Smith’s memoir, Monkey Mind, dives into the heart of
his anxiety problems, stemming back from his earliest memories and experiences.
His mother, suffering from crippling anxiety herself, amusingly becomes a
therapist who brings her work home where Daniel listens to her sessions through
the vents. He recalls his mother blaming herself for everything, but doesn’t
give her all the blame; besides genetic influence, Daniel also admits and
divulges details to that awkward first sexual encounter with Esther, a curvy
co-worker, and another random woman who Esther met at a bar. This situation,
instead of being a teenage boy’s dream, ends with disastrous and embarrassing
results for Daniel.
More humorous and embarrassing scenes are included
within; I love the one particular scene of how Smith ingeniously solves his
problem of constant sweating. (so funny!)
Contrasting passages are abundant within the book –
there are scenes so funny that I can’t help but laugh out loud; but, at times
moments so sad and depressing because I know this is much more detrimental than
the author makes it seem. Smith also included factual tidbits that are actually
quite interesting; he notes certain performers that suffer from extreme anxiety
and explicates on the struggles they regularly face.
As humans, we all suffer from stress and anxiety to
a certain degree, and this was an eye-opening book that I read with much
enthusiasm. But Daniel Smith’s personal narrative is a human admission to how
anxiety can put us in a chokehold and take over our lives yet also reminds us
that we must move forward– with a few laughs along the way.
*For more information about the author Daniel Smith
and his book, please check out his website “The Monkey Mind Chronicles."
-Judy
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