What do you think?
Rate this book
I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You
I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You. I know – what an intriguing title!
Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade – there have been surprising joys, but also deep revelations and challenging lows. I shall be honest about those, because what I discovered in the difficult times were my, what I call, treasures. Treasures – practical tools, values, ways, answers researched from some great scientists, neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists (all the ‘ists’) out there, that have genuinely led to a sense of freedom, joy, peace and physical recovery I never would have thought possible. Life now, amazingly, with what I will share, is – SUCH FUN! (always important to quote your own catch phrases. . .)
If you fancy having a read, then I hope my story might help your story. After all, we are in this beautiful, mysterious, challenging life together. Rest assured there are funny stories along the way – we will have a laugh too, my dear reader chum. Oh, and I couldn’t possibly say if there is a love story in it . . . (There is - shush) Exciting.
Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade – there have been surprising joys, but also deep revelations and challenging lows. I shall be honest about those, because what I discovered in the difficult times were my, what I call, treasures. Treasures – practical tools, values, ways, answers researched from some great scientists, neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists (all the ‘ists’) out there, that have genuinely led to a sense of freedom, joy, peace and physical recovery I never would have thought possible. Life now, amazingly, with what I will share, is – SUCH FUN! (always important to quote your own catch phrases. . .)
If you fancy having a read, then I hope my story might help your story. After all, we are in this beautiful, mysterious, challenging life together. Rest assured there are funny stories along the way – we will have a laugh too, my dear reader chum. Oh, and I couldn’t possibly say if there is a love story in it . . . (There is - shush) Exciting.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2024
About the author
Miranda Hart
17 books818 followersMiranda Katharine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972), known professionally as Miranda Hart, is an English actress, writer and stand-up comedienne. She writes and stars in the BBC sitcom Miranda. She also appeared in French and Saunders, the BBC television series Hyperdrive and her semi-autobiographical sitcom Miranda Hart's Joke Shop on BBC Radio 2. In 2012, she began appearing in the BBC drama Call the Midwife as Camilla (Chummy) Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
October 31, 2024
I was prepared to defend this book. Although Miranda’s experience and beliefs about chronic illness are very different from my own, I was prepared to argue that everybody has their own story and as long as it’s made clear that they’re sharing their own truth and don’t speak for everybody, then there would be no real repercussions. I thought it wrong that people were jumping to conclusions and inciting hostility before the book even came out, so I waited until I read it cover to cover before forming my judgement. And now that I have… I no longer want to defend this book.
To her credit, Miranda states several times that ME/CFS is a real and serious condition linked to the body’s immune system. She also makes some excellent points about learning to live as your authentic self and (correctly) identifies that levels of stress and insecurity can affect the way our bodies function. However, she leans very heavily into the psychosomatic approach to ‘healing’ and recovery, with the book stating that “Thoughts really can make you feel and stay ill” and “I was going to take responsibility for [following my personal values], those which were curing my body of exhaustion and viruses”.
I’m choosing to focus this review on the book itself rather than the contentious approach to illness it takes, but I will briefly say that it was very difficult and jarring to read about healing yourself through your thoughts when at this very moment young women are losing their lives to M.E. and even more are experiencing gaslighting and abuse from medical professionals who incorrectly psychologise their condition and withdraw care. If anybody happens to read this review who isn’t part of the community and wants to broaden their understanding, I urge you to research the stories of Merryn Crofts, Maeve Boothby, and Sammy Lincroft, only a few of the young women who have lost their lives in recent years.
Of course, no singular person can represent an entire, diverse community, nor should they be expected to. Miranda can only speak on her own experiences, as any of us can, and is perfectly within her rights to share her truth. I’m genuinely glad that she’s doing better and at a much brighter stage in her life. However, I do take issue with the statements she’s making on behalf of everybody living with conditions of this nature. She describes a lot of research findings in the book, so I was very surprised by the absence of citations so that people could do their own further reading and if desired, verify these findings for themselves. Especially as I work for one of the organisations mentioned in the book (though speaking only in a personal capacity here) and was slightly heartbroken to see a finding from our recent research report used in a very different context to how it was intended, to illustrate a point in the book that was very different to the actual research outcomes and implications. But as there was no citation included for this or other claims, readers can only take in what is on the page. I also think this book would have hugely benefitted from a few rounds of sensitivity reading before being published, and I definitely think a more compassionate balance could have been struck between telling Miranda’s personal story and acknowledging those with different lived experiences from her own.
I’m a big fan of Miranda’s work and know how hard it can be to translate all the complexities of your story to the page,but reading parts of this book as somebody with an ongoing chronic illness was difficult and painful. If I’m totally honest, some parts left me feeling worse about myself and my disability status rather than better. However, there were genuinely some positive takeaways from the book, with words on living as your truest self and stepping away from conformity that I found comforting and quite inspiring. Miranda states in the book that she has a newfound sense of purpose to help others and I completely believe she has the power to do a lot of good in this world. But rather than approaching this through her illness beliefs, I hope her work in the future leans into the other side of her story instead. It’s here, speaking on being your truest and most authentic self, where she can and will be a role model for many.
