Thank you Zac Levi, for being brave enough to share your experiences with the world. Dealing with generational trauma within the family has always been very difficult for many. Yet, we do find ourselves repeating the hated words from our childhood, during high emotional times in our lowest moments as adults, to others. We make mistakes, but we learn from it. This book shows how even a highly charismatic, charming individual, has those extreme lows, struggles, and lets us know that we are not alone.

Zachary Levi pens a part memoir, part ode to mental health in Radical Love. He shares his struggles personally with mental health issues as well as those that run throughout his family, detailing often about his lineage and how that lead him to seek professional help beyond what he'd been receiving prior.

At times this book is raw, difficult to read as you feel as if you are eavesdropping on family conversations yet it is an honest and open look at how we just don't know what a person, nor a family, is experiencing within their lives. For someone in Hollywood to be this vulnerable, even providing insight into the conflict in actually seeking help in the fears of it getting out and ruining his career.

This book, while somewhat choppily jumping back and forth between memories of family strife and forward to the stay at the mental health retreat, was gut-wrenching and eye opening. He provides some moments of guidance for those who may be questioning their own mental health journey as well as the ability to reach out and care for those around you who may be wrestling with the need for help in their journey.

I am a huge fan of Zachary Levi. Nonetheless, I am proud of him for opening up and speaking about his emotional and mental health. This is a book about loving oneself, which is essential towards wellbeing and mental balance.
I am glad that I had the chance to read it.

✨ Actor Zachary Levi talks about love and your perception of self worth.

💜Ok Zack Levi. I see you, I feel seen. And if you are reading, I feel in love with your heart in Chuck and you continue to be one of my favorite humans.

💥I sobbed reading this book. The feelings of inadequacies and inability of people to support you in healthy ways was just so relatable. Inevitably, I learned so much about myself. The most poignant was realizing the trauma we never realize is imposed on us at a young age, and how that really does effect you even decades later. Read this book, you will definitely find something to take from it.

My face at the end: 🥰

🍪 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to @Netgalley and Harper Horizon (and @librofm) for allowing me to read this ahead of publication.

💯 For more details on the books we read, be sure to follow me on TikTok (@zaineylaney). I will give you a list of reasons to read! Or listen to our podcast, Elated Geek, wherever you subscribe.

Whoosh.
I do not even know how to review this. I am beyond overwhelmed, did some serious ugly crying and came out of the whole reading experience realizing just how much I need to be in therapy and how much I wish that I had people around me like Mr. Levi does - it is amazing to realize that there are people who will go out of their way to help someone when their life falls apart.

Written in a straightforward, frank way, the author pulls no punches in talking about where he came from, where he is now [and realizing that there is no cure for depression and anxiety, just ebbs and flows] and where he hopes to be as his life continues. This is not a sob story. This is a story of trauma and verbal abuse and how that almost derailed his life and what he did to fight and claw his way back. This is also a book that can help you claw your way back from whatever brink you are on and encourage you to get the help you need [and heaven knows, many of us need it desperately. I know I do]. This book also works hard at de-stigmatizing mental illness. We all need to do this. People need help. We need to stop judging them for that.

I cannot recommend this book enough - brutal and honest and at times so raw you will weep, this is one of the best books I have read this year. One I will be revisiting. Kudos to Zachary Levi for being brave enough to write the book we all need.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zachary Levi, and Harper Horizon for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book. It felt as though it was written for me, almost like he was sitting and having a conversation with me. I've already recommended this book to several friends.

Thanks to Netgalley!

Words can’t describe how much I loved this book.

I have loved Zachary Levi since I watched Chuck. My husband introduced to me to the show and I was instantly hooked.

Zachary Levi has been one of my favorite actors since. When I found out he wrote a book I knew I needed to read it. It did not disappoint.

Part memoir and part self help he discusses how he deals with trauma and anxiety.

I like he was talking to me. He was so honest. His words meant a lot to me especially about his faith, how to deal with anxiety, and how to love ourselves.

It’s a book I am going to hold close.

