• Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

  • A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
  • By: Maria Bamford
  • Narrated by: Maria Bamford
  • Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (927 ratings)

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Sure, I'll Join Your Cult  By  cover art

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

By: Maria Bamford
Narrated by: Maria Bamford
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Publisher's summary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From “weird, scary, ingenious” (The New York Times) stand-up comedian Maria Bamford, a brutally honest and hilariously frenetic memoir about show business, mental health, and the comfort of rigid belief systems—from Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, to Suzuki violin training, to Richard Simmons, to 12-step programs.

Maria Bamford is a comedian’s comedian (an outsider among outsiders) and has forever fought to find a place to belong. From struggling with an eating disorder as a child of the 1980s, to navigating a career in the arts (and medical debt and psychiatric institutionalization), she has tried just about every method possible to not only be a part of the world, but to want to be a part of it.

In Bamford’s signature voice, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, brings us on a quest to participate in something. With sincerity and transparency, she recounts every anonymous fellowship she has joined (including but not limited to: Debtors Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous), every hypomanic episode (from worrying about selling out under capitalism to enforcing union rules on her Netflix TV show set to protect her health), and every easy 1-to-3-step recipe for fudge in between.

Singular and inimitable, Bamford’s memoir explores what it means to keep going, and to be a member of society (or any group she’s invited to) despite not being very good at it. In turn, she hopes to transform isolating experiences into comedy that will make you feel less alone (without turning into a cult following).

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Maria Bamford (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Editorial Review

A humorous and painful path to self-love
Comedian and actress Maria Bamford ( Lady Dynamite, Teenage Euthanasia) has tried everything—12-step programs, How to Win Friends and Influence People, even Richard Simmons—to heal from trauma, manage her mental illnesses, and find a place in the world. In this candid memoir, Bamford invites listeners into her inner life battling the intrusive thoughts brought on by her OCD, making peace with past versions of herself, and navigating a tumultuous journey to self-acceptance. As emotionally challenging as her story is to listen to at times, make no mistake—this listen is masterfully designed for audio enjoyment with a unique soundscape and Bamford’s talented voice acting. —Rachael X., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

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Incredible

Maria is riveting!!! It's a rare treat for me to to feel seen, as I'm devastatingly strange and troubled, whilst also high achieving and seemingly normal due to always masking. Thank you Maria for being so very honest.

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Funniest / Best Audiobook Ever!!! (n=50ish)

Maria’s talented voice acting takes FULL advantage of the audio format, and I cackled with laughter throughout the book.

True to form, she delivered brilliantly unique and unexpected jokes, with compassion and wisdom.

She’s a comedic genius, and this is a profoundly entertaining listen.

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Funny, candid, compassionate, and enlightening!

I've loved Maria Bamford's work for years. She's so incredibly talented. This was her first book I've read. I deeply enjoyed it. Thank you, Maria, for always sharing so openly. You are an inspiration!

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Brilliant

I had seen her in concert and she was great- this exceeded that perf. I can’t imagine anyone actually reading this book - Maria( and her friends) must be heard!

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I LOVE THIS BOOK!

I loved these vulnerable and hilarious stories of mental health and growth. I liked Maria before I read this book but now I'm obsessed. She's one of a kind and one of the best comedians that's ever existed!

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I love her I love this book

So funny poignant relatable. Thank you for this gift Maria ! I was sad when it ended.

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A Memoir Told In A Series of Life Plans

Maria is a seeker, by her own definition, and relates how she has swung from eating disorder to sex and love addiction to debtor’s anonymous to Scientology, well actually she was too broke for Scientology. A wild story told with love and kindness and excruciating detail! Performed in her inimitable style.

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I love Maria

I have seen Maria perform at free and donation based shows all over Hollywood and the “east side.” I have watched her specials and listened to her albums. I never get tired of her! If there were an Olympic competition between Maria and her sister, WHICH I KNOW THERE IS NOT, I think the judges would score Maria higher because she brought Marilyn and Joel to the world at large, which was awesome and we miss them.

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Super helpful and funny

i think we all have issues, traumas, and needs that we either set aside, or don't realize need addressing. Maria's book destigmatizes receiving mental health care. Better yet, she's open and honest about the reality--it's an ongoing, imperfect struggle, but there is support to help.

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wonderful

it was great getting to know a favorite comic that much more. well done.

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