To her credit, Miranda states several times that ME/CFS is a real and serious condition linked to the body’s immune system. She also makes some excellent points about learning to live as your authentic self and (correctly) identifies that levels of stress and insecurity can affect the way our bodies function. However, she leans very heavily into the psychosomatic approach to ‘healing’ and recovery, with the book stating that “Thoughts really can make you feel and stay ill” and “I was going to take responsibility for [following my personal values], those which were curing my body of exhaustion and viruses”.
I’m choosing to focus this review on the book itself rather than the contentious approach to illness it takes, but I will briefly say that it was very difficult and jarring to read about healing yourself through your thoughts when at this very moment young women are losing their lives to M.E. and even more are experiencing gaslighting and abuse from medical professionals who incorrectly psychologise their condition and withdraw care. If anybody happens to read this review who isn’t part of the community and wants to broaden their understanding, I urge you to research the stories of Merryn Crofts, Maeve Boothby, and Sammy Lincroft, only a few of the young women who have lost their lives in recent years.
Of course, no singular person can represent an entire, diverse community, nor should they be expected to. Miranda can only speak on her own experiences, as any of us can, and is perfectly within her rights to share her truth. I’m genuinely glad that she’s doing better and at a much brighter stage in her life. However, I do take issue with the statements she’s making on behalf of everybody living with conditions of this nature. She describes a lot of research findings in the book, so I was very surprised by the absence of citations so that people could do their own further reading and if desired, verify these findings for themselves. Especially as I work for one of the organisations mentioned in the book (though speaking only in a personal capacity here) and was slightly heartbroken to see a finding from our recent research report used in a very different context to how it was intended, to illustrate a point in the book that was very different to the actual research outcomes and implications. But as there was no citation included for this or other claims, readers can only take in what is on the page. I also think this book would have hugely benefitted from a few rounds of sensitivity reading before being published, and I definitely think a more compassionate balance could have been struck between telling Miranda’s personal story and acknowledging those with different lived experiences from her own.
I’m a big fan of Miranda’s work and know how hard it can be to translate all the complexities of your story to the page,but reading parts of this book as somebody with an ongoing chronic illness was difficult and painful. If I’m totally honest, some parts left me feeling worse about myself and my disability status rather than better. However, there were genuinely some positive takeaways from the book, with words on living as your truest self and stepping away from conformity that I found comforting and quite inspiring. Miranda states in the book that she has a newfound sense of purpose to help others and I completely believe she has the power to do a lot of good in this world. But rather than approaching this through her illness beliefs, I hope her work in the future leans into the other side of her story instead. It’s here, speaking on being your truest and most authentic self, where she can and will be a role model for many.
October 21, 2024
I too love Miranda, but I cannot support the kind of advice that featured in this book.
As someone who has suffered from chronic illness for over 15 years I really struggle with the invalidation that comes from "thinking yourself well" claptrap. If we just acknowledge we've been too busy, let out all our built up stress and emotions and learn to accept who we are we'll be cured of all our physical symptoms. Unless we're not.
There is undoubtedly a connection between stress and illness and definitely relaxation and being at peace more has an effect on symptom severity. But no one with a broken leg will be able to fix themselves with mindfulness. No one with the flu gets better overnight after they've meditated. No one tells a diabetic to throw away their medical records, stop identifying as a diabetic and their symptoms will disappear.
No illnesses are misunderstood as much as those relating to debilitating fatigue, immune system dysfunction and neurological damage. But they are real and whilst the causes are not fully understood these kinds of theories continue to perpetuate the misconceptions surrounding these illnesses.
I am glad Miranda has found happiness and better health and wish her well. But I will not be recommending this book.
As someone who has suffered from chronic illness for over 15 years I really struggle with the invalidation that comes from "thinking yourself well" claptrap. If we just acknowledge we've been too busy, let out all our built up stress and emotions and learn to accept who we are we'll be cured of all our physical symptoms. Unless we're not.
There is undoubtedly a connection between stress and illness and definitely relaxation and being at peace more has an effect on symptom severity. But no one with a broken leg will be able to fix themselves with mindfulness. No one with the flu gets better overnight after they've meditated. No one tells a diabetic to throw away their medical records, stop identifying as a diabetic and their symptoms will disappear.
No illnesses are misunderstood as much as those relating to debilitating fatigue, immune system dysfunction and neurological damage. But they are real and whilst the causes are not fully understood these kinds of theories continue to perpetuate the misconceptions surrounding these illnesses.
I am glad Miranda has found happiness and better health and wish her well. But I will not be recommending this book.
October 12, 2024
If I could give 100 stars, I would.
Everyone needs to listen to this book. ❤️
Everyone needs to listen to this book. ❤️
October 14, 2024
I love Miranda Hart and everything she stands for, truly I do. I have nothing but respect for the things she's struggled with. I think it was brave of her to tell her story, and I know she's sharing it from a place of compassion and an honest desire to help others. I'm sure that many people who read this book will find it helpful, insightful, and possibly life changing.
That said, this book was not what I was expecting and just wasn't for me. It seemed like Miranda was mostly expounding upon things she'd gleaned from various medical and mental health sources, and oftentimes rambled on for way too long before she got around to the point. It too often came across as "If we all do this, we'll feel so much better." Again, I know Miranda was coming at this with all the best intentions, but that sort of "advice" can sometimes make people feel worse or even more isolated because they've already tried these things but perhaps did not meet with the same level of success, or simply lack the resources to fully access or apply such assistance.
