Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too

by Jay Glazer

Jay Glazer—a top NFL insider on Fox NFL Sunday, an MMA trainer, actor, and a veteran advocate and founder of MVP (Merging Vets and Players)—offers hard-as-nails advice and insights gleaned from his successful journalism career in the NFL as well as his work with military vets struggling with PTSD; the result is a relentless, unapologetic, and no-nonsense approach to overcoming your self-doubts, fears, and excuses…with the goal of becoming Unbreakable.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Sports, Health, Psychology, Biography, Audiobook

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2022

Reviews

[David Weathersby · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time in my life, someone finally gets me. I cried openly reading this book, because I have lived in the “gray” all of my life. And kept it to myself. And finally someone else knows what it’s like. And the hopelessness each day brings when you fight this battle. Read it if you are someone who lives in the gray. Read it if you don’t because it will give you an understanding of what it can be like and how you can be a teammate to someone who needs one.

[Cav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbreakable was a decent short read.

Author Jason Charles "Jay" Glazer is a television personality and sports reporter. Since 2004, he has worked as an National Football League insider for Fox Sports' NFL pregame studio show, FOX NFL Sunday, on which he reports exclusives, late-breaking updates, injury news, and other reports.

Jay Glazer:


The author opens the book with a very high-energy intro, that set the pace for the rest of the writing that was to follow. The audiobook version I have was also read by author; which is a nice touch that I always appreciate.

Glazer talks candidly about his chronic depression and anxiety early on. He calls it his "life in the gray."
He also gives the reader a brief history of his career, and mentions the importance of both persistence and trust.

Unfortunately, I found the writing style here to be a bit frantic. I guess that the book is written in the same matter-of-fact, off-the-hip manner in which he speaks. Although I appreciated the high-energy delivery, I found it became a bit grating after a while...

The formatting of this book was also more in line with an impromptu interview, or podcast, than it was a polished, finished book.

Glazer continues on in the book proper by encouraging the reader to give to others. Not necessarily money; he nudges the reader to offer their help, or even say hi and be friendly to those in need.

He started the organization "Merging Vets and Players" (MVP), which battles suicide among combat veterans. 22 a day die by suicide; Glazer grimly notes. In MVP, he encourages them to "choose life," telling them that if they knew of the negative impact taking their life would have on those around them, they would surely not go down that road.

**********************

I enjoyed this book; for the most part. Unfortunately, I found the overall presentation here to be a bit lacking and impromptu...
3 stars.

[Jeff Matlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

My first reaction was to give this book 2 stars and rate it a 4/10. But when I thought about why I was doing that, I realized that it was about me being judgmental. So I’m putting judgment aside.

I’ve read many books about leadership. I’ve read many books about anxiety and depression. I’m a leader who suffers from anxiety and currently writing a book about it.

Jay’s book is….well… simple.

I know who Jay Glazer is though I wouldn’t consider myself very knowledgeable of him. I haven’t followed football in decades so don’t watch the shows he’s on with any sort of regularity. I picked up this book because it sounded interesting.

I am not the primary target market. The primary target is 35-44 year old football and MMA fans. Think of them as the ones who hang out drinking at sports bars on weekends. Or the gym bros, lifting weights together. They stereotypically don’t open up emotionally. They stereotypically don’t think it’s manly to be weak.

The first half of the book is all about Jay telling his story of how he became famous. There’s a lot of name dropping of football stars. Honestly, it was a decent enough story of somebody who was relentless in trying to realize his dream.

The second half of the book is focused on Jays anxiety and the steps he’s taken to help manage it. He is trying to teach people how to be open about their issues and address them. It doesn’t get too deep or complex but, again, that’s not the market.

Jay also talks about the Team MVP group he’s put together which sounds pretty damn amazing.

So anyway, I was going to rate it 2 stars because I didn’t connect with all of it. But I realized that I’m not the one he’s trying to connect with. For his target audience - the Jay Glazer aficionado - this book is amazing. And Jay is amazing. He changes lives and I can only hope that this book will help change and save the lives of many others.

Well done Glazer.

[Jsempey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may seem like a little too much of a self-help title to some. And at times, it probably is. But, the book is still great. It just flows. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that had me tear up and also laugh this much in one. It’s a roller coaster of emotions that in the end made me want to hear more from Jay. It’s inspiring, it’s healing, it’s heartwarming, it’s eye-opening.

I can’t recommend this book enough, sports fan or not, aware of who Jay Glazer is or not. And if you ARE a sports fan, even better, because there are some cool tidbits in there from Jay’s come up as an NFL Insider, Spygate, his friendship with Michael Strahan, and his time training fighters, to mention a few specific examples.

