It's Hard to Be a Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving the World, and Having More Fun

by Brett Newski, Anna Sacks (Editor), Parker Forsell (Editor)

Blending humor with mental health struggles, alternative songwriter/illustrator/podcaster Brett Newski makes fun of his own anxieties by offering mental health boosts in his first book It's Hard to be a Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving the World, and Having More Fun.



“I love how easy Newski makes it to plow through the dark stuff with some well placed humor and grit.” -Stelth Ulvang (of the Lumineers)




“When I’m on the road doing comedy, half my job is anxiety. Brett’s book is a great tool for how to use that energy. And the best part is, when I’m too lazy to read, I can just look at the pictures.” -Charlie Berens, Manitowoc Minute




AUTHOR'S NOTE:


Years ago, somewhere on the Internet, I posted a few dumb drawings making fun of my own anxiety and depression.

The response to them was warmer than anticipated. So I kept going, and after about three years of drawing, I had enough dumb drawings for a book called It's Hard to be a Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving the World, and Having More Fun.

Humor has always been a primary mode of therapy for me. I still make fun of my own anxiety and depression as catharsis. I sing about it on tour, talk about it on my podcast, and draw pictures of it here in this book. Putting my formerly-private-feelings out into the world has been tremendous therapy for me, and I wish I would’ve done it sooner.

Over the span of many years, I’ve been illustrating the “hacks”, “strategies”, or “exercises” that have worked best for me in combating the struggles in my head. More than anything I want this book to be useful for people.

I’m not a doctor, just a person who spends too much time in my head. The objective of It’s Hard to Be a Person is not to give unsolicited advice, but to hopefully save you some headaches on the long n’ winding road of life in your brain.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2021

Reviews

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many of us struggle with anxiety, depression, and just plain being stressed out, and sometimes it feels really lonely. But Brett Newski gets it and so he wrote an entertaining book about it.

Brett is a musician and songwriter from my hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over the years he has used humor as a sort of “therapy” for his anxiety and depression. He also started drawing little doodles and sketches. Put the two together and the result is 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐀 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧.

With humorous and comical illustrations, Brett gives his advice on how to navigate the world - from ways to relieve stress, how not to freak out in a social setting, and philosophies on dating. Most are fun and a bit silly, but there is some good sense to it all, and we can all use a smile and a laugh, right?

Check out this book. And make sure you check out Brett’s page too.

Thanks to @brettnewski and @shegrown.media for this gifted copy.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

*read for free with Kindle Unlimited *

3.5 stars 🌟 🤩 ✨
Book rec via Stephen Kellogg's (great person and musician ) Instagram story I think it was (could have been Instagram post too).
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Just a tip: if you have issues reading small print, I would recommend reading this on a bigger screen than a phone/tablet. The zoom in part on mine didn't work very well with this.
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Some of it didn't appeal (personal humor style mostly) but some of it did get some chuckles out of me.

Not something I would come back to again most likely but I did enjoy it.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I thought it would be and that is great. It’s a collection of comics/graphics the writer put online as a way of dealing with anxiety and depression. This isn't professional help, but someone going through what many people do and wanting to share what worked for them. Overall I found it interesting and elicited a chuckle.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this quirky little book. It had fun drawings with serious and absurd suggestions for life. I liked how it started out with serious discussions but then devolved into the silly. This is a great one to read in one quick sitting but also revisit important pages. Definitely a great way to be seen and think about life.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for my unbiased opinion.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and it came at the perfect time. I had a lot of things going on and felt myself with anxiety and depression, something I’ve never dealt with before. The book was so relatable and fun, I laughed and cried and smiled. I’d definitely recommend for anyone battling feelings of anxiety and depression or any kind of mental illness.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, I'm probably not the target audience for this particular book. It seems to be aimed at a younger crowd. Moreover, the entire publication seems to exist to draw attention to the author's musical endeavors and ongoing podcast. Still, he did bring a modicum of humor to the challenging topics of anxiety and depression and gave some helpful hints for coping in the process. I think my twenty-something son (who struggles with chronic anxiety) would be anused and helped by the book and might enjoy looking into Newski's music as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Janette Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author uses doodles and simple line drawings to shed light on anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. This is a comic book for teens and adults that offers some light-hearted advice for dealing with life's challenges.

