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‘One of the most powerful books of the year’ Daily Mail

‘Nobody can make the serious funny and the funny serious quite like Ruby.’ – Alastair Campbell

Dear Reader,

Checking into a mental clinic wasn’t exactly on my radar in 2022. Writing about it wasn’t either. But here we are.

I spent a lifetime trying to create a ‘front’ to give everyone the illusion that all is well. It wasn’t, and it isn’t. Now I look back and I think, ‘what the f*ck was that all about?’

I began the book trying to find meaning by going on various, life-changing journeys, I ended up in a mental clinic; obviously things didn’t work out the way I expected. This is the story of what happened after the mental car crash . . . From then on, the journey had to turn inward. It turns out I wasn’t looking for meaning, I was looking for home.

I’m not a fiction writer. I can’t fake it. I could say I rode into the sunset, but life isn’t like that unless you’re a cowboy. Truth is I’m not as well as I thought I was.

These days, trying to stay sane in a completely chaotic world makes life incredibly difficult. For those readers who are deep in the darkness of mental illness, I hope my book makes you feel less alone.

Take care, love,
Ruby x

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‘If you buy only one book this year, make it this one.’ – Joanna Lumley

‘A true tour de force. We’re all a little messed up in our own ways, but we should all strive to be as fabulously fearless as Ruby.’ – Fearne Cotton

As seen on Channel 5 Castaway

Sunday Times bestseller, May 2023

Publisher Review

An exceptional account on mental health from a true tour de force. We’re all a little messed up in our own ways, but we should all strive to be as fabulously fearless as Ruby — Fearne Cotton Not only will this book make you feel less alone, it also might just change your life — Scarlett Curtis If you buy only one book this year, make it this one. Brilliant, heartbreakingly funny and painful: I couldn’t put it down — Joanna Lumley A book about ways to find yourself, from someone who knows that she is lost. I’m glad this book exists — Neil Gaiman Nobody can make the serious funny and the funny serious quite like Ruby. It’s why she is so important to the mental-health debate — Alastair Campbell One of the most powerful books of the year * The Daily Mail * An unflinchingly honest account * iNews * An open account of the benefits of therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, can only benefit readers and the book is a firm reminder that everyone can struggle * iNews * Follow Wax on the winding road on which she tries to find herself, where you’ll encounter many side-splitting laughs, the odd tear and no doubt fragments of yourself along the way * ES Magazine * There is no-one as witty, inspiring and frank as Ruby Wax when it comes to mental health – this book provides a brutally honest and thoughtful insight into Wax’s journey, including conversations with therapists and the highs and lows of fame * The Herald * A typically sharp read, full of wit and brutally honest observations * The Irish News * [Ruby Wax] is a force of nature, but also like so many of us, an incredibly fragile one […] Her latest book is possibly her most honest yet. * BBC Radio 5 Live *