Hyperbole and a Half

Hyperbole and a Half – Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh became an internet sensation with her blog Hyperbole and a Half, in which she told stories from her life using a mix of witty writing and deliberately crude illustrations made in a simple drawing program. Her work was hilarious, strange, honest and often surprisingly moving. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened collects some of her most beloved stories along with new material.

Brosh writes about her childhood, including memorable episodes such as her determined attempt to eat an entire cake against her mother’s wishes and a letter she wrote to her future self. She describes the chaotic adventures of her two dogs, one of them simple-minded and the other anxious and neurotic, and their misadventures during a move across the country. She also explores her own quirks, flaws and attempts at being a responsible adult, often with hilarious results.

The book is also known for its honest and widely praised chapters about Brosh’s experience of depression. With humor and insight, she describes what it feels like, the frustration of trying to explain it to others and the slow, uncertain path toward feeling better, giving many readers a new understanding of the condition.

Her distinctive illustrations, full of expressive, wild-eyed characters, add to the humor and emotion of every story.

Funny, relatable and deeply human, Hyperbole and a Half became a bestseller and is a delightful read for fans of humor, graphic memoirs and honest writing about life’s absurdities. It contains some strong language. It is not a substitute for professional mental health support.