Heather B. Armstrong, best known as Dooce, has written about her struggle with depression for years. In the midst of an 18-month bout, she agrees to participate in a trial treatment that involves flatlining her brain ten times.

I’ve been reading Armstrong’s writing for over a decade now, and this book still blew me away. No one else is able to so sharply illustrate what it’s like inside your head when you’re depressed. I could not highlight passages fast enough - I kept reading bits out loud to my partner, in awe of how it seemed like Armstrong had transcribed my own thoughts and feelings.

She lays out all the ways your own brain is inescapable when you’re dealing with depression and anxiety. How could you possibly shower when the water hurts your skin? How could you possibly fold one more piece of laundry? And maybe worst of all, how could you possibly burden anyone with helping you? And, not to get spoilery, but she also captures what it’s like to come out the other side and how in a matter of days you can wonder how you possibly could have thought you were down such a dark hole. Lest you think this book is a total downer, Armstrong’s usual lightning quick sense of humor is still present - it’s cliche to say I laughed and then I cried, but it’s true.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand a loved one who is dealing with depression, read this book. It’s hard to believe a book about dying ten times can give you hope, but this is the case for THE VALEDICTORIAN OF BEING DEAD.