This is both an art/comic book and a self-help book rolled into one great package. The doodles and drawings are so much fun! I have read this book several times and enjoy it more each time I experience it.

The author faces the challenges of life with a healthy sense of humor. Each new page brings smiles and even laughter. There is serious advice mixed in with the humorous drawings and doodles.

"When you're down and out, It's normal to feel like you'll be stuck there forever. Please note, EVERYTHING is temporary."

If you could use some positivity in your life, this book is for you!

I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of fun and humorous drawings along with quotes that show the depth of understanding the author has of depression and anxiety. They're not preachy and not patronizing, simply thoughts and pictures that encourage smiles and feelings that all can and will be okay. Also, that we're in this together. I love the positive vibes and found myself relating to the topic, but being able to laugh and truly appreciate the sentiment behind the humor. This is a great little book to pick up when you're having a rough day and need to find a reason to smile.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookgrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of doodles from songwriter & podcaster Brett Newski that deal with anxiety, surviving the world, and having more fun.
It’s a cute little book, but nothing in depth at all with regards to mental health. It’s basically just a book with quirky & fluffy doodles.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Isabelle PM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for everyone suffering from anxiety or depression. It's cleverly funny.
You can feel it's written by a musician.
Ce livre est à lire absolument pour toute personne souffrant d'anxiété ou de dépression. C'est intelligemment drôle.
On sent que c'est écrit par un musicien.

[Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and helpful book that straddles the line between lighthearted and serious. As someone with severe anxiety and depression, it also helped me feel less alone in the world. Recommended for anyone who has mental illness or is close to someone who does..

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brett came into the shop where I work a few weeks ago & I was so charmed by him that I bought a copy of his book & took several to give to my boss in hopes that we'll carry it.
I just got around to reading it today...he's a young man with lots of great ideas & wonderful advice on living. I will re-read this book many times!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book uses illustrations in an interesting take on defeating anxiety, surviving the world, and having more fun! I did enjoy the illustrations and how simplistic and colorful they were and the humor was nice too. My favorite thing by far was the baby pandas page because baby pandas. I will definitely be watching the “baby pandas going down slide” video a lot in the future. Overall, this was a fun, quick read and I’m glad I got the chance to read it.

[Kate Czyzewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Brett for sharing a copy with me. Brett's drawings and social media posts about anxiety led to the creation of this book.
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With the world sometimes feeling overwhelming at times and a flood of constant information being thrown our way, it's important to remember we aren't alone in our feelings.
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Also, for me, silly animals help.

[Hana Skigen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very wholesome! As someone who has had anxiety their whole life, it was really sweet to read a book about a serious thing in a comedic manner. I think anyone who has suffered with anxiety should give this a read!

[Sarah J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book and almost better than seeing a therapist 😆!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit of self help. Raw, real and sure to put a smile on your face, if only for 20 minutes or so. Be sure to queue up its accompanying soundtrack playlist on Apple Music while you’re reading!

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever book from a clever songwriter! Brett has created amusing cartoons to post online about life and his trials and tribulations. A fun little book to read in one sitting. I betcha it will make you smile.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and honest cartoons about anxiety and basically, life. Not all of them deeply relatable but extra props for being from my hometown (Milwaukee, baby!).

[lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

not relatable

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is a book of doodles and illustrations about coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression. Newski’s doodles and illustrations were great. This was a quick, but satisfying read. I look forward to reading more of his work.

*Thank you Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely found some smiles and good advice along the way (solid rec about the baby panda slide!). The drawings are loosely grouped by themes and definitely reflect the author's personal feelings and quirks, but the overall tone advocates for kindness, grace, and self-care and everyone can definitely use more of that!

This would be a nice gift for a high school kid--it's funny and non-threatening but also good food for thought.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of illustrations, quotes and tips about life and mental health. I loved how funny and self-deprecating it was. It's a quick and light-hearted read that not only gives you a few chuckles, but will also make you feel less alone.

Loved the baby panda recommendation especially!

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.