I wanted to like this book, but about a third of the way in I couldn't do it anymore. I wish Miranda all the best, and I'm happy for her. But I'm giving this book a pass.
That said, this book was not what I was expecting and just wasn't for me. It seemed like Miranda was mostly expounding upon things she'd gleaned from various medical and mental health sources, and oftentimes rambled on for way too long before she got around to the point. It too often came across as "If we all do this, we'll feel so much better." Again, I know Miranda was coming at this with all the best intentions, but that sort of "advice" can sometimes make people feel worse or even more isolated because they've already tried these things but perhaps did not meet with the same level of success, or simply lack the resources to fully access or apply such assistance.
I wanted to like this book, but about a third of the way in I couldn't do it anymore. I wish Miranda all the best, and I'm happy for her. But I'm giving this book a pass.
October 16, 2024
I rarely give books a one star but this took the biscuit. Miranda has definitely been through the ringer with years lost to chronic illness which she finally disclosed as ME induced Lyme Disease.
The book is publicised as a memoir but there is very little genuine connection to Miranda as a human being. It is self help through her treasures and the Miranda persona/character. Don't read this is you looking for a Maggie O'Farrell or Hilary Mantel memoir on illness. This is not Susan Sontag!
One can feel the selling machine of the publicity machine all over this. The arc is contrived and convenient - it starts with her collapse and how she doesn't know what to do, then she goes on her journey of 10 treasures and by the end claims recovery and now knows what to do in a time of crisis or collapse. There's no mention that anyone should maybe seek medical help if they collapse not Miranda's book!
The tone is cloying and saccharine with the release of her diagnosis and marriage all conveniently revealed for her book launch and comeback re- entry into Telly land after her years of being ill. This might be a bit cynical but it feels like due to this period of economic activity she is writing the book for financial reasons and not for the chronic illness community. I kind of felt used even reading it.
But there is just some really strange advice that seems directed at anyone with chronic illness (which is alot of people). She refuses to say Lyme or any diagnosis terms as it might perpetuate her symptoms. She burns all her medical records so she doesn't identity with her illness. And she gives up all other medical involvement and relies on brain rewiring or brain retraining which basically is some pseudoscience mind-body thing where you have to stop all your fear and unsafe thoughts, emotions and feelings to stop being ill.
Apparently the root cause of her Lyme is her inability to say no and she might let people down??!
She even claims Mediterranean people live longer and can eat all the pizza they like because they release their emotions (she obviously hasn't met any Japanese). And if you project bad or good thoughts over rice and bluebells the plants/food reciprocally thrive or die?!?
Self help and positive advice for those with chronic illness yes, linking it to recovery and how to treat illness is a bit far fetched. But you can see Miranda is fully convinced of this. And one can understand why if she's been told she was anxious and agoraphobic by doctors for so long. But all the ISTs as she calls them are basically fringe mind-body folk who are not well recognised.
I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who is going to get this for Christmas. It's kooky and is just going to continue the gaslighting cycle as people blame themselves, their fear, insecurity or lack of attached relationships for their illness
Some of the more perplexing quotes:
“As I burned records and journals, I honoured my story with a grief I hadn't allowed from the start. (I was veritably Spanish).”
“if we're constantly repeating a story like “I'm so exhauted’ our physiology will respond and it will affect our mood and disorder. MIND BLOWING. The number of times I would say things like, “it's like wading through treacle,” or “ its such a battles. Now, phrases like that make me feel instantly weak…Eventually I stopped saying Lyme or any of the other diagnostic words…to reduce its power.”
“Why do you want to get better? When one of these specialists, or should I say the specialist ‘ists’ (bitt of fun), on brain retraining to reduce the chronic stress response said that to me, i knew it was important but considered it in some ways rather cruel…The IST continued that without a clear answer to that question, it would be hard for me to recover.” (TBH her brain training therapist sounds like a manipulative arse who's got her wrapped round his little finger which is awful as she's so vulnerable.)
“I already believed the treasures to be right and true, but to experience them all in a 10-minute moment in my garden to placate myself was extraordinary…I now knew what to do in any moment of chronic crisis. I knew what to do in the next 10 minutes. All the treasures releasing me. Wow.”
“It's not the disease causing the symptoms, it's our brain. MIND BLOWING.”
She just ends up sounding deluded TBH through the whole book, taken in by pseudoscience grifters. I feel quite sorry for her.
The book is publicised as a memoir but there is very little genuine connection to Miranda as a human being. It is self help through her treasures and the Miranda persona/character. Don't read this is you looking for a Maggie O'Farrell or Hilary Mantel memoir on illness. This is not Susan Sontag!
One can feel the selling machine of the publicity machine all over this. The arc is contrived and convenient - it starts with her collapse and how she doesn't know what to do, then she goes on her journey of 10 treasures and by the end claims recovery and now knows what to do in a time of crisis or collapse. There's no mention that anyone should maybe seek medical help if they collapse not Miranda's book!
