Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety Paperback – June 11, 2013

phenomenal book for anyone who suffers from life-long chronic anxiety! i've had general anxiety since i was a child--- there have been times when it was mild and managable and times when it escalated into depression, resulting in admitting that this feeling is not normal (unless you are in my family) and seeking treatment. having experienced this roller coaster, i could totally relate to the the author. this book is hillarious (because lets be honest, sometimes our anxiety and the disabling effects on our lives are ridiculous--- example- the condiment conundrum at the rest-stop on the jersey turnpike.) while we're all searching to feel better and not disabled by anxiety, this book helps to put into perspective instances like this and is an eye-opening and pleasant reminder that i'm not the only one who feels like this. have recommended this book to my immediate and entire extended family.

This is a wonderful, valuable book about a young man with an anxiety disorder. But rather than fill his memoir with self-pity, Smith has written a genuinely funny book. He includes riffs on how his anxiety has impacted his relationships with his girlfriend, his siblings, his mother, his numerous therapists and how his disorder influenced his job as a fact checker at a major American magazine, drove him to read all of Philip Roth's novels and produced embarrassing bouts of sweating.But he also offers the reader some excellent insights into the nature of anxiety and some suggestions of how to manage the disorder. Anxiety is not curable, but you can use cognitive therapy, exercise and medication to keep it from destroying your life. The book reads like a witty novel written in the first person and some of the characters Smith encounters could be right out of a Roth story.I've battled anxiety for almost as many years as Daniel Smith has been alive and I would highly recommend this book, both for its humor and fresh insights to anyone who has the disorder or knows someone who has it. Its a top flight read.

I first saw this book when it popped up in my Goodreads feed. It's a memoir about anxiety, and it was supposed to be hilarious. A friend of mine had just finished it and said that it was a great book that articulated her anxiety in a way that she was not able to do. Because I myself have a tendency to be quite anxious, I immediately scooped a copy and started reading.Maybe it was my high expectations, but the book wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It was funny and even clever at times, but I was expecting to feel the highs and lows of the anxiety-ridden author. Instead, I felt like I was reading a collection of awkward experiences (which was amusing) and stumbled right along with him. It was hard for me to really identify with the book, and that's not necessarily the book's fault. In the book, Smith says, "Anxiety is a narcissism machine. To have found a way to use it for good is unusual indeed," and I get the feeling that this book was written as a way for the author to unload his burden.In all fairness, there were some really hilarious stories and I'm glad I read the book (overall). Smith is a good writer with a lot of insight into the mind of the anxious, and I think he could go quite far in the world of non-fiction. The book had a very self-helpish vibe, so maybe that's a genre that Smith should consider. He has a way of breaking down anxiety's complexities and placing them in nice and neat little sentences. They were so neat and nice that they sounded a lot like the daily affirmations that you would hang on your bathroom mirror.In summation, if you love memoirs or are extremely anxious, then you should read this book. If nothing else, you'll learn some breathing techniques and take temporary comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Plus, your embarrassing moments are probably nothing compared to Smith's, and you'll get in a few good laughs.

It's a little intimidating to write this review because, after reading "Monkey Mind," I am pretty certain Daniel Smith is going to read this. I'm not so much worried with the content of my review and its effect on the author's sense of wellbeing as I am concerned with the fact that such a gifted writer will be reading my less articulate review. You see, I am pretty anxious too.This is NOT a self-help book; it is a memoir. Reading it, however, was therapeutic. I found a brother here, someone whose life experiences and their consequences were familiar. I identified with the author and I do not feel so alone in my anxiety now. The quality of the writing is just terrific. Daniel communicates events of his life and his frame of mind with real wit, sincerity and kindness. He has a gift for explaining complicated concepts. The book did touch nerves and at times I was uncomfortable. Just as often, though, I found myself laughing out loud. I am glad to have found this book.Five stars for great writing, for relevance and for Daniel Smith having the courage to put it all down on paper. Thank you.