was his first nonfiction work and the first time he wrote publicly about his illness.
Ella Botting, founder of CyberWomen, said she recognized her own past in Haig's account of his lowest moment and found it reassuring to read.
We hope you love the books people recommend! Just so you know, The CEO Library may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
This book has 1 recommendation
Ella Botting (Founder/CyberWomen.co.uk)
Books have helped me with just about every decision I’ve ever made. One that sticks out to me was reading How to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. There’s a moment in the book where Matt talks about wanting to kill himself but not having the gusto to go through with it. And I’ve been there before, in pretty much the exact circumstances he describes. I thankfully got help and I’m all good now, but it felt reassuring to read that experience and almost share it with him and know that he and maybe other people get it. It’s hard to explain but sometimes when you feel suicidal having people worry makes you feel annoyed, but being able to almost joke about it, in the way Matt does, feels quite cathartic. Although I’m certainly not saying anything about suicide is funny!
Get this book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books