The tone is cloying and saccharine with the release of her diagnosis and marriage all conveniently revealed for her book launch and comeback re- entry into Telly land after her years of being ill. This might be a bit cynical but it feels like due to this period of economic activity she is writing the book for financial reasons and not for the chronic illness community. I kind of felt used even reading it.
But there is just some really strange advice that seems directed at anyone with chronic illness (which is alot of people). She refuses to say Lyme or any diagnosis terms as it might perpetuate her symptoms. She burns all her medical records so she doesn't identity with her illness. And she gives up all other medical involvement and relies on brain rewiring or brain retraining which basically is some pseudoscience mind-body thing where you have to stop all your fear and unsafe thoughts, emotions and feelings to stop being ill.
Apparently the root cause of her Lyme is her inability to say no and she might let people down??!
She even claims Mediterranean people live longer and can eat all the pizza they like because they release their emotions (she obviously hasn't met any Japanese). And if you project bad or good thoughts over rice and bluebells the plants/food reciprocally thrive or die?!?
Self help and positive advice for those with chronic illness yes, linking it to recovery and how to treat illness is a bit far fetched. But you can see Miranda is fully convinced of this. And one can understand why if she's been told she was anxious and agoraphobic by doctors for so long. But all the ISTs as she calls them are basically fringe mind-body folk who are not well recognised.
I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who is going to get this for Christmas. It's kooky and is just going to continue the gaslighting cycle as people blame themselves, their fear, insecurity or lack of attached relationships for their illness
Some of the more perplexing quotes:
“As I burned records and journals, I honoured my story with a grief I hadn't allowed from the start. (I was veritably Spanish).”
“if we're constantly repeating a story like “I'm so exhauted’ our physiology will respond and it will affect our mood and disorder. MIND BLOWING. The number of times I would say things like, “it's like wading through treacle,” or “ its such a battles. Now, phrases like that make me feel instantly weak…Eventually I stopped saying Lyme or any of the other diagnostic words…to reduce its power.”
“Why do you want to get better? When one of these specialists, or should I say the specialist ‘ists’ (bitt of fun), on brain retraining to reduce the chronic stress response said that to me, i knew it was important but considered it in some ways rather cruel…The IST continued that without a clear answer to that question, it would be hard for me to recover.” (TBH her brain training therapist sounds like a manipulative arse who's got her wrapped round his little finger which is awful as she's so vulnerable.)
“I already believed the treasures to be right and true, but to experience them all in a 10-minute moment in my garden to placate myself was extraordinary…I now knew what to do in any moment of chronic crisis. I knew what to do in the next 10 minutes. All the treasures releasing me. Wow.”
“It's not the disease causing the symptoms, it's our brain. MIND BLOWING.”
She just ends up sounding deluded TBH through the whole book, taken in by pseudoscience grifters. I feel quite sorry for her.
October 17, 2024
Awful, harmful advice.
Brain rewiring does NOT cure your physiological illness. There is a lot to like in the book (it’s Miranda after all) but also many cure suggestions/reasons for recovery that have no scientific basis, that have been debunked, and that are more likely to cause (potentially significant) harm to people with ME or Long Covid.
Please don’t buy into it.
Read the updated NICE guidelines on ME, reach out to ME charities and to the amazing online chronic illness community instead.
Brain rewiring does NOT cure your physiological illness. There is a lot to like in the book (it’s Miranda after all) but also many cure suggestions/reasons for recovery that have no scientific basis, that have been debunked, and that are more likely to cause (potentially significant) harm to people with ME or Long Covid.
Please don’t buy into it.
Read the updated NICE guidelines on ME, reach out to ME charities and to the amazing online chronic illness community instead.
October 23, 2024
One of my many many bones to pick with this book was that for the audio they changed what I can only assume was ‘my dear reader chum’ to ‘my dear listener chum’, perpetuating the common assertion that audiobooks somehow don’t count as reading? The audio edit also meant you could hear noticeable jumps and shifts in voice, when they’ve clearly gone back in to add certain caveats about massively generalised statements after the initial recording session.
Addressing these serious health concerns, and claiming that symptoms come from the brain and not the disease is ‘mindblowing’ indeed! As someone suffering from many of the same long-term conditions as Miranda including chronic Lyme, chronic pain and PoTS, I’m genuinely quite insulted by the way she dismisses very real physical reactions as being able to be thought away?! Incredibly disappointing on so many levels. I bought this book after watching her speak on Graham Norton (I’m not historically a Miranda fan as her comedy isn’t my style), but reading this burned away any of the positive response I’d felt from what had been an emotional interview. Considering how hard it is to get people (medical professionals and the general public alike) to acknowledge that these chronic illnesses even exist, with so much misinformation and jokes spread, this book does nothing at all to help the cause, and does a great disservice to so many suffering with debilitating symptoms over many years.
I’m glad she’s doing better, but claiming you can think yourself well of these kinds of illnesses is NOT someone who is being ‘entirely honest’.
