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Summary

With acerbic wit and a hilarious voice, Shane Burcaw's Laughing at My Nightmare describes the challenges he faces as a 21-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to having a girlfriend and everything in between, Shane handles his situation with humor and a "you-only-live-once" perspective on life. While he does talk about everyday issues that are relatable to teens, he also offers an eye-opening perspective on what it is like to have a life threatening disease.
©2014 Shane Burcaw (P)2014 Audible Inc.

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  • Abby Goldsmith
  • 09-11-14

Insightful and unflinchingly honest

This book will stay in my mind for a long time. I want to thank Shane Burcaw for his unflinching honesty about painful and intimate parts of his life. I've read a number of memoirs/autobiographies, and I don't think I've seen this level of honesty before. He's willing to discuss his insecurities, his deepest fears, his shortcomings--and also his hopes, and the people he loves--all made fascinating through the lens of a debilitating disease that affects not only him, but also his family and friends.

I'm researching SMA for a series of science fiction books I'm writing. This memoir fulfilled my research needs and then some. I feel as if I have a much better understanding of what this disease is about and how it affects those who have it.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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  • Ann Peters
  • 16-05-17

Amazing book!

Tender, touching, funny and true. This well written book will change you. I recommend it highly.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • JAmes B.
  • 29-11-16

finished in one day. it's that good!

I have a 7 yr old with SMA type 2. this book made me laugh and cry probably an equal amount. I learned a lot too. great book. well written. great narration. highly recommended!!

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  • Bfab
  • 28-08-16

great

very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very funny and nice and a really eye opener

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  • Katelyn Ward
  • 17-02-16

Laughing at my Nightmare

I loved it! Great uplifting read! Laughing at my Nightmare was funny, moving, and full of sprit.

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  • Lindsey
  • 13-02-15

Fantastic read!

I feel like I have to meet Shane Burcaw at some point in my life now! I've never read anything that honest in my life.

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  • kukz
  • 23-04-18

Dissappointed

What disappointed you about Laughing at My Nightmare?

In a nutshell, the author just is not very likable and it makes it hard to listen to the problematic things he says for so long. He faces a great deal of challenges and "othering" in society, which is heartbreaking, and you do want to cut him some slack.....but his default coping mechanism often seems to be making fun of people; repetitively insisting on his superiority over people with cognitive disabilities, calling people dumb when they try to make him feel included, and going on in what feels like forever of his cataloging of his disgust for or thinly veiled "pity" for others. And then there are many, many stories about bodily functions. Which are insightful at first but seem unnecessary to go back to over and over again in detail once the message has been communicated. Most of the stories he shares can be organized into one or more of the themes above.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful