Cheer Up Love

Adventures in Depression with the Crab of Hate

By: Susan Calman

Narrated by: Susan Calman

Susan Calman is a well-known comedian and writer who has appeared on countless radio and television programmes. Her solo stand up show, Susan Calman Is Convicted, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and dealt with subjects like the death penalty, appearance and depression.

The reaction to the show she wrote about mental health was so positive that she wanted to expand on the show and write a more detailed account of surviving when you're the world's most negative person.

The Crab of Hate is the personification of Calman's depression and her version of the notorious Black Dog. A constant companion in her life, the Crab has provided her with the best and very worst of times.

This is a very personal memoir of how, after many years and with a lot of help and talking, she has embraced her dark side and realised that she can be the most joyous sad person you'll ever meet.

Cheer Up Love is funny, poignant and (hopefully) informative. It's always good to talk.

©2016 Susan Calman (P)2016 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic reviews

"Heartbreaking and heart-warming: unmissable." (Damian Barr, Metro)

Fantastic.

I loved it. Eight thumbs up. Comedy and depression talk wraped up into a burrito.

As poignant as it is humorous...

Amazing listen by a courageous woman determined to overcome obstacles-- both internal and external-- to live a full life, and eager to help others do the same. If you have ever felt "less than", depressed or anxious, or jyst plain stuck, this is for you. I can see that this will be a "go to" audiobook for me when I am feeling blue.

Honest, Courageous, Warm and Funny!

This is one of the very best books I’ve ever read about depression— and I have read *many.*

Susan bravely opens her life and shares her experience with us, the good, the bad, and the ugly. With her trademark wit (usually heard on the BBC), she gives us a very real, very grounded, very passionate insight into what it’s like to live inside her head.

As someone who has lived with clinical depression for decades, I found myself nodding time and again, and saying ‘exactly!’ out loud. This is a great book for someone who lives with depression — it will make you feel understood, and less alone— but it’s perhaps even better as a gift to help someone understand what it’s like to experience depression.

Considering that her public image is her livelihood, I'm truly in awe of her willingness to reveal herself warts-and-all; the brutal candor with which she shares her faults, failures and struggles. As we share her journey to recovery, and to the great place where she is now, we can gain solace and support for our own journeys.

It’s a very inspiring book, and it will leave you with a solid foundation of hope and optimism. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Thank you, Susan, for everything you’ve put into this.

A light hand to a heavy topic

I found Susan Calman on QI. I was looking for other things she’d done. I was assuming some stand up clips. But books! Books are always welcome. I got the audio version because I like her voice. I dove into the deep end with this one about her depression and anxiety. I expected it to be a bit of a slog, but she is a very deft storyteller, and these stories are much lighter than I anticipated. She’s not making light of her life, it’s pretty much all there, but I can listen for a very long time without getting anxious myself.
She started out as a lawyer and I bet this ability for clarity helped that career a lot.
I highly recommend this book if you’re trying to understand someone else, but I will say right now that it also helped me to understand myself more too.

Inspiring

Loved her complete sincerity-- it was great to hear how she looked at depression from so manh different angles!