Thank you to Netgalley, Zachary Levi, and Harper Horizon for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a wonderful and brutally personal book that gives insight into who Zachary Levi is when the cameras are off. Prior to reading this I was not aware of his struggles with mental health and his past traumas. I nonetheless enjoyed this read that really made me think, and I would suggest this book to any one in need of time to think and reflect.

This memoir follows Levi through his emotional journey from his childhood all the way up to present day as he
Even though he does not have a history of writing to this degree, the writing itself was inviting and honest, and really showed that he is human just like everyone else. It reads like a conversation between friends rather than something more clinical. This journey of the discovery of the need for self love

Ultimately I applaud Levi's bravery and honesty as he navigates the exploration of what it makes to love yourself.

I read this book in under 24 hours. It was that good that I didn’t want to stop reading. I commend Zachary for being open and honest about his struggles with mental health. I hope for one day that the stigma around mental health will disappear. I think everyone needs to read this book because even if you haven’t struggled with it, someone you love may be struggling. I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book pulls on your heart strings, it makes you learn about self love. You are the only person who is in your shoes, nobody knows you better then you, be kind to yourself. I recommend this book to learn empathy and information about mental health.

Perhaps best known for his roles as Chuck Bartowski in the television series Chuck, Flynn Rider in Disney’s Tangled, and the lead role in the superhero film Shazam!, Zachary Levi has been a rising star in Hollywood over the past decade. That success is only part of the story, a story that Levi discusses in his new book Radical Love: Learning to Accept Yourself and Others.

This book surprised me in many ways. There is often a feeling about Hollywood actors that they have it all and oftentimes, nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, they are people just like us and have some of the same problems we have. Levi presents the struggles he has experienced throughout his life including strained relationships with both of his parents, dealing with depression, and even thoughts of suicide. The book is really an exploration of why he struggles the way he does, but also a bit of a guide as to how he is working to overcome those struggles.

I use present tense as the mental and emotional issues Levi talks about in this book (and that many people deal with on a daily basis) are not things that get fixed in one shot. These are struggles that must be faced every day, perhaps for the rest of your life, and that’s scary. But part of the beauty of the book and the way Levi presents these struggles is that he has begun to understand that they will never be completely fixed. There is no magic pill to make things perfect, but learning to deal with the issues in a healthy and productive way goes a long way to setting us up for future success.

Parts of this book are not easy to read, but if you are someone who has ever battled depression or anxiety (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?) then you need to do yourself a favor and find this book. Get it for someone you love who might be going through some tough times or who had a hard upbringing. They will thank you for it.

Radical Love is the blended memoir and self help journey of actor Zachary Levi known for the television Chuck and superhero film Shazam. Levi bares his struggles with mental health and his difficult childhood in an abusive household, with the laudable goal of helping others.

I came to this work as someone interested in Levi's work as an actor. While written with a great deal of bravery, honesty, and well meant intention; I frequently found myself wishing this were just a traditional memoir. (Even though Levi himself didn't feel his life had warranted one). The reader does learn a good bit of the challenges of landing a part, the amount of time and work involved in the entertainment medium and the temptations of fame. However,the focus of the book is how to take responsibility for your own care and recognize your short comings and unhelpful habits. Levi did this, often with the help of faith in God.

The narrative alternates between 2017 when he suffered a mental breakdown and formative times and experiences from Levi's life. The reader bounces between Levi detailing and explaining his mental health treatment methods and the periods of his life that led to the development of his habitats. Amidst every chapter are platitudes and affirmation phrases. Levi has used his position to advocate for mental health, importantly emphasizing that this is a lifelong struggle for many.

As with many things, the COIVD-19 pandemic delayed the publication of this work and Levi rewrote some of this book during that time. I'm left to wonder what was that earlier version?

Very raw and honest, and I'm happy to read that Levi is doing well. This work demonstrates that Levi has learned how to better manage his mental health and I wish it had been presented more informationally and less as a set of instructions. I hope the published version includes resources for those needing access to mental health support regardless of status.

