I loved The Midnight Library, and was interested in this "memoir/selfhelp" offering. I had a bit of a wait, getting both the audio (narrated by the author) and Kindle copy. Honestly ... I thought this was going to be a DNF. Between the content and the narration, the lack of a storyline (something I struggle with when it comes to non-fiction), it just wasn't keeping me connected. I'm okay with a DNF, but I figured I'd at least skim the Kindle copy. Reading it myself, I found myself pulled in more, and I went ahead and finished it. I made quite a few connections and notes ... but some of the really profound statements aren't actually from this author, but from others he's quoting (and he gives full credit, both in the book and at the end/bibliography) or just a thought from him, a regular person with depression - but I guess I do that in novels, highlight things a character says/thinks. 

This had five sections, although I don't know that I really figured out that format ... it all just blended together in short/random chapters. Some giving his history, then there were quotes from other publications, either creative or scientific. There were "chapters" that were just random lists ...  of things people say, things that make you happy. Small statements from other readers. Several "a conversation across time" with a Now and Then (a little like "My Old Ass" if  you've seen that movie). There were allusions to his novels ... a statement about being alien (The Humans), about something perhaps happening in a different universe (The Midnight Library), statements of "How to Stop Time" and "this book is impossible" (The Life Impossible).  

This set up ... I can see it absolutely appealing to some, and just feeling like random things written down without much organization to others. 

The five sections were 1. Falling 2.Landing 3.Rising  4.Living   5.Being ... I think I appreciated this set up/progression more after the fact ... it didn't really register as I was reading.  Each section had numerous (small, tiny) little chapters with their own heading. No numerical chapter listing outside of the five sections, which made it a little harder to shift between formats (I did pull the audio back up, wanting to see how "yin YANG" was pronounced, and like another recent listen, it was more "yung" than "yAng" as I've always heard it before, and would pronounce it myself). 

I think I prefer things like this in a fictional format more ... a story saying the same, or similar things. A character making a statement, rather than a person/author. For example, the author's statement "one of the things depression often does is make you feel guilt" ... is that just a basic logical statement, or would it mean more coming from a PHD as a result of a depression study? Does it matter if it resonates? 

Lots of good BOOK quotes that I connected with ... sometimes I feel a main reason for ME to stay alive is because there are so many books still unread.  This thoughts on sunshine, something I've absolutely needed of late (we had a nice stretch of sun, but the forecast now looks cloudy).  A lot was made up of his connection to his girlfriend/wife and family ... but what if one doesn't have that? The author himself says he probably wouldn't have made it through without that, but that likely is the case for many, or some, but not as strong, of a support system. British, so a different medical system than the U.S. (both have pros and cons). 

Looking back ... I made a LOT of highlights and notes. Made a lot of connections. Besides the audio just not clicking (narrated by the author, and not that he was bad at narrating, my mind just kept wandering, I couldn't stay focused), I think I needed to READ this. I needed to have the option to stop and ponder and highlight and save sections. I love that my Kindle highlights are saved, even with a library book that I've borrowed and returned. Love the Goodreads Quotes section. 

There was some proFanity (x7), mention of sex, but nothing at all explicit.