Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things Summary & Key Ideas

What if the secret to happiness isn't avoiding depression, but using it as a weapon? What if people who feel the deepest sadness can also feel the most intense joy...?

Show notes

You've been told that mental illness is something to hide. Something to manage quietly or "get over." That's the old way of thinking. And frankly, it's complete bullshit. Furiously Happy shows a new idea: if you can feel crushing sadness, you should also be able to feel crushing happiness. Jenny Lawson doesn't just survive her battles with depression and anxiety. She turns them into weapons of joy. She creates a life so deliberately, furiously happy that it becomes an act of rebellion.

"I am furiously happy. It's not a cure for mental illness... it's a weapon, designed to counter it." - Jenny Lawson's approach to mental health

Mental illness doesn't stop you from being happy. It can actually make your capacity for joy even stronger when you learn to use your emotional intensity on purpose.

•Mental health warriors feeling alone or ashamed of their struggles (spoiler alert: you're not alone and you're definitely not broken)

•Caregivers and loved ones who want to understand without saying things like "have you tried yoga?"

•Anyone feeling "different" who's tired of pretending to be normal (whatever that means)

•Self-advocacy learners ready to stop saying sorry for taking up space in the world

Jenny Lawson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She somehow convinced the world that her particular brand of chaos counts as "expertise." Known as "The Bloggess," she's won the Audie Award for Best Humor and the NoStigmas Hero Award for mental health advocacy. This is impressive considering she once got lost in her own neighborhood. She's spent over a decade using her platform to remove stigma from mental illness. She's built a community of "magnificent weirdos" who find comfort in her words and questionable life choices.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things Summary & Key IdeasOne Big IdeaWho This Book Is ForAbout Jenny LawsonStoryShot 1: What If Depression Is Actually a Superpower in Disguise?

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