Book Review: Furiously Happy

04.3.2016

For those who don't know, Furiously Happy is about the life of author Jenny Lawson, and her struggle with a variety of disorders including depression and anxiety. I'm not really sure if it's a memoir or autobiography or neither, but you can think of it as a series of blog posts about things that happen in her life, and her thoughts. It is hilarious, and poignant, and helps people who don't have disorders understand what's it like to have a disorder (I think....I don't have a disorder, so can't confirm this, but I definitely feel like I have a better understanding of them now). She describes what it's like when they get especially bad in very relatable ways, using experiences that most humans have had, and without asking for pity. It's also not just about feels and sad things -- she narrates her life with silliness and humor, and many of the experiences themselves are hilarious as well. From waking up to find her arms are asleep, to having her daughter congratulate her on making friends, Lawson talks about experiences we've all had without fear of self-deprecation. "Furiously Happy" is a fun and thought-provoking read. As a side note, I realize this whole post is very effusive and only has nice things to say about the book. I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. I expected it to be a quick and funny read, and got way more than I bargained for, which is just about all you can ask of a book. As a sub-side-note, I highly recommend the audio-book version as well. It's narrated by the author, has several "extra" little bits in it, and Lawson's narration definitely adds a lot to the experience of consuming the book.