Reasons to Stay Alive cover art

Reasons to Stay Alive

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Reasons to Stay Alive

By: Matt Haig
Narrated by: Matt Haig
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About this listen

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL TRULY ALIVE?

Aged 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 crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again.

A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how to live better, love better and feel more alive, Reasons to Stay Alive is more than a memoir. It is a book about making the most of your time on earth.

'I wrote this book because the oldest clichés remain the truest. Time heals. The bottom of the valley never provides the clearest view. The tunnel does have light at the end of it, even if we haven't been able to see it . . . Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.'

©2015 Canongate Books (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd Essays Mental Health Mental Health Awareness Mood Disorders Personal Development Psychology & Mental Health Health Inspiring Thought-Provoking Nonfiction

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Critic reviews

"Maybe the most important book I've read this year." (Simon Mayo)
"A life-saving book." (Amanda Craig)
"Brings a difficult and sensitive subject out of the darkness and into the light." (Michael Palin)
All stars
Most relevant
Congratulations to Matt Haig for being a survivor of such a horrible illness. Thanks for providing an account of your own experience which can give company to those going through their own. I hope you found catharsis in sharing it and I wish you - and all readers - respite from the black dog.

Company and Catharsis

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Dear Matt Haig, just in case you also read Audible audiobook reviews (in addition to Amazon and Goodreads): I really enjoyed The Humans and Echo Boy but I'm afraid Reasons To Stay Alive was not my type of book. It's remarkable and admirable that you wrote, published and even narrated something so personal, something so honest but I'm afraid I didn't like it. I know I'm not supposed to enjoy a book like this but I just found it a tad too whiny.
I'm looking forward to more Fiction audiobooks of yours as I really like your style of crafting a fictional story.

Not my type of book

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It is not a self-help book. It is not an autobiography. it is not a scientific treatise on depression.
....or, it is all of the above
Yet first and foremost it is beautiful and it will make your life just a little bit richer.

Truly beautiful

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I am halfway through and find it odd that the only evidence of any existing cure to the horrors being described is the existence of this book. As the author lists books he read, I wonder what that has to do with anything. The reasons to stay alive are thin on the ground. In reality it is quite depressing, so far. As I said, I am only a couple of hours in. I write this review now as I doubt my ability to finish this work. This is written accompanied by genuine sympathy for what the author has experienced. Puts us in a difficult position. It appears that many have enjoyed this work. I am not one of them. I wish the author well.

Not sure about This

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A brave topic to write about and I admire the author for tackling a sensitive subject. I was hooked at the beginning but it starts to ramble. In particular I didn't like the tweet section and this felt long. I had to push myself to finish the book.

Personal review

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