[Deb McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth about Depression and How it REALLY Feels! A must-read for anyone dealing with depression.

What this book is:
AMAZING
The best description of depression of any that I've read, and I've read a LOT!

Who should not read this book:
The mild-mannered
The person that can't deal with swearing

Who SHOULD read this book:
Anyone that's dealt with depression and felt like no one understands what they are going through.
Anyone that has a friend or family member that has dealt with depression and just doesn't understand what they are going through.

Which is the best version for you:
Audible: Amazing, he speaks to your heart and is blunt and true to his nature and true to what it takes to fight this illness that many people don't understand.
Kindle or Print: Great for taking notes and reading over and over again!

Jay touches the heart of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. He talks about it from the perspective of someone that has been there and STILL is fighting it every day. The gray is real, the gray is HARD, the gray is what someone with depression deals with EVERY SINGLE DAY!

If you know someone that has ever dealt with depression, YOU should read this book.
If you know someone that attempted suicide, YOU should read this book.
If you know someone that is upset constantly and you don't know why READ THIS BOOK!

In short, read this book! It will change everything you ever knew or thought you knew about depression.

[Michael Griffis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jay explains in detail the work he put in his whole life to get to his level of success as an insider as well as how even with all his success he still "lives in the gray." Using his depression and anxiety as motivation, he started programs like MVP and Unbreakable which have had major impacts on people around the world and saved lives along the way. He has some good advice for those struggling with depression and the content is important to discuss and educate more people about. But afterall, he's just not a great writer and I had to somewhat force myself to pick it up and read more each day. I hope others find this helpful and more enjoyable, I personally just didn't care for his style of writing.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness! There is so much to say about this book that I find myself at a loss as to where to start. I reached for this book not because I knew who Jay Glazer is, I didn’t at the time, but because of the title, “Unbreakable How I Turned My DEPRESSION and ANXIETY into MOTIVATION and You Can Too.” I suffer from depression and anxiety. It is something that just is for me and I do my best to work around it. So I picked up this book based off the title alone and boy did it RESONATE with me. First of all, Jay’s descriptions and stories are so poignant that I FELT the words he was saying just as much as I was reading them at certain points of the book. The way he is able to turn negatives into positives, to change perspectives, I need that sometimes. I think we all need that sometimes. I believe that while this book is tailored to a person who has depression, a person without can also learn so much from his Unbreakable Mindset and how to understand depression a bit better.

His pillars for fighting the gray alone are something that while most of us know, I wonder how many of us use them? Service, Laughter, Teammates. How many people suffering from depression lean on others? Or do we go it alone thinking no one understands what we’re going through? This book is so important because Jay Glazer not only shines a light on subjects like depression and suicide, but he walks the walk with his MVP program bring Vets and Players together.

I will be returning this book to the library today. One day I will buy it and highlight all the sentences that made me go YES! THAT! I challenge you to reach out to a friend who may be sad or lonely, check in on them, make sure they are ok. I am so grateful that when I was in the deep, I had people who did that for me. ♥️

[Blade Mullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for a certain sect of people and I’m not one of those people. I love sports, I love Jay Glazer’s reporting/analysis and I love how open he is on social media. I suffer from depression and I thought that this book would be a nice resource or a good quick read. But I was left disappointed. This book is written for gym bros and guys that spend weekends at sports bars. I’m not one of those people. This didn’t change my opinion on Jay or make me think less of him but it did make me realize that I’m just not his intended audience and that’s fine. to be completely fair to this book when it comes to depression and mental health it takes specific writing style for me not to come out of it rolling my eyes and this book just didn’t achieve that style. In fact I cringed through much of it.

I gave it 3 stars because I know this book can help people and I’m just not what the intended audience is. Though it’s not written with great Prose it isn’t dreadful either and it’s not even really a boring read it just clearly isn’t for me.

Not trying to be overly blunt or mean in my judgement or assessment of this book I know this book will help more people than not and that’s what it’s all about. But if you are like me who is not a gym rat or stereotypical bar bro and someone who has no issue with being open and showing emotions then this book may not be intended for you and it may just read like a generic motivational speech you’d find at some convention hall in hotel near a airport.

[Brian Cluster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book and Jay's approach to life and to speaking kept me hooked through


This quote by Tonde Barber, "It's my honor to play hurt" was a really key quote about the importance of that mental resilience that Jay Glazer wrote about toward the end of the book. It's important to know that your competitors may have the same size, speed, and strength but it is critical to have a better mindset to persevere.

Jay seems to be that distant cousin who just speaks authentically and pushes your buttons but at the same time, he is speaking the truth. Sometimes that truth or set of truths is hard to hear but this book and the narration throughout were refreshing and motivating.

