Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Written by:
Jenny Lawson
Narrated by:
Jenny Lawson

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
135
Narrator
59
Release Date
September 2015
Duration
8 hours 28 minutes
Summary
In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea.

But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

As Jenny says:

'Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos.


'Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.''

Furiously Happy is about 'taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence. It's the difference between 'surviving life' and 'living life'. It's the difference between 'taking a shower' and 'teaching your monkey butler how to shampoo your hair.' It's the difference between being 'sane' and being 'furiously happy.'

Lawson is beloved around the world for her inimitable humor and honesty, and in Furiously Happy, she is at her snort-inducing funniest. This is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are - the beautiful and the flawed - and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because as Jenny's mom says, 'Maybe 'crazy' isn't so bad after all.' Sometimes crazy is just right.
Reviews
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Olivia Brooks

Kind of cheesy, but pretty funny at times. Her voice bothers me though.

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Wendy S

I have never in my life have had some one that I can relate with and pretty much can describe themselves to be so much like myself, all except the sleeping disorder. I am in awe. Instead of a dead critter, though, I do carry around a doll who holds on to my Jack Daniels, rides goats and loves petting zoos and riding on huge rooster statues. Since my children refuse (they are teenagers) to take pictures with me, my doll does! Thank you for your inspiration, your statements on mental illnesses and to embrace them. Thank you! You are a true inspiration and truly help people with similarities to yourself. You have helped me in more ways than one! I would refer your books to anyone that loves someone with mental illnesses or has mental illnesses. 5 stars! You kick butt!

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Anonymous

I find this petty and irritating and I had really hoped to like it. Didn’t get past a third of it.

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Anonymous

This is a audio book about a woman complaining about all of her emotional and physical dysfunctions. I barely got through the first CD, then returned it. I didn't find it funny, entertaining and certainly not uplifting. But I've heard worse, so two stars.

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Megan H

This book was very entertaining. While there are some very serious portions with a lot of value, some of it is just absolutely ridiculous, to the point that you think you are listening to an eighth grader. But over all I was very entertained. The author did a fantastic job of reading the book. I can't see how another narrator would be able to get through the book without laughing!

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mp77

This is a really great book, read by the author. I can't fathom reading this book on paper with out the author's inflections or emotions. She has some unique insights, that I value. I hadn't thought that I might have similar opinions or experiences as someone who has such severe social disorders... not that I was better, just that I thought my quirks were mine, not traits that she speaks about having in common with a large portion of her audience. I cant imagine the anxiety that she has or the myriad of other conditions she talks about, but I applaud her writing, and "acting like she's good at it" in narrating he book... it would have been lost without her personal touch on it.

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Sarah Y

The subheadline "A Funny Book About Horrible Things" perfectly sums it up. I loved the parts where she was open and honest about her struggles, there were some parts that made me laugh out loud, and then there were some parts that I thought "Oh My God...". I would definitely recommend.

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jennifer mitchell

Awesome!

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Patti Bruce

Not that funny to me. It kind of made my brain spin out of control.

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Amanda Sellers

This book was very funny. I truly enjoyed Jenny's views on the world. So many times I found myself laughing and crying at the same time. Her thoughts and way she approaches life allowed me to laugh at some of my many idiosyncrasies. There are moments that made me cringe, I was a bit shocked in the way she speaks about God and Jesus, but found the overall book very good.

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Kristen Welker-hood

This book was really great. Sometimes hard to listen to because it was brutally honest. But when things got really heavy she turned a corner with something completely side kicking funny. And hey, that is how life is- isn't?

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Nicole Zajack

WOW was this book TERRIBLE. Listen to a preview before purchasing. I wish I had.

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Oksana Skidanova

Loved the book! Hilarious stories from someone who is struggling with mental illness. This is not a burden, you just need to adapt and embrace your life.

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Christine Moore

I got this book hoping it would help to to better understand both my son and my best friend who both suffer from mental illness. It really helped me to understand that some things just can be fixed and you have to accept them for what they are with good says and bad days and all we can do is be there to offer our unconditional live and support. Jenny read this book the way she wrote it and I had to break out the poise pads to listen to it. I enjoyed it so much I immediately purchased her first book.

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Janice Jarvis

Any book that features a dead but preserved raccoon speaks to s certain type of reader. Someone who, like the author is a little crazy. I am that reader/listener. This book made time and traffic fly. Funny, edgy and at times odd it says what most of us never say aloud. In a furiously happy way. Loved it.

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Sarah Ottmar

This book really made me feel like I'm not the only person who feels crazy most days. Struggling with mental illness is hard enough when people don't understand, and this book brings amazing light on how the struggle is. Thank you Jenny Lawson for being the light in the darkness for me.

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Allyson Amis

I love this book- Lawson gets it and it is so refreshing to hear about the craziness of life as if inside of the mind of someone else. Best book I've read in the last decade- loved it! Also, such a perk to have the author read her own work- brilliant!

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Lynne Walters

Very entertaining. Did have to take breaks because the frenetic pace of her reading gets exhausting after a while

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Caryn Outlaw

A counselor once told me that if you think you are going crazy you aren't because crazy people don't know that they are crazy. Reality is we are all a little crazy and it's refreshing to hear Jenny share her story. She brings joy and perspective to mental illness.

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Kelbrey Porter

Horrible rants that are spontaneous. This book is listening to someone brag about how crazy they are and try to out "crazy" everyone else who is crazy. Some parts were useful but overall it's annoying. I listened to the entire book because I'm no quitter; buy IT DIDN'T GET BETTER. This book isn't my cup of tea, but I can see how it may help or amuse someone else.

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Jennifer Ross

This was a wonderful book- thoroughly enjoyed it!! We are all crazy in our own way- put a lot into perspective!! Narration by Jenny was perfect- Thank you

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David Rossiter

I'm glad I did not listen to the negative reviews and went ahead and purchased this book. I thought it was hilarious and thought Jenny was the perfect narrator. Her insights into her struggles with mental illness will be helpful to me understanding loved ones in my family.

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Marvin Ritch

Gutter Junk ....waste of time ... Listening let alone study of English language!

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Carla Wallace

Great book! Personal stories shared to put many things into perspective. We are all a little crazy- just varying degrees and we need not be so hard on ourself.

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siobhain crowley

i laughed til the tears came. jenny is the perfect narrator for her story. each chapter was weirdly hysterical and heart wrenchingly (that's a word now!) honest. so much love for this book and jenny.

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Michela Taufer

Really annoying reading style with each sentence ending with high pitch. I could not go beyond the first 30 mins.

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Amy Manchester

So amazing! I laughed, I cried, Ieatmed more about myself from this book than 4 years in therapy. I loved it so much I boght the book.

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cassie zarda

Jenny shares her random thoughts. It wasn't for me and I got my credit back.

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Lisa Roberts

Love the book. Love Jenny. It has helped me to see into the mind of my daughter and some friends that deal with anxiety and depression. Thanks Jenny.

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April Ward

Highly recommend this book. Jenny is a light in the darkness for so many people.

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