I’ve read many stories of people battling mental illness, but have never read a book with as much honesty and vulnerability as “The Valedictorian of Being Dead.” As a woman that struggles with depression & anxiety, there were so many moments that I could relate to. I am encouraged by Heather’s bravery to fight for her life. I highly recommend this book; I don’t think it’s just for people who have a mental illness, but for anyone who wants to understand and have compassion for those who do.

I can’t remember where I first heard of Dooce but I followed her on insta for a long time and read her blog. I think she was one of the first I heard who of who monetized their presence on the web and I found it fascinating. What I admire is as our society descended into an almost Stepford Wife perfection she always kept it real. My heart hurt for her grappling with all she shares in these pages and I appreciate her bravery in helping advance medical progress with treating severe depression. I’m so glad she found a way with help out of the dark. Bravo Heather!

Anyone who has experienced depression will quickly connect with the author. It appears she had an intractable situation and fights constantly to stay above the siren song of suicide.

Its easy to have so much compassion for her, and how desperately she wants to get better. I am amazed at her mother and her constanstancy for her daughter.
It is interesting that this disease flows so strongly among families, and it is comforting to see that it is in fact a disease and not a choice.

There are moments when this is hard to read and moments rich with hope and joy.

Loved this book. Heather’s writing caught my eye on her blog “Dooce”. I’ve been following her for many years. This book is engaging and funny. Even though the book is about her deep depression and a new innovative treatment, she makes it readable for everyone. No technical terms. Looking forward to hearing others rave about it!

This is a great first-hand account of depression and the author's experiences involving participation in a mental health study that involves inducing a near state of being brain dead. It's a bit on the thin-side overall, following the author's experiences with the study and interspersed with some background and personal details. At times, there's a sense that something is missing from the narrative. However, despite that, what is provided really gives the reader a sense of what it's like to be in the darkest depths of despair and be pulled back up to the light. People who do not a good frame of reference for depression and how it can impact a person's way of thinking/perceiving life should consider reading this book. It may help them gain a better sense of what their loved ones may be facing, especially those of us whose brains feed us muck and lies, rather than clarity and truth.

I have never read any of Heather’s other books and have not kept up with her blog or social media for a long time. I used to be a daily blog reader and now would consider myself someone who is “rooting for” Heather but not very invested at this point. As someone who has struggled with depression, this sounded interesting so I decided to give it a chance. It was a fascinating story about undergoing an experimental treatment to help her depression. I would have liked a little bit more reflection throughout, especially at the end, but this is certainly a compelling story and I couldn’t put it down.

Who can complain about joining someone in their journey from death to life again?
This book is informative. Wildly hopeful for depression sufferers. Not fanciful. Grounded and real.
It definitely felt like a privilege to be witness to both personal awareness and astounding medical breakthrough.

I have known of Heather Armstrong as a blogger but have never read one of her books until now. I thought The Valedictorian of Being Dead was an incredible story and I am so happy that she shared it because mental health treatment is just as important as physical health. I had never heard of this treatment before and I think it is wonderful that she is helping normalize this by sharing.

I had a harder time with the memoir aspect of this book because of the details that she chooses to share about her family members. I did admire that she was able to share so opening what it truly felt like to experience depression that was deeply debilitating on many levels and I was happy to hear her parents were so supportive of her during this time as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you want to REALLY understand what depression feels like, down to the core, read this book. Aside from being a mother, everything about Heather's story resonates so perfectly with how my disease feels. This book, and this treatment, will change so many lives.

Not sure why I was reluctant about this memoir during the first few pages, maybe the humor felt a bit forced, but then the humor grew on me and I realized this was simply Heather and recognized how her humor saves me (and the ECT treatments and supportive parents). Since so much of the memoir is about the experimental treatment, I do wonder how she is doing now and if the treatment works for the long-term. Hate to think this would have to be repeated again later in life.

I am unfamiliar with this Mommy Blogger, but I can see why she appealed to so many parents. I also found her online dating sagas humorous and relatable since I live in AR and have experienced the same dead animal photos (and bathroom mirror selfies which at least don't involve dead deer or fish).

I like how the older daughter reveals her interest in God at the end of the memoir and how the author responds with enthusiasm, even though she has given up on religion herself. Nice addition to this Mormon memoir.

A Spectacular memoir at times poignant, sad, funny, hopeful etc. When Heather B. Armstrong volunteers to be one of the first 10 people to try a new and controversial depression treatment she hopes that this will at last cure her of wanting to be dead. The treatment is very cutting edge using the drug that killed Michael Jackson to bring the patients to "Death" by coma for a short amount of time in the hopes of resetting the brain. Heather describes her life and heart ache for her children and herself with honesty and bravery. Heather's mother and step father are a big part of her treatment offering help and support that she couldn't live without. Each of the 10 treatments is described in full with many emotions running through Heather as she hopes that this last chance treatment will make life worth living again. As someone who has personally been through severe depression I read this book with interest and fascination and hope for Heather to "be cured" of her depression.

I have been a big fan of Armstrong and her Dooce.com blog for more than 17 years. Her writing is often humorous, usually insightful into the human condition, and filled with pith and pluck. This latest effort widens her genre in two directions: first, her personal journey trying an experimental treatment for massive depression that involves extreme sedation, or "being dead." Heather is so type A that she is compelled to not just do well, but be the best, unquestionable no. 1, in everything she does. Yet, that is a tall order. This book opens after her marriage to the man that helped build Dooce has fallen apart and she finds herself a single mom trying to raise two girls.

We are a long way from losing your job for being a blogger, and the very real challenges of life are so wonderfully explained that they almost seem light-hearted. That is the brilliance of Armstrong's prose: nothing is so scary that it can't be poked fun of With Capital Letters. For people whom you know that struggle with depression, this could be a useful guidepost to understanding their challenges and clues on how to approach their cures. And for the rest of us, it is a mighty good read.