Later in the book, Jay Glazer unveils the 5 Pillars of unbreakable mindset.

1) Find out who the best is and outwork them
2) Be relentless
3) Push your breaking point- Find new boundaries.
4) Never show you are hurt or tired
5) It is your honor to fight hurt- Work when you are tired

There are some surprises in the book including some celebrity citings, interesting stories about some major cheating controversy, and many tough tales of him breaking into the business. The heavy weight of some of the stories were matched in other areas of the book with many hilarious stories of him doing practical jokes or other interesting stories.

Highly recommend this book.

[Kari Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough subject and raw personal style. Jay's style will reach many who otherwise wouldn't read this or any other book on a mental heakth subject. I think anyone who reads it will either take away useful thoughts and ideas for coping with mental health issues and renewed motivation to never stop fighting OR have a better understanding of what people struggling with depression and anxiety are going through. His program MVP sounds outstanding and this book will also help spread the word about it. Maybe an MVP chapter can be started at every major military installation or city/area in the country.

Battling the grey is never easy. I am glad one more infamous person, especially a "tough guy," has stepped up, been vulnerable and shared his story. That alone makes this book worth buying, reading and then passing on to someone else you that could benefit from it. Jay's story also has some good laughs, motivating stories and perspectives, and tips and suggestions for coping a little better or more strongly than before.

[Jeff Borree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. If you think you know Jay Glazer, you certainly do not. This isn't exactly a rags to riches story, it is a story of hard work, grit, and facing your troubles head on. My negatives: he obviously speaks and writes from the heart which by and large works for the purposes of the book, but I just thought it could have been edited much better and used about 1/2 of the F-words that were in the book. I don't mind cursing when called for, but using it in every other sentence can get old. The most powerful parts of the book go into suicide among soldiers coming home from the battlefield and how the sense of TEAM can help anyone overcome such thoughts. There were quite a few life lessons among the chapters of this book and anyone struggling with mental health could do a lot worse than reading this useful manual. If there weren't so many cringe worthy moments in the book, I would have enjoyed it more.

[Juan Bacigalupi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really did. I wanted to like it because we need people talking about mental health. I wanted to like it because there are some decent recommendations in there. However the recommendations aren’t ones you can’t get elsewhere, some are recommendations that worked very well for the author, but might not work for others. Some, like how it is an “honor to play hurt” could easily be misconstrued and could make it less likely people talk openly when they are struggling. In between these accounts of his personal experience with depression and anxiety is a lot of unnecessary name dropping. Lastly, the writing reads more like a rough draft than a published work. I applaud Jay Glazer for tackling a tough subject, I really do. And what he is doing with his organizations is equally commendable. While I hope those who read this book start and continue their mental health conversations, I think as a conversation in and of itself, this book misses the mark.

[C.J. Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first began reading this book I was thinking it was going to be just another football story. But it was an easy read so I continued. I've never heard of the author Jay Glazer. I just happened to be walking through the library, saw an interesting cover and picked it up. The more I read the more it resonated. The more invested I became the more stars I knew I had to give. I'm passionate about our men and women who serve in the military. And I know of some of the struggles they go through. As a mother of two United States Army Soldiers, I hope they never have to know what the gray area is like. But Jay is obviously someone who has cared enough to share his story, fully raw, so others may benefit.

[Timbo Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, which Jay Glazer narrates. I don’t follow US sports, so I had no idea who he was.

Jay seems like a good guy. He’s very upbeat, he’s very honest and it’s obvious he’s passionate about mental health issues.

I expected him to be a better writer though. In the audiobook he uses “oh, and by the way…” incessantly to the point it’s irritating. There’s also a lot of unnecessary swearing, which doesn’t offend me - I just find it lazy.

There was nothing here that was groundbreaking or new, but that doesn’t mean his message isn’t valid or worthwhile.

His constant name-dropping and boasting was a little off-putting. Having said that, I respect him greatly for the work he does and the success he’s earned throughout his career.

[tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

as i girl who loves the game of football, especially the NFL, i have my favorite reporters. i have always appreciated ᴊᴀʏ ɢʟᴀᴢᴇʀ and i am here to tell you in this moment: we are teammates for life. like i want to go work with him. for real though. this book is 𝟸𝟹𝟷 pages & i made 𝟷𝟺𝟸 highlights on my kindle. full paragraphs and full pages at a time. yes names of guys i have been following forever were on these pages. but it was also the stories of the vets. this book is nothing but raw + authentic + real. he puts words to stigmas that are so incredibly hard to describe. he made me cry. he gave me goosebumps. he made me laugh. just read the book

[Judy Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading a third of the book I just skimmed the rest. Jay and his uncensored language aren’t my cup of tea— I like more nuance and definitiveness in vocabulary. But I see that Jay is being himself! And he does a great job of explaining with verbal comparisons (similes?) and anecdotes. Plus, his tone is so UPBEAT— the sun just comes out when he’s talking to you.
Positive thoughts and strategies help, of course (except when others preach to you that it’s the beginning and end of it all). Putting on a smile helps, getting outside helps, being with others helps. But thank goodness for medications that help those whose depression is cyclical, often due to genetics.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book out of the library due to the topic it discusses. I don't know who Jay Glazer is. I don't follow sports, and I couldn't tell you who won the most recent Super Bowl or any other major championship event.

