Reasons to Stay Alive

by Matt Haig

Book Overview

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library.

"Destined to become a modern classic." --Entertainment Weekly

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL TRULY ALIVE?

Don't miss Matt Haig's new novel The Life Impossible, coming September 2024

At the age of 24, Matt Haig's world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143128728
• ISBN13: 9780143128724
• Release Date: February 2016
• Publisher: Penguin Life
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Dangerous book in the wrong hands, depressing at best.

My advice is steer clear of this book. Matt needs to stay in his lane, which is writing fiction & NOT giving medical advice! It is depressing & ultimately disturbing that he claims SSRI’s are proven not to work-yet cites no evidence-while millions everyday take them. Sure, in the future, there may be better cures, but the brain is an organ like any other, and needs care & attention & sometimes meds. (As a nurse who worked in psych I have seen their effectiveness) Tossed it in the trash so it did not fall into hands where it could do serious harm! NO ONE should abruptly stop psych meds

Reasons to Stay Alive (apparently there are many)

Reasons to Stay Alive is one of Matt Haig's most profound books yet. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, this read is a buffet for the soul. Be weary of Haig's travel tales, which while distorted by trauma, may still make you jealous during pandemic lockdown. However, one thing I learned from this book is that comparing one's surface-level experiences to another's is not indicative of either parties well-being. Highly recommend this comfort read filled with unintentional bouts of wisdom.

High Praise led to High Expectations

As someone who’s been depressed for most of their life, I was really ready to fall in love with this book as I’d only ever heard fantastic reviews, by people who’s opinions I trusted. However, despite the author repeatedly saying that all depression is different and no experience of depression is invalid, I really felt disconnected with this book. For the first time in my life, I’d call someone’s discussion of their depression “whining” as he goes on about him suddenly stopping being able to function. I think this may be simply a failure of mine to be connected to the book, but I really wouldn’t recommend this book to someone, although in most cases i wouldn’t tell them not to read it either.