Brosh’s struggles with mental illness also recur in Chapter 13: “Thoughts and Feelings” as well as Chapters 16 and 17, a two-part two-chapter sequence titled “Identity Part One” and “Identity Part Two.”Īfter these two chapters that deal with heavier topics, the structure of the book returns to an amusing childhood anecdote. Chapter 6: “Depression Part One” and Chapter 7: “Depression Part Two” both deal intimately with feelings of suicidal ideation. The theme of mental illness, specifically depression, recurs several times across interrelated chapters that detail Brosh’s struggle with the disease. Chapter 5: “The Helper Dog is an Asshole” expands upon Chapter 2 with the story of the adoption of Brosh’s second dog. In Chapter 4: “The God of Cake,” she relates a childhood story wherein she became so obsessed with a large cake that she connived a scheme to eat the entire thing.
This chapter forms the basis for later self-interrogation and self-recrimination in which Brosh engages.Īt intervals throughout the book, Brosh focuses on pieces that contextualize amusing stories from her childhood. Chapter 3: “Motivation” sets up Brosh’s struggles with shame, guilt, and procrastination. Chapter 2: “The Simple Dog” is an introduction to Brosh’s love of dogs as well as dog communication, behavior, and motivation through the character of simple dog, who is one of her dogs. Chapter 1: “Warning Signs” goes through Brosh’s disturbing behaviors across various points in her life, especially with regards to a letter Brosh put in a time capsule to her future self. Early chapters of the book provide general overviews and context for Brosh as an author and as a memoir subject. Each chapter stands alone, though the frame stories and introduction sections connect chapters both chronologically and thematically. Thematically, the book deals with mental health issues, raising dogs, and childhood adventures. Additionally, the author uses language that some readers may feel is ableist or generally insensitive to those with intellectual limitations. Mentions of mental health struggles recur throughout the guide but do not include any explicit details. This guide refers to the 2013 Touchstone/Simon & Schuster first paperback edition.Ĭontent note: This overview, as well as the summaries for Chapters 6 and 7, mention feelings of suicidality and suicidal ideation.
Additionally, it was popularly successful on the social media website Reddit and touted as a favorite read by celebrity Bill Gates. The book was a New York Times bestseller and won the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Humor category.
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