Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Valedictorian of Being Dead
The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live | Heather B. Armstrong
18 posts | 21 read | 32 to read
From New York Times bestselling author and blogger Heather B. Armstrong comes an honest and irreverent memoirreminiscent of the New York Times bestseller Brain on Fireabout her experience as one of only a few people to participate in an experimental treatment for depression involving ten rounds of a chemically induced coma approximating brain death. For years, Heather B. Armstrong has alluded to her struggle with depression on her website, dooce. Its scattered throughout her archive, where it weaves its way through posts about pop culture, music, and motherhood. But in 2016, Heather found herself in the depths of a depression she just couldnt shake, an episode darker and longer than anything she had previously experienced. She had never felt so discouraged by the thought of waking up in the morning, and it threatened to destroy her life. So, for the sake of herself and her family, Heather decided to risk it all by participating in an experimental clinical trial involving a chemically induced coma approximating brain death. Now, for the first time, Heather recalls the torturous eighteen months of suicidal depression she endured and the month-long experimental study in which doctors used propofol anesthesia to quiet all brain activity for a full fifteen minutes before bringing her back from a flatline. Ten times. The experience wasnt easy. Not for Heather or her family. But a switch was flipped, and Heather hasnt experienced a single moment of suicidal depression since. Disarmingly honest, self-deprecating, and scientifically fascinating, The Valedictorian of Being Dead brings to light a groundbreaking new treatment for depression.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
dariazeoli
post image

This was a reread for me, and this time I listened to Heather tell her tale. God, I‘m just so sad; have been since I heard that she died of depression last month. I keep thinking about how she would never leave her kids, how she was so hopeful after this treatment. How things seemed to unravel at such a quick pace. It‘s gutting.

#readingbracket2023 #nonfiction

Blueberry 😓 1y
32 likes1 comment
review
Shemac77
post image
Pickpick

Amazing. Witty. Comical. Heart wrenching. (And incredibly well written). Highly recommend.

LiteraryinPA Wow. I just read the blurb. What an experience. 4y
kspenmoll I cannot believe this book! My son has struggled with this Covid experience with a blacker deep depression than ever, asking, “Can‘t a doctor put me in an induced coma until this is over?” I told him no doctor would ever do that. OMG. Thanks for sharing this book! 4y
Shemac77 It was an amazing read. She is one fighter. @LiteraryinLititz 4y
See All 6 Comments
Shemac77 @kspenmoll I‘m so sorry to hear about your son. I don‘t understand depression as I‘ve never gone through it but I can only imagine how difficult it is. This book opened my eyes to how awful and debilitating it must be. All my love to you and your son. 4y
Blaire I loved reading Dooce back in the day. Interested to read this one. 4y
kspenmoll @Shemac77 Thank you for your compassion. I have never gone through depression either so sometimes it is hard for me to understand it in my son & not try to fix the unfixable. He calls me Miss Pollyanna. 4y
39 likes3 stack adds6 comments
blurb
Shemac77
post image

Starting the next!

Eggs Wow 😮 4y
Shemac77 The title is attention grabbing! Her story is amazing and told with a lot of humour. Highly recommend. @Eggs 4y
34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
ElishaLovesBooks
post image

Hoping to start this today. I‘m having a head time getting into something-hopefully this one will do the trick!

TracyReadsBooks If you need something great to read, check out Carmen Maria Machado‘s memoir In the Dream House. It‘s excellent. 5y
Blaire I loved Dooce back in the day but haven‘t read it in years. 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @TracyReadsBooks I will! @Blaire I haven‘t read her blog but I‘m sure it‘s interesting! 5y
52 likes3 comments
review
Amor4Libros
post image
Pickpick

Am I sorry that this book sat on my NetGalley shelf for so long? YES!

But I also know that this was the right time for me to read it. Sometimes we get caught up in our own mind and really think that what we are going through it‘s the worst.

Heather‘s experience reminded me that it is not, that we are all struggling in some way and we are going to be OK, we just have to keep fighting.

5⭐️ #netgalley

19 likes2 stack adds
review
InnerSavvy
post image
Pickpick

A book about a woman's journey at the end of her depression and the experimental treatment she tried . It worked. it's heavy at times but that fits the story.

Samplergal I loved it. Such a great story. 5y
6 likes1 comment
review
sophierayton
post image
Pickpick

This is one of those books I want to gift to so many people. What are the chances of this whole situation happening to someone who is such a good writer. This book makes me grateful for scientific advances and all the brave people who have taken mental health seriously, including the author.

