“In his mission to fight the stigma of mental illness, John Shuchart humanizes depression and self esteem issues in ways with which many of us can relate. His readers will find themselves nodding their heads, laughing with the author and maybe even feeling safe enough to begin to share their own stories with others.”
– Keith R. Bayer, MSW, LCSW, Principal, North Shore Family Wellness, Skokie, IL
“John Shuchart’s book is great. He demonstrates a wonderful capacity to change, and by giving encouragement to others, he may allow them to change too. We are not the sum total of our experiences; we are who we choose to be. John has chosen wisely. His book may help others to as well!”
– Dr. Jeanne A. Drisko, Director, KU Integrative Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center
“John Shuchart’s book has a way of grabbing the reader on several levels. It’s fascinating to hear how someone can survive, much less thrive, under the ugly life circumstances John faced. But once you read it, there’s more. A whole lot more! The wisdom on those pages pops up now and then as you consider the stigma of mental illness and the nonsense of that. The coping skills are transferable…not just for the mentally ill, but for everyday crazy stuff that happens in everyone’s life. This read stays with me, leaving me compassionate for anyone struggling with mental illness. It also gives me great appreciation for a man like John who flipped all of that on its head to find a better way…for himself and countless others!”
– Phyllis Wallace, Radio Host of “Woman to Woman”
“It’s the first secret you always wanted to share, but until now it wasn’t safe, and you didn’t know how. John Shuchart’s book will make you laugh, cry, and will give you the permission you’ve always wanted to talk about your issues. It’s the first book I’ve ever read that gave me hope that laughter can work for many of my clients.”
– Jackie Pattison, MA, LCPC
“John Shuchart’s story allows you to appreciate the experiences of mental illness, make you think about its stigma, and even how you feel about yourself. Oh, and you’ll laugh a lot!”
– Tina Grzeskiewicz, President, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Kansas
“John Shuchart’s book is a glorious declaration, plea, and tool for helping people dealing with mental illness. Laughter, tears, and “Aha!” insights will attend the reader in coursing through John’s sometimes brutally honest and always caring reflections on the darkness of depression and how to make one’s way to the end of the tunnel. I appreciate John’s courage in writing this book, and I recommend it to one and all.”
– Rev. Robert Lee Hill, Senior Minister, Community Christian Church, Kansas City, MO
“The author has flourished through a lifetime of rejection, ridicule and depression by boldly reframing the negative with a positive emotion centered on humor, laughter and a smile. This likely derives from a cognitive frontal lobe choice to inhibit/control the amygdala of the limbic brain. An imaginative treatment approach for mental illness. This read is appropriate for professionals and lay people!”
– James M. Kerns, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology,
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
“I just want to say ‘THANK YOU!’ I picked up your book, “You are not the brightest of my four sons” yesterday while at the NAMI Southwestern Illinois Run for Recovery/Walk for Awareness at GCS (aka Gateway Grizzlies) Stadium. Read it through the night. I recognize myself in your stories, and as I struggle on my path to recovery and “betterness,” I want you to know how much I appreciate your honesty, insights and emotional intelligence about this disease, depression (and other mental illnesses). You touched me, and through many tears and much laughter, you’ve given me HOPE.
– T. A. Mangino, U.S. Air Force Retired, NAMI Volunteer