Addressing these serious health concerns, and claiming that symptoms come from the brain and not the disease is ‘mindblowing’ indeed! As someone suffering from many of the same long-term conditions as Miranda including chronic Lyme, chronic pain and PoTS, I’m genuinely quite insulted by the way she dismisses very real physical reactions as being able to be thought away?! Incredibly disappointing on so many levels. I bought this book after watching her speak on Graham Norton (I’m not historically a Miranda fan as her comedy isn’t my style), but reading this burned away any of the positive response I’d felt from what had been an emotional interview. Considering how hard it is to get people (medical professionals and the general public alike) to acknowledge that these chronic illnesses even exist, with so much misinformation and jokes spread, this book does nothing at all to help the cause, and does a great disservice to so many suffering with debilitating symptoms over many years.
I’m glad she’s doing better, but claiming you can think yourself well of these kinds of illnesses is NOT someone who is being ‘entirely honest’.
October 14, 2024
As a girl who has MECFS, who has been a fan of Miranda for years, I cannot thank her enough for this book. I FINALLY feel seen.
November 5, 2024
Not half way through it, but OMG it's fabulous!
Update
Finished the audio book and now need a hard copy to make notes and refer back to different sections. I was never a "think yourself into health" but i have to say, there were lots of excellent points made here, and whilst I'm still in a mindset, there is a lot to help here. Wonderful book
Update
Finished the audio book and now need a hard copy to make notes and refer back to different sections. I was never a "think yourself into health" but i have to say, there were lots of excellent points made here, and whilst I'm still in a mindset, there is a lot to help here. Wonderful book
October 14, 2024
I love Miranda at her most unhinged, but I really love this slightly more hinged Miranda too. As someone who has also endured years of chronic pain & “invisible” illness, it was so refreshing to hear how she has navigated through her brokenness by becoming honest with herself & everyone around her! An encouraging & easy read, still told in the most Miranda way possible. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.5 stars
November 7, 2024
I finished this last week and haven’t stopped thinking about it. I got emotional several times. It’s an incredible experience to see yourself written in someone else’s words and I truly cannot recommend this book enough to those who are suffering with a chronic illness, or want to understand how to better support someone with a chronic illness. Thank you so much Miranda for your vulnerability.
October 13, 2024
OK. I know. There's a huge disappointment in writing this review, and I want to make it absolutely clear that the review is of the book, and not of her story.
Her story is an important one, and a moving one and ultimately an uplifting one.
However, I couldn't connect with this book at all. The whimsy was overdone for my taste, to the point that I found it hard to follow the thread underneath. I feel that the whimsy is an important part of her writing, but by toning the quantity down, the book would've actually been funnier and - also - easier to follow.
I feel tough writing reviews like this when the person who's written the book is someone that I admire and who I think is capable of so much better, but I have to be honest in what I feel about the books I'm reading, and review them according to how much I enjoy and connect with the book, rather than because I do or don't like the person who wrote it.
Sorry, Miranda, I love you, but this one wasn't for me :-(
Her story is an important one, and a moving one and ultimately an uplifting one.
However, I couldn't connect with this book at all. The whimsy was overdone for my taste, to the point that I found it hard to follow the thread underneath. I feel that the whimsy is an important part of her writing, but by toning the quantity down, the book would've actually been funnier and - also - easier to follow.
I feel tough writing reviews like this when the person who's written the book is someone that I admire and who I think is capable of so much better, but I have to be honest in what I feel about the books I'm reading, and review them according to how much I enjoy and connect with the book, rather than because I do or don't like the person who wrote it.
Sorry, Miranda, I love you, but this one wasn't for me :-(
October 20, 2024
I’m sorry I cannot read another page of this book! Also annoyed because it was expensive! The book so far is trite and irritating, comprised mainly of the contents of other self-help books. It’s not what I expected at all. If there had been more of herself rather than second-hand unoriginal mumbo-jumbo then I might have persevered. Crikey - steer clear. Life is far too short
Read
October 16, 2024I'm not entirely sure how to rate this. Not quite memoir, not quite self-help: it's just an honest, sometimes whimsical and rambley, but deeply personal account of her journey through acute difficulty. Who am I to say how many stars I deem it worthy?! Well, not today.
Future thoughts are going to be questioned with, WWMD: What Would Miranda Do? Thank you please, thank you, thank you.
Future thoughts are going to be questioned with, WWMD: What Would Miranda Do? Thank you please, thank you, thank you.
October 30, 2024
I found it very difficult to decide on a rating for this book. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it in some ways. And I loved Miranda's previous book, 'Peggy and me'.
But I am very conflicted about the whole premise, and the way in which the serious chronic illness ME has been bound together with life lessons, or 'treasures'. And the linking of these to a subsequent recovery/remission.
I am so very pleased for Miranda, that she has recovered, is treating herself with kindness, and has found love in her life. And Miranda's story is rightfully hers to tell!
HOWEVER, linking her recovery from the neurological, energy limiting, serious chronic illness ME, with her 'treasures' and 'revelations' is concerning. Anyone recently diagnosed with ME, cfs, or Long Covid, could be misled, confused, and misunderstand their condition.
I myself understand and acknowledge that many of Miranda's life lessons/treasures can help people to cope with, and even live well with, issues around stress, self-esteem, compassion, and learning to live with chronic illness. etc.
BUT much harm has been done to people with ME in the past, by the psychological approach to 'treating' ME. As has (the now fully discredited) Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) and the combination of that with CBT. (See the 'World Health Organisation' and the NICE guidelines for up to date information about ME.)
