The Art of Being Broken: How Storytelling Saves Lives

Suicide prevention activist Hines (Cracked, Not Broken) presents a harrowing if uneven meditation on his suicide attempt in 2000, his battles with bipolar disorder in the years since, and the value of storytelling in spreading mental health awareness. The author, who was “told by the voices in my head” to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge, vividly catalogues the details of that day: the “instantaneous regret” that flooded him once his fingers left the rail; the panic as he was sucked down into the water’s depths; the “harsh green blanket” the coast guard placed over him after he was rescued. Writing that this isn’t a “typical triumph over adversity story,” Hines recounts his recurrent suicidal thoughts and psychosis in the years afterward, leading to 10 hospitalizations; his struggles with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening skin reaction, due to his medications; and the strain it all exerted on his personal life. The author stitches in his philosophy that centers telling one’s own story in group and community settings to help others feel less alone, and later chapters are written by people who’ve endured loved one’s suicides or dealt with their own mental health challenges. While affecting, this too often lacks clear direction or organization, and genuinely wrenching moments get lost amid the breathless mix of anecdote, encouragement, and public speaking tips. There’s value here, but readers will need patience to get the most out of it. (Sept.)