I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying this book. Told in a uniquely Miranda-ish style, it is full of her trademark silly humour which had me chuckling many times. However this humour is coupled with some very deep musings about life. Quite clever. I have long observed that many books in the wellness genre tend to overlook the realities of actual ill-health and peddle a narrative that if only we were motivated and organised enough to exercise and meditate then life would be problem free and we would never get ill in the first place. Miranda’s book is a breath of fresh air in that it confronts the reality that sometimes (often) people get ill and it’s not their fault and it’s really not very nice. It’s clear that she has suffered a lot over the years and she’s very honest about how hard it has been for her. It’s packed full of suggestions on how to cope and how not to lose hope when your physical health lets you down, and you find yourself in a position where you feel you can’t function at your best in life and work as a result. I think any criticism of the advice contained in this book’s is unfair. It is quite clearly a book based on one woman’s challenges and what worked for her along the way. The book is not offering answers but is like a good friend sharing what she has learned and you can take however much or little you want from it. Personally I took a lot from it. A very important and timely book given the large numbers of people who are out of work due to ill-health at the moment. Full of hope and compassion, each sitting feels like a nice big hug. Thank you Miranda for this lovely book.
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Love love love this book, I have the Audible version Mirander does make me giggle. The book really spoke to me as I have had 28 yrs with Fibromyalgia along with other health problems. I would highly recommend this book and it is really worth having the Audiable version too if you can afford it
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This book is Miranda’s story & it’s told in a way that’s she has chosen to share it, it’s not a memoir or autobiography. The title reflects how she hadn’t been honest with herself, including the masks she wore (we all have many masks until we can notice them & let them go as much as we can). She shares her story in a vulnerable & honest way, and with some humour. Miranda chose to use her illness as an opportunity to deeply reflect & make changes, she used it as an opportunity for growth and it’s through this lens that she shares some of her story. She mentions in the book that she chose to make changes that would support her whether she was well or not. She takes us on a journey from when she became more unwell and collapsed by taking us through some of her exploration of what she came to term treasures. The treasures, as she calls them, came from her exploration of what she learnt from the therapists she worked with & from her reading, and the changes she made along the way. These things included connection, belonging, surrender/letting go, acceptance, trust, self-compassion, slowing down, rest & play. She is not saying that the things she has implemented as habits and ways of being are what others need to do, she is not saying these things are a cure either. She has done other things to support her recovery including having mould removed from her home. She mentions having tried various medical protocols that didn’t work and what she found to help was brain retraining. In a way the name of this is unhelpful as it’s not only about the brain it’s about the body and whole person. Living with conditions like ME/CFS often have a lot of secondary suffering, including from there being many losses, and living with such conditions is in itself stressful/challenging. Many of the things that Miranda calls treasures help to change the secondary suffering and lessen distress. Many are things that help to lessen the load on systems/decrease stress, they help to regulate the nervous system which is important in healing. In my experience as a professional working with people with long-term conditions, including ME/CFS, and having lived experience I know that some of the things Miranda found to help her are often part of recovery/healing, even though they are not solely causative or curative they are part of the picture. There has been and will be criticism of this book partly because of the historic treatment (some unfortunately still current) of ME/CFS & the gaslighting too. Because of this and the misuse of the biopsychosocial model some people push away anything they can’t fit purely into biological (which really is nothing because we can’t splint mind & body it’s really mindbody). Things do not fit neatly into a biological or a psychological box, for example our thoughts and feelings impact our physiology through chemical messengers and our nervous system state influences our thoughts & feelings. It also feels important to mention that there are a few bits that aren’t accurate in the book, the two that stand out for me are that she says emotional suppression & chronic stress cause chronic illness. We do not have the evidence for this but both can be & often are one of many contributing factors and can be part of increasing symptoms. In summary I really enjoyed this book, even though there are a few things that are not accurate these don’t for me detract from the importance of hearing Miranda’s story in the way that she has chosen to tell it and the importance of many of the treasures in supporting healing. It’s important we remember that there are many factors involved with chronic illnesses. Is this book going to be interesting & helpful for people, yes for some.
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A really gripping read about Miranda's illness and recovery. A helpful read, suggesting ways to cope. A highly recommended read if you are going through similar issues.
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I am recovering from serious illness, so Miranda Hart's book about ways to deal with this difficult situation was well-timed. There is a lot of good material in here about being gentle, listening to and being yourself, and trying not to be disheartened by setbacks. All a bit of a struggle, but some helpful things to think about. But OMG she cannot write a single sentence without shouting "YOOHOO!! THIS IS A BOOK BY MIRANDA HART - YOU KNOW - THE REALLY FUNNY ONE" and it very seriously detracts from my enjoyment of the book, and my ability to concentrate on the points she is trying to make. I can't bear Miranda the sitcom, though I rate Miranda Hart as an actress, and this book is full of exactly the same sort of stuff that puts me off. Such a shame she couldn't share her learnings without the massive ego trip.
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I'm on my second listen to the audio book and loved it so much, I additionally bought a hard copy. This book is funny, uplifting and just great. I've always liked Miranda and this book is so great! I would love it even if I didn't have a chronic illness, but I'm newly diagnosed and coming to terms with a chronic invisible illness and I really appreciate her sharing her experience and lessons learned during her journey. So great!
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Sorry Miranda, I am a great fan but couldn't get on with this book at all. It wasn't what I expected.
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A useful book, peppered with Miranda's typical humour, for anyone stressed with life and needing some practical tools. An easy read.
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Bought as I have chronic pain and lethargy! Quality Book by a quality person. Glad you're happy and trying to live life to the fullest whilst helping others :) Thank you, love ooo
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Wow, if you want to read REAL, if you want to feel understood, if you want to connect to yourself, then read this book. It's a journey to find your way home. Cheers, Miranda Hart.
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