Hell If We Don't Change Our Ways

A Memoir

De: Brittany Means

Narrado por: Brittany Means

Starred review from Kirkus

“Powerful. . .gut-wrenching. . .triumphant. . .exquisitely told. . .A story of survival that left me choked up and cheering.”

—Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle

“I can’t write a story about myself as the sad, quiet child of two drug addicts. That’s not how it was, even when it was. To me, sleeping in the car was normal. Better, it was comfy and fun. I loved my bed made of clothes inside a trash bag that I sank into slowly like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family movie. . . . I loved the motels and their swimming pools and trashy daytime TV channels. . . . Nobody could tell us what to do.”

Brittany Means’s childhood was a blur of highways and traumas that collapsed any effort to track time. Riding shotgun as her mother struggled to escape abusive relationships, Brittany didn’t care where they were going—to a roadside midwestern motel, a shelter, or The Barn in Indiana, the cluttered mansion her Pentecostal grandparents called home—as long as they were together. But every so often, her mom would surprise her—and leave.

As Brittany grew older and questioned her own complicated relationships and the poverty, abuse, and instability that enveloped her, she began to recognize that hell wasn’t only the place she read about in the Bible; it was the cycle of violence that entrapped her family. Through footholds such as horror movies, neuropsychology, and strong bonds, Brittany makes sense of this cycle and finds a way to leave it.

While untangling the web of her most painful memories, Brittany crafts a tale of self-preservation, resilience, and hope with a unique narrative style—a sparkling example of the human ability to withstand the most horrific experiences and still thrive.

©2023 Brittany Means (P)2023 Zibby Books

The most Beautiful, painful, real memoir I’ve read

This book was one of the most beautiful stories I’ve listened to in a long time. Brittany, thank you for sharing your story. You will help more people than you can ever imagine.

Brave and powerful memoir!

This is a difficult story to hear, but worth it. The author is strong and resilient, but healing is clearly a journey. This was such a great reminder that compassion is always the right answer.

Read if you want to be more compassionate towards others…

Brittany’s story will infuriate you, but it will also shed light on what others may be going through at home. This memoir should be a must read for educators and anyone that works in the public sector.

Brittany, thank you for putting this out. As hard as it was to listen, it was necessary. You’re a rockstar

Heartbreaking and Heartwarming

Courageous with unflinching honesty. I couldn’t stop listening, except to pause, process, regroup and continue on. The more we know about trauma & generational trauma, the more we are able to understand its impact. Ms. Means is a gifted storyteller who narrates her story perfectly.

a story beautifully woven

This is my third time taking this incredibly engaging journey through Hell if We Don't Change Our Ways with Brittany. Brittany's ability to spin a tale of equal parts joy and trauma is unmatched. Her voice is clear, measured and soft as crushed velvet. My favorite book of all the reading/listening I've ever done. A solid investment of time. A once in a lifetime experience. You'll want to reread/listen to this more than once.