Furiously Happy

A Funny Book About Horrible Things

By: Jenny Lawson

Narrated by: Jenny Lawson

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Humor, 2016

In Furiously Happy, number-one New York Times best-selling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. 

But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best. 

As Jenny says: 

"Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos. 

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously f--ked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'" 

Furiously Happy is about "taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence. It's the difference between 'surviving life' and 'living life'. It's the difference between 'taking a shower' and 'teaching your monkey butler how to shampoo your hair'. It's the difference between being 'sane' and being 'furiously happy.'"

Lawson is beloved around the world for her inimitable humor and honesty, and in Furiously Happy, she is at her snort-inducing funniest. This is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are - the beautiful and the flawed - and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because as Jenny's mom says, "Maybe 'crazy' isn't so bad after all." Sometimes crazy is just right. 

The audiobook contains a bonus chapter only available to listeners.

©2014 Jenny Lawson (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Review by a Social Worker

As a person who practices psychotherapy and has experience in medical social work, I have to say that I found this book interesting, funny, and heart breaking. There were moments when I paused it and wrote down a quote to share with a client in a later session because her description on some things with mental health were so on key. My favorite chapter was the one on anti-psychotics. I believe some individuals with mental health illnesses will find this book very comforting. I believe there are moments when most of us who have a diagnosis or work with those who do can say "Oh my gosh! Yes! That's exactly it!"

However, as a professional who does this for 40+ hours a week, I found myself having difficulty reading the 2nd half of the book. It's not to say it was a poor half, but because I was getting to a point where I didn't want to read anymore. I felt like some of her tangents went on too much and while I know it was important because she was letting us into her brain and how it operates, I found it exhausting.

To sum it up, I do think anyone who has struggled with a mental illness would find aspects in this book that they could relate to and find joy in it. I also think it's a good read for anyone who loves a person with a mental illness to receive some clarity.

Small doses.

I love Jenny Lawson. Sometimes her ramblings take me too far off topic; perhaps that's the goal? In any case, I could listen to her talk all day. For my own mental health I had to take this one in small doses though.

Comedic cures for my deceptive brain...

Just pretend you're good at being sane...
Jenny is a godsend & I don't know how I would've gotten through many a nights without her hilariously relatable words. I fell in love with her first book & waited impatiently for this release. I am not disappointed in the least. Even if you don't suffer from mental illness she will have you in stitches! So many awkward moments & uncomfortable scenarios you can't help but relate to your own life. Especially if you're a woman... Finding humor in the darkest moments is imperative to my survival. Jenny has helped me with this more than I can ever put into words.
BUY THIS & BUY IT NOW!
I prefer the audio as it animates her writing for the most pleasurable laugh out loud experience possible. Then again, maybe that's just because of my ADHD & anxiety induced insomnia... Either way I'm confident you won't regret it!

MANY laugh out loud in my work cubical moments!

What made the experience of listening to Furiously Happy the most enjoyable?

The narrator is actually the author of the book and she did a fantastic job. It is common with many books I listen to the author narrating their own book is a bad idea. She did a great job and honestly made it more enjoyable than if some random person did the narration. She was able to reenact the actual ciaos in her head.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Rory! The story of Rory and his random adventures had me laughing out loud in this quite office of hundreds of people. People would look at me like I lost my mind. However, pretty much all the characters have their own awesomeness.

What does Jenny Lawson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brought it to life. I think if I was reading the book it would be a bunch of randomness that seemed to have no reason and wouldn't of got passed the first few chapters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to it all in one setting it was that good. I Loved this book. Surprisingly, I don't typically enjoy comedy books but needed a change of pace. I honestly thought it would be a book that I listened a hour a day until it was completed in between chapters of my other books. However, I put my trilogy on hold to listen to this from start to finish!

Any additional comments?

If you easily offended by adult content, language, offensive humor, or random awesomeness this isn't your book. As Jenny states in the beginning "If you don't enjoy this book perhaps your not crazy enough to read it."

Best motivational quote from the book: "Pretend your good at it"

This book is definitely "a funny book about horrible things" but its so true for those of us who struggle with mental disabilities.

I feel like this book closely relates to my life that I questioned if she read my journals. Loved it. This might be the first book in my audible history of me listening to again.

In conclusion: POOR VICTOR! ( her husband) they are polar opposites but it makes for a great story. Plus, a great insight of their lives.

Fantastic book

This book is a wonderful insight into living with mental illness. It is witty and full of humor and hope. Yes, this book delves into the dark side of depression but offers help and light. I also enjoyed listening to the author read this book. It makes it even better.

OMG, like totally soo much up-talk?

Unfortunately the story could have been good however, the up-talk was so distracting.
Think of "valley girl" talk but with a question mark at the end of almost every statement. Ugh!!!!! Highly unfortunate.

Laugh out loud funny

Jenny Lawson had me rolling on the floor laughing, which is always good... Except when you're driving.

Amazing book

Loved it! I was in a dark place with my depression and reading this helped pull me out. She is so funny and just so her that I'm now a huge fan!

Incoherent jibberish

This is so bad! I got to chapter 5 and had to say no more. This is an incoherent, LSD trip clusterf$&@ of a book. I didn’t understand the rave reviews at all. I swear it’s like hearing someone say moon, pasta, tires, love, cremation and other such non-linear thinking and expecting me to just roll with it. I was not amused by the author thinking it was cool to have a dead stuffed raccoon pop up behind her husbands during business Skype calls...WTH?? From what I could tell about this book is everything seemed to revolve around the author which came off as egotistical and childlike. I was expecting something more mature (read coherent with a story line) yet funny to help me with my own depression but this missed the mark. She’s right I’m just not crazy enough to enjoy this book because I’m actually not crazy at all, I am I fact quite sane.

Love Blogess, like the book, not so much the audio

I wanted to love this book. But the audio was really hard to take. The author's vocal fry and uptalking are so grating, like being stuck on an elevator with a frenetic millennial valley girl. (and she's a Gen Xer, so I don't even know where she gets the vocal fry, but it's hard to hear for 7 hours.)

I do love her spirit and sense of humor and honesty about mental illness, so I still give it a high rating. But I think I would have laughed out loud if I read it rather than listened to it.