Eucatastrophe
The Story of a Modern Day Fairy Tale
Self-effacing, warm, and hopeful, the memoir Eucatastrophe dances between experiences with mental illness and personal revelations.
Josh Bottomly’s philosophical memoir in essays Eucatastrophe is about mental illness and contemporary stressors.
A “mash-up of many ideas—from literature and philosophy to theology and psychology, with a handful from the burgeoning interdisciplinary field of neurotheology,” the book oscillates between myriad subjects. Its pages include philosophic theories of the self and lists of what sparks joy and anxiety. Celebrities who struggle with mental illness are named, and the hero’s journey is dissected.
Bottomly’s experiences with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and panic attacks run throughout the meditations, which catalog his experiences in often heartrending terms. The book’s descriptions of mental illness are interspersed with stories about Bottomly’s love of life and experiences teaching, including while working through COVID-19 challenges. For example, he recalls fielding vitriol against “wokeism” and critical race theory. In time, he enrolled in a program to heal and cope with his mental health.
Even as it recalls Bottomly’s experiences with mental illness and catastrophic environments, the book maintains a warm, curious, self-effacing, and humorous tone. Its popular culture references broaden its appeal, with nods to Franz Kafka, J. R. R. Tolkien, Stranger Things, and Dead Poets Society enlivening it. Indeed, the book strikes a keen balance between the recognition of past and present pains and the ability to be an educated observer of both. Each chapter also includes whimsical sketches such as stick figures and squiggle clouds of calamity; these mimic images drawn on the whiteboard for Bottomly’s students.
The book’s microchapters are sometimes several pages long; some take up less than two pages of space. They are concentrated glimpses into Bottomly’s psyche, with touches of emotion appearing as the book whisks between scenes at school and work and thoughts about contemporaneous internal conflicts. At times, the book becomes too thick with complexities; Bottomly’s stories sometimes disappear behind broader musings. Nonetheless, the book holds attention thanks to its poetic language and ironic one-liners: “The blistering rub, though, is the fact that depression is an invisible reality, like atoms, particles, and quarks. And that’s fucking annoying.” Its trajectory is one of hope, with Bottomly reveling in the joy of living another day and that making all the difference.
Eucatastrophe is an ambitious, resonant memoir about mental health challenges in all of their many facets.
Reviewed by
Natalie Wollenzien
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