I agree with many of Miranda's ideas for living a better life. And I implement a number of them in my own life. I have had ME for 13 years.
I do NOT agree that this should be presented in a way as to imply that we can use these to treat, or recover from ME. This book is unlikely to improve the general public's accurate understanding of ME.
I hope that people who read this book, enjoy Miranda's story. Without assuming that it offers a more general insight into living with, or more especially, recovering from ME.
I wish Miranda all the very best for the future!
But I am very conflicted about the whole premise, and the way in which the serious chronic illness ME has been bound together with life lessons, or 'treasures'. And the linking of these to a subsequent recovery/remission.
I am so very pleased for Miranda, that she has recovered, is treating herself with kindness, and has found love in her life. And Miranda's story is rightfully hers to tell!
HOWEVER, linking her recovery from the neurological, energy limiting, serious chronic illness ME, with her 'treasures' and 'revelations' is concerning. Anyone recently diagnosed with ME, cfs, or Long Covid, could be misled, confused, and misunderstand their condition.
I myself understand and acknowledge that many of Miranda's life lessons/treasures can help people to cope with, and even live well with, issues around stress, self-esteem, compassion, and learning to live with chronic illness. etc.
BUT much harm has been done to people with ME in the past, by the psychological approach to 'treating' ME. As has (the now fully discredited) Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) and the combination of that with CBT. (See the 'World Health Organisation' and the NICE guidelines for up to date information about ME.)
I agree with many of Miranda's ideas for living a better life. And I implement a number of them in my own life. I have had ME for 13 years.
I do NOT agree that this should be presented in a way as to imply that we can use these to treat, or recover from ME. This book is unlikely to improve the general public's accurate understanding of ME.
I hope that people who read this book, enjoy Miranda's story. Without assuming that it offers a more general insight into living with, or more especially, recovering from ME.
I wish Miranda all the very best for the future!
October 29, 2024
LOVELY!!!
I absolutely adore Miranda Hart, and the same goes for her memoir. While at times it was a bit cheesy, I found it very entertaining! I listened to it and Miranda Hart narrated and I absolutely loved hearing her call me, “My Dear Listener Chum” It warmed my soul.
I wish I could fall asleep to her voice and her lovely chatter.
I absolutely adore Miranda Hart, and the same goes for her memoir. While at times it was a bit cheesy, I found it very entertaining! I listened to it and Miranda Hart narrated and I absolutely loved hearing her call me, “My Dear Listener Chum” It warmed my soul.
I wish I could fall asleep to her voice and her lovely chatter.
October 29, 2024
A vulnerable account of chronic illness and a brilliant exploration of self help with a sprinkle of humour throughout - loved it!
October 17, 2024
As a fan, not what I hoped for
I am a solid Miranda fan. I am so glad she’s back and healthy (diagnosed) and pleased on the news of her marriage. While I could easily read the book and hear her voice and picture her and giggle a little, this was ultimately a letdown. I expected so much more reality instead of constant platitudes and quoting and lecturing as if she had become an armchair psychologist or life coach. It was as if she took all her short blurbs from her Miranda Shop emails and threw them in a book with no real connection or reasoning.
I am a solid Miranda fan. I am so glad she’s back and healthy (diagnosed) and pleased on the news of her marriage. While I could easily read the book and hear her voice and picture her and giggle a little, this was ultimately a letdown. I expected so much more reality instead of constant platitudes and quoting and lecturing as if she had become an armchair psychologist or life coach. It was as if she took all her short blurbs from her Miranda Shop emails and threw them in a book with no real connection or reasoning.
November 1, 2024
While I find Miranda and her work charming, I can't be charmed long by this prescriptive positivity memoir. My own experience is that positivity can lure me into overdoing, with harm to my health.
If this is meant as memoir, I'd be better entertained and illuminated if she stuck to her own story.
If this is meant as a self-help or health information book, I'd be better informed if she would report the research faithfully to its conclusions, and with full citations so that I could look up the studies referenced.
I'm fine with a combination actually, of memoir and advice, but with complex chronic neuroimmune illness, one person's cure can be another person's doom. We have to be super-careful about our suggestions for ourselves, let alone for one another.
If this is meant as memoir, I'd be better entertained and illuminated if she stuck to her own story.
If this is meant as a self-help or health information book, I'd be better informed if she would report the research faithfully to its conclusions, and with full citations so that I could look up the studies referenced.
I'm fine with a combination actually, of memoir and advice, but with complex chronic neuroimmune illness, one person's cure can be another person's doom. We have to be super-careful about our suggestions for ourselves, let alone for one another.
October 30, 2024
Miranda is a very talented comedian and actress. I adore her Miranda series and her performance as Chummy in Call the Midwife. I mention all of this just to say that I am a big fan. This book is not what I expected and it just didn't work for me on multiple levels. For folks who do live with long Covid or other ME/CFS ailments, maybe this book would, on some level, be helpful. This is just my opinion, as someone not currently battling any long term illness.
