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  • Reasons to Stay Alive

  • By: Matt Haig
  • Narrated by: Matt Haig
  • Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (243 ratings)

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Reasons to Stay Alive

By: Matt Haig
Narrated by: Matt Haig
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Publisher's Summary

What does it mean to feel truly alive? Aged 24, Matt Haig's world caved in. He could see no way to go on living.

This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again.

A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how to live better, love better and feel more alive, Reasons to Stay Alive is more than a memoir. It is a book about making the most of your time on earth.

'I wrote this book because the oldest clichés remain the truest. Time heals. The bottom of the valley never provides the clearest view. The tunnel does have light at the end of it, even if we haven't been able to see it.... Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.'

©2015 Matt Haig (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Maybe the most important book I've read this year." (Simon Mayo)
"A life-saving book." (Amanda Craig)
"Brings a difficult and sensitive subject out of the darkness and into the light." (Michael Palin)

What listeners say about Reasons to Stay Alive

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must for everyone

Wonderfully written and narrated by someone who's lived and continues to live with the struggles of mental health. Possibly a life saving piece of literature. A huge thank you to Matt...

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Utterly beautiful.

This book stirred an amazing feeling of hope that I didn't know was out there. Thank you Matt and Andrea.
I cried, I laughed, I have recommended.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Surprised.

This was my first audiobook and I much prefer having a book in my hand and reading it. So, I didn’t think I would like this even in the beginning I was thinking hmm, it won’t have a huge affect on me. But I was surprised to find myself crying at the very last chapter. It was beautiful and sums up a very hard mental Illness but also gives you a lot of hope in a realistic way but also somehow makes you believe in magic. It beautiful. He is a lovely writer, my first book of his was the midnight library that was just as amazing and life changing for me.
Highly recommend.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So many reasons to stay alive, not least of which is Matt Haig’s writing!

An honest memoir / self-help book for all humans, and especially those of us touched by anxiety and depression.

While at times confronting and even troubling to those who relate closely to Matt’s experiences; Reasons to Stay Alive provides commensurate comfort to humans with busy, anxious and/or troubled minds.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic Book

This book was recommended by https://linktr.ee/livingthelifeyoulove on Instagram - so I purchased it that day, very happy I did.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Unexpectedly uplifting

Everything I could have wanted to hear, it was great to hear someone talk in a way about things I only imagine and to take from it predominantly positivity.
Not usually one to repeat but likely to read this again soon.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Down to earth and straight forward

The author shares his experiences with depression and anxiety in a way that’s candid and conversational. Surprisingly, there’s also a fair amount of humour laced throughout. Well worth reading.

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Honest and Brave.

Having suffered severe depression myself, and also overcoming it, I so appreciated Matt's transparency about the reality of his thoughts and feelings during his deepest, darkest moments.

Thank you for sharing Matt. It was very appreciated and I've decided I'm going to finally finish my own book I started a year ago!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

So nice to listen to a fantastic writer who can share and articulate this nasty Mental disease . I could relate to so many of Matt’s own experiences .. Great narrator and stories . Ive began yoga and meditation thanks to Matt’s advice ... feeling great and so much clarity .

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A tough listen but worth it

This book may be short in length but it’s so dense with information and stories.

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