Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere

De: Maria Bamford

Narrado por: Maria Bamford

From “weird, scary, ingenious” (The New York Times) stand-up comedian Maria Bamford, an instant New York Times bestselling, brutally honest, and “laugh-out-loud funny” (Jennette McCurdy, #1 New York Times bestselling author) 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 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 “trademark blend of disarming intimacy and dark whimsy” (Publishers Weekly), Sure, I’ll Join Your Cultbrings 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.

Packed with “Bamford’s brilliance, relentless humor, and insatiable instinct for survival (Library Journal), this 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).

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Stand-up comic Maria Bamford shows her sense of timing, audience, and humor as she narrates her memoir. Upbeat and whimsical, she begins by defining sounds that signal what’s coming: Brakes squealing, for example, heralds “creepy stuff.” She also warns listeners that her memoir will not follow a linear structure. Indeed, while pondering bouts of mental illness and her need to belong, Bamford continually takes detours that are filled with irreverent, laugh-worthy details; salty language; and tongue-in-cheek observations. All are delivered at breakneck speed as she discusses topics that range from self-help programs to Suzuki violin training. While sometimes distracting, the brisk nonstop humor buoys Bamford’s moments of candor in stories about her mother’s evangelical leanings and death. Bamford’s portraits of others are seamlessly integrated, and her witty transitions work well."

Beautiful

Such a wonderful listen, immediately restarted upon finishing it the first time. I could not get enough. It's definitely meant to be an audible book read by Maria. She did such an amazing job.

The best gift I ever gave myself

After scouring the internet for every Maria Bamford clip, set, special, series, and full-length presentation to mental healthcare professionals that I could find as a real fan - she went ahead and wrote me an entire book. 7 hours of Maria that I saved to listen to on my 30-minute solo walk once a week and now that I’ve reached the end, I have to decide how long I wait before I start again at the top. I don’t want to spoil it for myself by listening again all the way through too soon.

I was high on this exceptional comedy memoir just 30 minutes in, and actually I tried to leave a review. Audible wouldn’t let me. I knew at that point that I had a priceless jem in my ears, but they thought I needed to be further into this book before I could be sure I would recommend this beautifully transparent, insightful, and hi-larious listen to every woman I know. 10 out of 10, best Audible I’ve ever bought. And I’m a 100% Ear-read individual. Thank you, Maria, for your book and your performance of said book. Everyone who’s anyone loves you!

Do Not Miss This

What a lovely, hilarious, sad, heartwarming, confusing, hopeful memoir. You will end the journey with such respect for Ms. Bamford's clear yet colorful explanations of our mental health and all its horrible glory. Do not pass this off as a comedy album or an easy listen, it is so much more.

Sweetheart

Maria is an empathetic hilarious and smart woman who should be a daily name and seen all the time ~ she has so much for people to learn from and enjoy!

The latest source of joy from the world’s greatest comic

Everything about this is good. Maria’s skills as both a stand up comedian and voice over actor combine with her frank and honest tales of navigating mental health resulting in something that is moving and well performed.

I’m sure I speak for others when I say that Maria’s openness about her ‘mentals’ helped set me on a path to getting help for my own ‘mentals’ and because of her putting herself out there, I saw that I needed the help that kept me alive. She’s my hero.

Listen to her book. It’s GOOD. And if you or anyone you care about struggles with anything, big or small, up in the old noggin… listen.

We aren’t alone.