Glazer approaches this subject partially as a memoir. He gets to the heart of the topic near the end of the book. I skipped past the story elements because this book is due tomorrow.

Unbreakable is an inspiration. It is a beacon of hope in the raging torrent of your mind. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time. Hopefully, I get out of this funk I am in, where I don't feel like reading.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing for me. There are passages in this book that I recognize because I’ve dealt with the exact same situations or feelings. This book put into words the stuff I’ve been dealing with my entire life. There are, at least, 3 times I openly cried reading this book because I finally found someone that truly was speaking my language.

I highly recommend this book if you are dealing, have dealt or know someone that deals with depression or anxiety. Vulnerability is a strength and we’re all in this together.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell your story- show your scars.

If anyone tells their story it’s 5 ⭐️ for me. I enjoyed the program creation of Unbreakable: Vets and NFL to work together. I felt somewhat uncomfortable about a non-vet speaking about combat vets, but his ideas are valid and very eye opening. I never really thought about NFL players having a transition to regular life but I can see this is a valid reason for mental help. I can take many of his keys points into my own trauma and feel more validated and proud of my war scars. I book that needed to tell it’s story!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding book if you are dealing with depression/anxiety or know someone who is waging the battle. Jay Glazer gives you a look at his life battling depression and anxiety with a no holds barred look. Jay presents his battle plan to deal with the struggles and deal with the taboos about mental health issues. Jay’s story is presented in a real and easy to understand manner. HIs goal with this book is to help others. I enjoyed this book and how much it helped me learn about depression and anxiety and a plan to deal with it. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Keri H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. I loved the use of the word 'teammate.' I may not be the audience for this book, but this is the only life we get, and the only planet we have. We could all be so much more supportive to one another. You will probably need a tissue as you read, but there are laugh-out-loud moments also.


Not for the faint of heart, lots of cursing, but honest and down-to-earth writing.

[Leslie Olmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many people will benefit from this book! It didn’t speak as much to me personally, but is enjoyable and worth the read if you have any interest or need for the topic. I encourage reading most books on the topic because it can be just one thing you take away that moves you out of the “gray!” Really appreciate the author’s work!

[Ricardo S Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired to be Unbreakable

This is unlike other books written by Phds or gurus. Glazer is a warrior, battlescarred, blessed, and a Champion. This is for those of you who have not found a book that knows. From experience not theory. I hope that it helps you with some tools as it has me. Read this and become a teammate.

[Ty Hayworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible. I couldn't put it down. Jay's message hit home so hard and perfectly describes what "the gray" is and how I feel at times. I cried, I laughed, and it was eye opening that there is a group of people out there that feel as I do. That and with the pillars of fighting depression and anxiety make this one hell of a read.

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no interest in football nor had heard about Jay. But that doesn’t prevent me enjoying this book.
It’s his fascinating life story - how he fought for career success and mental issues could have everyone courage when we are facing difficult moments of life.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent No Nonsense Approach

Glazer wrote in the same "voice" one listens to every Sunday on Fox's NFL Sunday shows. I could almost hear his voice as I read. He is open & vulnerable writing, so his experiences might help anyone, whether it's short term or chronic. Also, the "down to earth" writing makes it a fast, easily comprehensible, read that sticks with you. No, not the typical self-help book... It's much better! Easily applicable to life.

[Tanner Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great explanation of the "gray". Many one liners to be pulled out and remembered. Took the emotions that people in this area are feeling and connected it to real life situations he was in. His random though process went all over the place at times, both helpful and tedious.

[Derek Griffon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay is incredibly raw and real. This book is for anyone looking to beast mode through anxiety with attitude and action.

Anxiety comes at us on its own timetable. It doesn’t care about calendars. But we’ve gotta fight.

[Linde Sifuentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. Jay brings it raw and real, a punch to the face as he uses his stories to share his steps, "pillars", to live day in and day out in the gray. Definitely worth adding to your library!

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read about battling depression, and I've read quite a few over the years. This is a book that I will be returning to again and again for advice and inspiration.