Blaire Good to know. I was a huge reader of dooce back in the day. 5y
48 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
thebluestocking
post image
Pickpick

I love Armstrong‘s writing style and voice. This book is about a very serious depressive episode and the experimental treatment she underwent in an effort to come out of it. It is dark but also hopeful and (at times) funny. I felt all of the feelings.

55 likes1 stack add
review
azulaco
post image
Pickpick

I have always loved Heather Armstrong‘s writing. This book was especially powerful to read. For anyone who‘s gone through a serious depression, or if you never have but you‘re wondering what it‘s like - she nails it. The experimental treatment she underwent to treat it sounds freaky, but hopeful for treatment-resistant depression. I‘m recommending this book to everyone.

20 likes2 stack adds
review
Samplergal
post image
Pickpick

Amazing book. Read my full review of this book @ www.safepassagesandprose.com. My itty bitty blog about travel and books. #readingUSA2019 #Utah #FiveStars #MayMadness #NetGalleyReadathon

Librarybelle I‘ve heard good reviews about this one! 5y
Samplergal I loved it. Probably my top three this year. 5y
84 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Krose1
post image
Pickpick

I have never before read such a clear description of depression. I have family and friends who suffer from it and have always struggled to really understand what they were going through. I feel like I finally get it. This book is so beautiful and I thank Heather for going through this and sharing her journey with us.

3 likes1 stack add
review
Shay
post image
Pickpick

The first blog I ever followed was Armstrong‘s dooce blog, way back before she was a mom, let alone a “mommy blogger.” I fell off somewhere along the way, so when I saw her memoir at ALA, I thought it would be cool to catch up. Indeed, I was pulled right back into what I enjoyed about her writing style, which is energetic, descriptive, and often darkly funny. Full review: https://shayshortt.com/2019/04/23/the-valedictorian-of-being-dead/

Julsmarshall I‘m excited about this one too. Loved Dooce! 5y
4 likes1 comment
blurb
Samplergal
post image
Reviewsbylola I think I may have this on my kindle. I can‘t wait to read it! 6y
merelybookish I just read an interview with her. It made me curious about the book! 6y
Clwojick This one looks good! 6y
72 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
Jgotham
post image

Hmmm. Intrigued so far

review
FeministBookClub
post image
Pickpick

This was a fascinating read from page 1. I‘ve always loved Heather (aka dooce) and had no idea how crippling her depression was. This book follows a groundbreaking treatment that rendered her nearly brain dead 10 times in three weeks as an alternative to shock therapy. Her dark humor keeps the reader on their toes with each page. Definitely recommend, especially for anyone interested in mental health.

FeministBookClub Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 6y
34 likes1 comment
review
Thndrstd
post image
Pickpick

Heather B. Armstrong, known for dooce.com, was struggling with a crippling depression. Desperate for help, she agrees to an experimental treatment where she is "killed" - placed into a chemically induced brain death for fifteen minutes - ten times. She recounts the experiment, but also her deep depression, its causes, & its effects on her family. Powerful brave writing.

[I received an e-galley from Netgalley. To be published April 23, 2019.]

Blaire Interesting. I used to read her blog everyday....way back in 2007. Didn‘t know she had a new book out. 6y
Thndrstd @Blaire well soon. I got an advanced copy 6y
44 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Aseleener
post image

So, apparently Netgalley *really* wants me to read this book, because it downloaded to my tablet 12 times! Weird!

jpmcwisemorgan Hmmm... 6y
RaimeyGallant Interesting. 6y
31 likes2 comments
blurb
LauraBeth
post image

Heather Armstrong is an ex-Mormon who blogs and podcasts what it‘s like to have grown up in the Mormon church; what BYU was like; leaving the church and what it‘s like to still live in Utah among so many Mormons. She has a new book coming out that chronicles her severe bout with suicidal depression in 2016 and the unconventional steps she took to try and get help for it. She‘s a polarizing person, but I dig her. ❤️ #musicalnewyear #youandme

Reecaspieces Very interesting 6y
emilyhaldi She sounds like an interesting person! 6y
Suet624 Those Mormons. Sigh. 6y
Aseleener I used to read her blog, back in the day, so I was intrigued by this. Just got approved for the Netgalley. Looking forward to it. 6y
LauraBeth Oohh - can‘t wait for your review @Aseleener! 6y
117 likes6 stack adds5 comments