Welcome to book spotlight where instead of giving you another book review, I’m just going to talk about books I’ve read recently that I enjoyed. Prepare yourself for the fangirl gushing.
I’m always a bit wary of celebrity memoirs because I’m not sure I want to know all the details of their dirty laundry. But Radical Love is about so much more than Zachary Levi’s life.
While it includes a lot more swear words than I expected, I appreciate Zach’s honest approach about mental health in both his own life and in opening up the conversation, trying to make it normal to talk about mental health without all the stigmas surrounding it. The things he has to say to provide encouragement to those struggling with similar issues is moving and heartfelt and empowering. I definitely didn’t listen to this audiobook with dry eyes.
And that’s the way I would recommend reading this: the audiobook. I knew that I wanted to listen to the audiobook because it’s Zachary Levi! He’s my favorite Disney character and TV character and slowly becoming my favorite protagonist of the recent DC superhero movies. Listening to him read his book feels like he’s sitting down to have a conversation with you, to tell you his story. I appreciate the range of voices he used in telling his tale.
This book tackles a lot of hard subjects–from mental illness to abuse to suicidal thoughts. There’s a lot of language as I mentioned as well. Zach doesn’t shy away from giving you all the details of the thoughts and things he’s gone through over the years. He doesn’t shy away from being real and honest.
This book probably isn’t for everybody. If it wasn’t him telling the story, I don’t know if I would be interested. But I’m glad I read it. It made me think. It made me understand more about mental illness and how it’s a constant journey. That there isn’t ever a complete end to the struggle. It made me appreciate Zach and all he’s done for the entertainment industry. Honestly, I’m just so freaking proud of this man… this man I don’t even know and have never met and probably never will. Which is kind of odd. But sometimes that’s how celebrity memoirs and books feel. And this is one celebrity book I would recommend.
Keeper of the Wood Between Worlds 
Celebrity memoirs can really be hit-or-miss. I’m glad to hear that this one worked out! I like Zachary Levi, too. (Have ever since “Chuck”… though I’m now realizing that I never actually finished watching that series.)
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I think part of why it worked is that it’s not necessarily a memoir in the same sense that other celebrities write them. His is very focused on mental health and sharing his journey dealing with mental health (which means talking about his childhood and his path through Hollywood, but I guess making a bigger connection than just… here’s my life).
Or maybe it’s just because I like him a lot XD
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Either way works! 😉
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