A page-turner that made me cry, laugh, and come away inspired me to overcome personal challenges. The read feels raw and vulnerable, yet hopeful and triumphant.

this is one of those books that is super hard to read but is worth it in the end. Its not a 'fun read' but its a worth it read. its was eye opening and difficult all at the same time.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this audiobook and ALC of this non-fiction biography

Before I listened to this biography I had never heard of Bruce. W. Brackett, but I did look him up and learned more information so I would understand the biography more because this goes into detail about his childhood to his becoming an adult.

⚠️ Trigger warnings ⚠️

This book deals with

* Child Abuse
* Neglect
* Mental Health
* Child sexual Abuse (him as a 16-year-old as a runaway being taken advantage of by strangers)
* Drug Abuse
* Running away
As well as much more

Reading this book I feel a lot of emotions because what Bruce has gone through is terrible but also shows the strength he has, due to his beginnings as a child and how he was treated by his birth mother, which set the belief system he would have for the rest of his life growing up... believing he was not worthy of love, kindness or anything of proper human contact etc and seeing himself as nothing but being used and only finding his worth in what he could offer and how others see him ( believing he deserves the neglect at times etc). Bruce ran most of his life from who he properly was by lying and creating stories which he thought were better than the truth but learning slowly that this made things worse.

At the beginning & end of each chapter, you hear Bruce saying affirmations and truths that sound more like him reminding himself but at the same time saying these to the ones Listening or reading these things as well to have them say some to themselves if they can relate in any way.

When Bruce gets older he is taken to a Child's detention centre where he spends nearly a year when he gets into his adulthood he is told he got HIV and we see how he deals, as well as going into old behaviours ( earlier in the book a little we are also told he has Bi-Polar).

This book goes through so much and I have a feeling that this will be a book that could help others with its hidden message within Bruce sharing his painful story to show others that you can be more than what you think and also change your own life

Bruce Brackett has overcome many obstacles and imparted a wealth of knowledge in this book. I'm happy he overcame everything and developed into the person he is now.

I started to think a lot about how our experiences shape us and even impede our personal development. I felt like I was reliving a lot of the things the author talked about experiencing since they were so real to me.

Although I liked the book, I didn't think the audiobook was that good. I occasionally found it difficult to interact with the book while I was listening.

Inspirational and powerful, this memoir of addiction and recovery is a beautiful look into the heart of a joy warrior searching for the keys to life and sharing all its secrets. Bruce is an inspiration if only for his tenacity and positivity as he plugs on with the determination to never give up. And on top of that, he desires nothing more than to bring you along with him to victory. Powerfully written and beautifully read, this handbook for happiness was a treat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where memoirs and self help are popular.

‘How to Breathe While Suffocating’ by Bruce W Brackett is a deeply personal and biographical work that, while not my cup of tea, offers valuable insights into the author’s journey and struggles.

Accuracy: ★★★★☆
As a biographical piece, rating accuracy is challenging. However, from a psychological perspective, Brackett’s narrative seems well-informed. The emotional and mental health aspects he explores are handled with care and authenticity.

Perspective: ★★★★☆
The perspective provided by Brackett is insightful. He has clearly come a long way in his journey, and his reflections and experiences offer a meaningful look into his life. This perspective is bound to resonate with many readers who might be facing similar challenges.

Relevance: ★★★★☆
This book is definitely relevant to today’s issues, especially regarding mental health and personal struggles. Brackett’s experiences are relatable to a broad audience, making this book a pertinent read for those looking to understand or find solace in shared experiences.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆
For me, the engagement was lacking. This is a subjective measure, and while I didn’t find it particularly engaging, I’m certain others might find it a compelling read or listen.

Readability: ★★★☆☆
The readability was quite good. I checked out both the ebook and the audiobook, and the writing is clear and well-structured. The narrative flow in the ebook was easy to follow.

Enjoyment: ★★☆☆☆
My personal enjoyment was low, but that’s just me. The subject matter and style didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d hoped. However, this is entirely subjective, and others might find it deeply moving and enjoyable.

Audiobook: ★★☆☆☆
I wasn’t a fan of the audiobook. While it’s commendable that Brackett chose to narrate his own story, I struggled to engage with his voice. This might be more about personal preference than a reflection of the quality of the narration.

‘How to Breathe While Suffocating’ by Bruce W Brackett is a well-written and insightful biographical work. While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I can appreciate the value it offers to readers. The book is relevant, accurately depicts mental health struggles, and provides a thoughtful perspective. Engagement and enjoyment are subjective, and while it didn’t work for me, it might resonate deeply with others. If you’re looking for a personal and honest account of overcoming challenges, this book is worth exploring.

You may not know their name, but I KNOW you've seen their videos while scrolling Instagram ( @bwb.positivity ). You can't miss their larger than life 'Hiiii! Wait, WAAAAIT" followed by a cup of love, words of encouragement and a moment to just- BREATHE. So, when I saw the opportunity to listen to their recently released book 'How to Breathe While Suffocating' of course I jumped on it. Bruce did an amazing job narrating their journey, but who's surprised? Not me.

If you or a loved one has struggled with addiction, mental health, trauma... or not, this book is for you. Bruce's resilience to preserver though some unimaginable situations is nothing but inspiring. It's their vulnerability in that 15 second video your scrolling stops on, or this 225 page book (8 hrs, 11 min audiobook) that they strengthen and heal so many lives. There is so much to discover in this book about Bruce Brackett beyond just the mantras and positivity. Pick up this book in whatever format that's best for your journey and learn to- BREATHE. Know you are not alone. Thank you, Bruce, for sharing yourself with us, and know that YOU are not alone.

Remember their name- BRUCE W. BRACKETT because trust me there's so much more to experience from this amazing person.

Bruce has overcome so much, and shared an abundance of wisdom within this book. It takes so much strength to revisit the darkest parts of our lives, to open up and be vulnerable all in an effort to help & heal others. It made me really reflective on how our lives shape us and can, if we don't look after ourselves, stifle our growth. There are many unfinished story lines that leave the reader hanging without resolution. I would have liked to see a resolution to these but I understand why the author might not have honed in on some but it still felt unfinished in some areas; Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

Thanks to Netgalley for the provision of an audiobook in exchange for an honest feedback.

I listend to the audiobook version of this book, narrated by the author, Bruce Brackett and right from the first page, I was bawling out loud. A lot of the things the author described going through hit so close to home that I was basically reliving it. I liked how eloquent the author was throughout the book and how in-depth his journey was for the listeners.

I'm glad he was able to push through all that and become the person he is now. But I have two issues with this book and one of them is the lack of content warnings. There's a lot of messed up shit that happened in here and it wouldn't have hurt to give the readers a heads up or something. As someone who's dealt with some of what the author described going through, it really messed me up listening to those things so I wouldn't have minded a couple trigger warnings.

The other is the incomplete storylines. There were mention of the author's sisters going through turbulent moments in their lives but we never find out what happened to them, especially the eldest April who was sent away to a different foster home. I would have liked to see a resolution to that but I understand why the author might not have honed in on that.

All that aside, this was a great listen and I'm glad the author narrated it himself because it made the experience much more impactful. I'll urge everyone to give this a go, you won't regret it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC. All views are my own.

A book I didn't know I needed. Bruce was incredibly raw and vulnerable throughout this (and I would recommend listening to the audiobook version because it really drives the points he's making home). It made me really reflective on how our lives shape us and can, if we don't look after ourselves, stifle our growth. How to breathe looks at that idea of self care through suffering, and I really appreciated the gentle nudge that we need to care for ourselves. We matter!