I wish this book had been clearly labeled as/marketed as a self-help/self-improvement book, as I was hoping for more stories about Miranda. Perhaps this was my mistake when pre-ordering, but it wasn't clear to me upon purchase. To my knowledge, its genre is labeled as Biography/Autobiography. While that classification might technically be true, I would not categorize the majority of this book in that way. The language/framing used is far too prescriptive, coming across as giving advice rather than sharing stories. She references several other authors, books, resources, in declaring her revelations for this to come across as anything but self-help from a non-medical/non-therapist professional.
My proposal to Miranda would have been to have separated the self-help part; the "treasures" and all the cloying, grating language around the various realizations along her health journey, from the actual stories from her life (those not framed as "you can do x,y,z to re-frame your thinking and live a better life", MDRC). Even the cutesy MDRC (My Dear Reader Chum) acronym became excruciatingly annoying after the 10th time it was used. Perhaps the self-help stuff could have been sold as a companion piece to a more story-driven novel (of which, I would have skimmed and tossed aside)? I would have appreciated a 200-page novel/memoir (with another 200-page self-help companion guide) which would have been remarkably enjoyable, compared to this 400-page mess, which I had to parse out all the aforementioned cutesy/grating/cloying language along its entire read time. The framing of chapters around "treasures" is interesting and I appreciate her insights based on her experience, but overall none of it worked for me. The stories themselves were wonderful, it's just everything else that bothered me.
I am truly happy she received a diagnosis for her chronic and debilitating health issues, and that she is in a loving relationship, now married. This book was a challenge to finish. I almost DNF'd it after page 10, and again after every 10 pages or so after that, for its entire 400 pages, but kept going, looking for those stories within the mess. I also finished this book because I paid $50 for a signed edition, pre-ordered from Waterstones, in the UK, and didn't want to feel as though that money was wasted (time, money, what say you). Don't even get me started about her incessant use of "The Boy" or "I KNOW, RIGHT!" or "GET THIS". Ugh. No.
My extra long title for this book:
I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You (about this book): it is a self-help discovery book about my health journey. It is filled with language around how you, yourself, can re-frame various debilitating aspects of your life or your health, to make it more digestible or to help you better navigate rough times. I am not a medial professional, but maybe you can find some of my cutesy framing language helpful, even though, oftentimes, it comes across as advice from me, as a licensed medical professional or licensed therapist or licensed mental health professional (again, seriously, of which, I am not).
I wish this book had been clearly labeled as/marketed as a self-help/self-improvement book, as I was hoping for more stories about Miranda. Perhaps this was my mistake when pre-ordering, but it wasn't clear to me upon purchase. To my knowledge, its genre is labeled as Biography/Autobiography. While that classification might technically be true, I would not categorize the majority of this book in that way. The language/framing used is far too prescriptive, coming across as giving advice rather than sharing stories. She references several other authors, books, resources, in declaring her revelations for this to come across as anything but self-help from a non-medical/non-therapist professional.
My proposal to Miranda would have been to have separated the self-help part; the "treasures" and all the cloying, grating language around the various realizations along her health journey, from the actual stories from her life (those not framed as "you can do x,y,z to re-frame your thinking and live a better life", MDRC). Even the cutesy MDRC (My Dear Reader Chum) acronym became excruciatingly annoying after the 10th time it was used. Perhaps the self-help stuff could have been sold as a companion piece to a more story-driven novel (of which, I would have skimmed and tossed aside)? I would have appreciated a 200-page novel/memoir (with another 200-page self-help companion guide) which would have been remarkably enjoyable, compared to this 400-page mess, which I had to parse out all the aforementioned cutesy/grating/cloying language along its entire read time. The framing of chapters around "treasures" is interesting and I appreciate her insights based on her experience, but overall none of it worked for me. The stories themselves were wonderful, it's just everything else that bothered me.
I am truly happy she received a diagnosis for her chronic and debilitating health issues, and that she is in a loving relationship, now married. This book was a challenge to finish. I almost DNF'd it after page 10, and again after every 10 pages or so after that, for its entire 400 pages, but kept going, looking for those stories within the mess. I also finished this book because I paid $50 for a signed edition, pre-ordered from Waterstones, in the UK, and didn't want to feel as though that money was wasted (time, money, what say you). Don't even get me started about her incessant use of "The Boy" or "I KNOW, RIGHT!" or "GET THIS". Ugh. No.
My extra long title for this book:
I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You (about this book): it is a self-help discovery book about my health journey. It is filled with language around how you, yourself, can re-frame various debilitating aspects of your life or your health, to make it more digestible or to help you better navigate rough times. I am not a medial professional, but maybe you can find some of my cutesy framing language helpful, even though, oftentimes, it comes across as advice from me, as a licensed medical professional or licensed therapist or licensed mental health professional (again, seriously, of which, I am not).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2024
4.5⭐️
I went in thinking this was a memoir but it’s more of a self help book, which was pleasantly surprising and refreshing. By the end of this book, I felt like I was listening to a friend turned therapist and wanted all of their wisdom in the world. It was slightly repetitive in the middle and the audiobook has a few audio issues but nothing too concerning.
I really appreciated that Miranda mentioned so many doctors, therapists and studies which solidified what she said. This book and what Miranda said will stay with me forever🤍
I went in thinking this was a memoir but it’s more of a self help book, which was pleasantly surprising and refreshing. By the end of this book, I felt like I was listening to a friend turned therapist and wanted all of their wisdom in the world. It was slightly repetitive in the middle and the audiobook has a few audio issues but nothing too concerning.
