Crazy Is My Superpower

How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules

By: A. J. Mendez

Narrated by: A. J. Mendez

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WWE superstar AJ Lee candidly shares her lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder and how embracing her diagnosis gave her the confidence to take back control of her life.

“Crazy Is My Superpower is at once breathtakingly honest, hilariously funny, self-deprecating, and incredibly inspiring.”—Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of Friendkeeping

Everything I was told should be my greatest insecurities and weaknesses, everything that I’ve been labeled—SHORT, NERDY, SKINNY, WEAK, IMPULSIVE, UGLY, TOMBOY, POOR, REBEL, LOUD, FREAK, CRAZY—turned out to be my greatest strengths. I didn’t become successful in spite of them. I became successful because of them.

Growing up AJ was a quiet girl trying to act “normal” when she felt anything but. As her family struggled with drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness, she found escape through comic books and video games, and inspiration in tough, unconventional female characters. It wasn’t until she discovered pro wrestling that she learned superheroes could be real.

Determined to become the superhero she’d always admired, AJ trained and sacrificed for years to achieve her dream of wrestling professionally. Yet she quickly faced industry pressure to play the role of the damsel in distress and to dress more provocatively to cater to male fans. But she fought back and created an ass-kicking alter ego that was a genuine representation of herself: nerdy, enthusiastic, and a little bit crazy.

With humor and tremendous heart, AJ opens up about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons. What most people view as a hardship, AJ embraced as inspira­tion for her superhero persona, shattering the stigma attached to mental illness.

Charting her journey from a scrappy girl in an unstable home to an empowered wrestling champion, Crazy Is My Superpower is an un­flinchingly honest story and brave confessional about her long road to self-acceptance.

Critic reviews

“This book is for every young woman who couldn’t find a seat at the lunch table. AJ Mendez writes about loneliness, mental illness, and finding her place in the world with genuine vulnerability and, perhaps more important, genuine strength.”—Amy Koppelman, author of A Mouthful of Air, Hesitation Wounds, and I Smile Back

“AJ Mendez is a stunningly gifted writer. Crazy Is My Superpower is at once breathtakingly honest, hilariously funny, self-deprecating, and incredibly inspiring. I absolutely loved every page of this book.”—Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of Friendkeeping and You Had Me at Woof

“This woman is 5’2” of raw talent, heroic honesty, and gut-busting humor. AJ’s story left me both breathless and feeling like I should be jumping up and down shouting, ‘Yes, yes, oh my god, f**k yes!!!!!’”—Deborah Copaken, New York Times bestselling author of Shutterbabe and Ladyparts

“AJ Mendez’s candid account of her struggles and success offer young women a wonderful role model regarding how to be yourself, stand up for what you believe in and embrace the ‘crazy.’ AJ’s story promotes empowerment, not just through physical strength, but through emotional strength as well.”—Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, family psychologist and author of Princess Recovery

“This compelling memoir, written with genuine humor and strength, shows how AJ persevered over circumstances that a lesser human would have been destroyed by. She is truly a superhero.”—Caroline Rhea, actor, TV host, and stand-up comedian

“AJ Mendez is the role model we desperately need in today’s culture! Authentic and inspiring, AJ embraces her challenges, bravely discusses her past, and shows us all how to turn pain into power.”—Emily Roberts MA, LPC, The Guidance Girl psychotherapist, and author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are

“[Mendez] successfully uses her own life story to show how a perceived weakness can be an unstoppable strength.”—Library Journal

an awesome human being and inspirational book.

she was once my favorite wwe diva/superstar and now one of my favorite humans of all time. she can really tell a depressing story while adding humour and a lot of nerdy and 90s nostalgia. you don't have to be a fan of hers to appreciate the struggle that she has gone through and winding up on top of the women's wwe. any girl, and really any boy, who ever felt like an out cast or just different than anyone else can easily relate to her.

best book

could not put the book down.. I loved it.. makes you think about things in a different perspective...

Amazing

such and inspiring and funny book I definitely recommend it to anyone struggling or who knows someone struggling with mental illness.

Inspiring

I have no complaints about this book at all, literally inspired me to seek help with the bipolar disorder I suffer. Listening to her story and life and the struggles, a lot I can relate to makes it all easier to swallow and has opened up my eyes. I recommend this to anyone and everyone and I will be listening to it again just invade I missed things. Thank you Aj for this amazing book and inspiring life story you hide to share with the world.

Storytelling is amazing!

Being recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I was able to relate to her story. I also absolutely love her storytelling abilities. AJ is amazing!