My 19 yo son, Zachary texted me from the dentist’s chair, saying he wanted to to read this book by Zachary Levi. I was like, me too! My son said, I like the guy, he’s a good actor, and I like is ideals. It’s a rare moment my son and I are interested in the same thing. He was impressed I was able to review an advanced copy before the release! Now we are both reading the same book, looking forward to buying a paper copy, and discussing some similarities between our lives and Zachary Levi’s life. There’s the common first name, the generational mental health related traumas, and the resilience. I am thankful for this book and the connection it helped foster with my son. Thank you to the author Zachary Levi for lessening the stigma related to mental health.

I was excited to see this pop-up and even more excited to be approved. I've always enjoyed Zachary Levi and glad to see that he is the person he presents himself to be.

I love Zachary Levi and his heart. His desire to grow and love not only himself but others is so real and raw. Parts of this book felt like a diary - so personal and honest. I’ve always respected him and his vulnerability and I hope he writes more!

Zachary Levi addresses the role of generational trauma and his upbringing on his anxiety, and its evolution from childhood. I found his truth and authenticity hit me hard. As an adult who is still reckoning with the trauma of their childhood, and how difficult it can be to let go of the parent you seek the most validation from, Zachary Levi speaks with the empathy of an observer and the deep emotion of an intimately intertwined participant.. Seeing the journey through his eyes, I too felt that I was accepting myself while trying to separate the identity of my parent as a parent and just looking at them as an individual. It is interesting to see how a child approaches a relationship with their parent once they no longer view them with the same lenses of a child, stripping away that veneer, Zachary Levi asks, “Is this a person I want to continue a relationship with because they understand me an individual or because of the strong bonds of obligation between a mother and child?” By the end of the book, you, as the reader, will be wondering the same thing. Ultimately, this book demonstrates that mental health is a continual journey and those that lead you astray, by contributing to your anxiety or depression, should be left behind with the person that you once were; The person you are becoming does not need to continue to carry the burdens of old.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Many thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This isn't a tell-all, dirty laundry all over the place kind of memoir that you usually find celebrities writing. This is a "warts and all" and very real look at someone who is living with the aftermath of generational trauma and dealing with his own mental health because of it. Equal parts heartbreaking and funny. Mr. Levi speaks of his journey candidly, and with what feels like an intent of sharing healing and growth through therapy and his faith, how he had to learn to love himself as he loves others. Take note: there are triggering moments, as he writes of dealing with an abusive mother that could leave a reader dealing with their own trauma.
5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

I love Zachary Levi. He has made his career on being the nice funny guy. He's even a Disney Prince! (one of the good ones who, though stumbles at times, actually supports the princess and respects her boundaries) I don't associate any negative emotions with him.

This memoir showcases a drastically different side of him. He mentions Hollywood and his relationships, but rather than going into the gossip he writes about his feelings and thoughts. He speculates how his thoughts have come to be through reflecting on his relationships in his life. Levi does not shy away from the harsh words he has for himself. He delves into the dark emotion. I wasn't expecting it, so if you are in a fragile state or tend to have sharp angry words for yourself in your head, be aware that Levi writes these words out, too. The darkness isn't balanced with the light every time. The beginning of this may make you spiral depending on your anxiety or depression. I appreciate the clarity. For those who never have such words for themselves would never understand the depth of that emotion or how hard it is to not believe those lies in your head.

The book does end in a hopeful tone. He finds help and strategies that keep him going. I've learned so much more from this memoir than I was expecting.

In this heartbreaking yet uplifting memoir, Zachary Levi chronicles his mental health journey after struggling for many years and hitting rock bottom. This book is very relatable and shows a whole other side of this star. He opens up about his past and family life and his continuing struggles today. He dives into all the trauma he faced all the ways to heal from it. At times, it was a little too spiritual for me, but the book was very relatable and really shined a light on mental health. This is a very moving book and I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC! I was primarily interested in this book because I love Zachary Levi as an actor... This book was part autobiography (dealing with his past trauma and ensuing mental health journey) and part self-help book, and while it was extremely interesting from a biographical standpoint, I'm not sure how successful it will be as self-help for anyone experiencing their own mental health issues. His story of learning to love himself (and others) "radically", was made possible by many resources unattainable to the average (non-affluent) individual. Semi-inspirational, nonetheless.