I really appreciated that Miranda mentioned so many doctors, therapists and studies which solidified what she said. This book and what Miranda said will stay with me forever🤍
October 31, 2024
An honest and heartbreaking tale of Hart’s battle with chronic illness told via her witticisms and simplifications of what the “ists” have taught her throughout the years. I listened to this book on Spotify as an audiobook and you can really tell how her in finding her “Treasures” she has found peace. I found myself going from laughing out loud to tearing up in parts or having to pause others to take a moment to reflect on something i had learnt. With this biography i have a list of new books i plan to read.
As a big fan of Miranda Hart, i loved this book and am very glad i heard her narrate it.
As a big fan of Miranda Hart, i loved this book and am very glad i heard her narrate it.
November 13, 2024
I’m now going to cite all my references in my essays with “Get this!”
October 26, 2024
This grew on me. Miranda shares some heartfelt and poignant reflections on chronic illness, recovery and self-compassion. I enjoyed what she had to say but found it hard to retain concentration in the format of the “treasures”, and found the continual reference to “my dear listener chum / MDLC” a little irritating! Would recommend to Miranda fans for an uplifting read with those caveats
October 31, 2024
If a book was one of those cringeworthy, wooden “Live, Laugh, Love” signs you see in nearly every suburban, whitewashed home in the uk, this would be it lol
2 stars purely for the audio delight of listening to Miranda
Realistically though, it’s probably more like 1 star for the actual content (sorry Miranda)
Hey ho -at least it was a free audible listen !
2 stars purely for the audio delight of listening to Miranda
Realistically though, it’s probably more like 1 star for the actual content (sorry Miranda)
Hey ho -at least it was a free audible listen !
October 24, 2024
If I didn’t love Miranda Hart already, this would have cemented it for me. Raw, real, heartbreaking and warming all at the same time. I recommend this to everyone🧡
October 23, 2024
A nice read. I adore Miranda so it was a joy to learn more about her recent journey
October 17, 2024
Eloquently written with injections of her humour and silliness.
A story about learning to truly be yourself and finding joy in times where you're not in control
A story about learning to truly be yourself and finding joy in times where you're not in control
October 22, 2024
I really like Miranda Hart and I appreciate that she shared her story with us. But it was too far into self-help for me.
October 31, 2024
I love Miranda’s show, so when I heard she had a book coming out, I definitely wanted to read it. Overall, I unfortunately have mixed feelings about this. The audiobook is great as Miranda narrates it herself. She also made some great points, and some things I will definitely put into practice.
I can really relate to some of her personality traits, so this book definitely made me feel more optimistic about certain aspects of life. It was great to see Miranda discover more things and advocate for herself more in different situations.
However, it did read a bit too much like a self help book for me, and it’s not really what I was expecting - although that might be my fault for not reading the synopsis. I listened to it relatively quickly, and as much as I enjoy Miranda’s jokes, the phrasing did get quite repetitive. Aside from these things, the majority of the book could have been written by anyone.
It can definitely be helpful to reduce stress in life and implement small changes to feel better. The basis of a lot of things Miranda said seemed true to me. However, it seemed too focused on manifesting changes which didn’t seem quite right to me. Also, I’m not disabled myself, so I’d recommend checking out some other reviews as I’ve seen some thoughtful discussions about the lack of focus on medical treatment and how the narrative perpetuated can be harmful.
I think if it was only framed based on Miranda’s experience, it could have worked better, but it felt like a book of advice, and I’m sure that this doesn’t apply to a lot of people. These kind of books end up hit or miss for me - for example, I found Atomic Habits extremely useful, but I hated The 5am Club.
Memoirs will be viewed differently by everyone, and they are very personal, so take this with a grain of salt. I am glad that Miranda is doing much better herself, but this didn’t quite work for me.
I can really relate to some of her personality traits, so this book definitely made me feel more optimistic about certain aspects of life. It was great to see Miranda discover more things and advocate for herself more in different situations.
However, it did read a bit too much like a self help book for me, and it’s not really what I was expecting - although that might be my fault for not reading the synopsis. I listened to it relatively quickly, and as much as I enjoy Miranda’s jokes, the phrasing did get quite repetitive. Aside from these things, the majority of the book could have been written by anyone.
It can definitely be helpful to reduce stress in life and implement small changes to feel better. The basis of a lot of things Miranda said seemed true to me. However, it seemed too focused on manifesting changes which didn’t seem quite right to me. Also, I’m not disabled myself, so I’d recommend checking out some other reviews as I’ve seen some thoughtful discussions about the lack of focus on medical treatment and how the narrative perpetuated can be harmful.
I think if it was only framed based on Miranda’s experience, it could have worked better, but it felt like a book of advice, and I’m sure that this doesn’t apply to a lot of people. These kind of books end up hit or miss for me - for example, I found Atomic Habits extremely useful, but I hated The 5am Club.
Memoirs will be viewed differently by everyone, and they are very personal, so take this with a grain of salt. I am glad that Miranda is doing much better herself, but this didn’t quite work for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews