Review: This is How

Author: Augusten Burroughs

Title: This is How: Surviving What You Think You Can’t

Description: The book is composed of short essays that each treat something that people have to face, get through, or otherwise survive. Snippets are pulled from Burroughs’ own experience, but I would call this more of a self-help book than a memoir. “Proven aid in overcoming shyness, molestation, fatness, spinsterhood, grief, disease, lushery, decrepitude, and more.”

Writing style: Burroughs is known for self-deprecating humor and tell-it-all memoir, and he brings at least the humor to this book, which is good, since it deals with some pretty tough subject matter.

Audience: Can’t think of anyone who doesn’t have problems, so can’t think of anyone who would never need a book like this. And you know, Burroughs is a writer, so the book is well-written, unlike many self-help books. Despite our extreme differences in philosophy, I found this book helpful.

Major ideas: Everyone has problems, so suck it up and get off your duff. In other words, self-help with the emphasis on SELF.

Wrap-up: Burroughs describes this as “the book he was born to write,” and I do think it will strike a chord with people who are waiting to hear from someone who has been through it (whatever it is) and managed to survive. 4/5*