Stop Surviving Start Fighting by Jazz Thornton

Stop Surviving Start Fighting Reviews

• 
  Chloe Louise

  If I could give this book a million stars on here, I would! When I say that this book is amazing, I mean it. I don’t think I’ve cried so much at a non-fiction book. I cried tears of joy. Tears of sadness. Tears of hope. Most importantly, tears of realisation. Realisation that no matter how bad your mental health may be, things can and will get better and that change is possible. As I’ve struggled with my mental health before, more so over the last 7 months, this was quite a hard read but it’s also helped me realise that I can’t keep bottling things up and pushing people away and that I can’t listen to people when they tell me I can’t have mental health struggles because I’m a student nurse. I’d highly recommend this book if you have struggled or are struggling with mental health, if you know someone who is struggling, if you want to go into the health and social care profession (particular social work, mental health nursing, psychiatry etc.) or if you just want an insight into how ill mental health can affect someone. This book has a massive trigger warning for mention of suicide, self harm, eating disorders, PTSD, intrusive thoughts, psychiatric wards amongst quite a few others so please be careful going into the book if any of those things may trigger you. Remember that it is okay to not be okay and that “Hope is real and change is possible” - Jazz Thornton.
• 
  E.J. Masden

  This book is such an important read. Youth. Adults. If you’re going through it yourself, if you know someone who is, or has, or you just want to understand more about jumble that is mental unwellness - READ THIS BOOK.
  
  I won’t hesitate to recommend this book and as I begin my own career in the mental health sector, I know this book is going to be one I refer to often.
  
  
• 
  Leigh Allanson-Evans

  Trigger warning: Suicide
  
  I bought this for my high school library. A very hopeful book, part biography, part self help book. What a courageous woman. Each chapter focused on an aspect of self help eg. "Changing the script" "The power of decisions" or key events that tied into Jazz' self identity, her abandonment, bullying, spirals of depression. As a result of this, her life was not told in a linear fashion, which made it a little confusing at times.
  
  I love how far she has come in her life, and how much she has achieved. What an amazing role model. She has done some cool stuff.
  
  There is a list at the back of the book of places to go for help. Mostly Nz focused, but also Australia, USA, UK
  
  My concern about the book: I have asked the guidance counselor about this book, as it does mention suicide and self harm. I do think it is very important that young people have access to quality resources and help. (especially boys, here in Nz we have a terrible, terrible youth suicide rate). My concern is that at time she references suicide methods. In no detail at all, in fact she tried very hard to not say what they were. But I think I could figure out what they were from the context. I don't want to put ideas in peoples heads if I can help it. As a result of my own life experiences and someone close to me attempting suicide, I have visions in my head that I wished I did not have. And it affected me greatly. I think I am going to limit this book to seniors at school. But also get input from wiser people than me.
• 
  Stacey Longo

  I want to give this book more stars but I think because of the place I was in when I read it, I can’t. This can be triggering for many people so don’t read it unless you’re doing well mentally and have supports around you.
  
  Nevertheless, it was amazing to see someone’s path out of being ill. Thank you Jazz for sharing that.
• 
  Alanys Hooper

  It’s very hard to rate a person’s life experience but in my opinion this book was too repetitive and unorganized.
• 
  Maree Brown

  An honest look into the life and struggle of Jazz Thornton with her battle against suicide and mental illness. Had a proud christian moment reading how Equippers church played such a significant role in her road to recovery.
  
  Really is just such an amazing testament of Gods goodness through the transformation in her life. Even though she didn’t explicitly talk about salvation (which i have to say was a bit disappointing) she DID mention church a bunch! which I thought was cool considering this book is targeted towards the av kiwi joe. Nice to see christianity represented in a positive light! A beneficial read for both those suffering in and supporting mental health i’d say.
  Ended on a super positive note- optimism for the good that could be right around the corner.
• 
  Jessica Mae

  This is such a valuable read for ANYONE, whether you deal with mental health issues or if you know someone who does. (I imagine that WOULD cover everyone.) It is pretty heavy at times, but SO worth the read. For me it really helped me have more compassion for people who are struggling. One thing I found particularly enlightening was how much Jazz talked about "attention-seeking behavior" and how harmful of a stereotype that is. Telling someone they're an attention-seeker is like telling someone who is sick with cancer that they need to stop seeking attention and just deal with it on their own. Jazz helped me see that those so-called "attention-seekers" are really just crying out for help and love. So giving them that help and love ALL the time, not just when they're in crisis mode, is one of the best ways we can help.
  
  Many of the concepts Jazz describes can also apply to everybody, particularly examining your core beliefs that are harmful, and actively fighting to challenge those lies and negative thoughts.
  
  This book is packed full of good advice and SO MUCH hope and inspiration. Highly recommend.
• 
  Ann

  I saw her on Justin Baldoni‘s Instagram Live. She seems like such a lovely person and I hope her book will be insightful and helpful. ✌🏻
• 
  Deb Garea

  “You need to have something to fight for”. Yes you do. For every person ‘surviving’ this is a story of hope for those with a mental illness or supporting someone with a mental illness. To the people who lift us higher so we can feel the sunlight like Jazz, thank you. I felt almost overwhelmed reading this story. A book of both darkness and light that shows no matter how broken you are there is always hope.
• 
  Michelle

  I listened to this via audible. I think Jazz has a truly inspirational story and I think this book needs to be read in schools. Not only to get a better understanding of mental health issues but to give hope to those young people that need it. I definitely could have used this book when I was a teen. Incredible story of hope.
• 
  Molly K

  I don’t think 5 stars is enough.
  
  One of the best non-fiction mental health books. Inspirational without being cliche.
• 
  Lobke

  I first came across Jazz on TikTok. It was just before the summer and I saw her TikTok in ADHD. Relating on it, I checked out her account and soon learned her story. From there I watched her documentaries and TEDx talk, and waited a full month for this book to arrive (that’s what you get for international shipping during the pandemic…)
  
  I’m a social work student. I see people like young Jazz on my internship all the time, with no clue how to handle it, as my school hasn’t touched on the subject of depression and suicidal thoughts.
  This book is incredible. Not only did I learn so many things I could use for my work, but I learned a lot of things I could use for myself, as there are just so many tips, advices, inspiring quotes, etc. in the book.
  
  This book writes about difficult subjects. Depression, suicide, PTSD and so on. But I have also never before read a book with so much hope and joy. Reading how someone discovers the path to fighting and giving tips along the way, it’s just beautifully incredible! I honestly would recommend this book to everyone. Not only if you know, are or work with people with a mental illness, just everyone in general. It helped me understand so much more about mental illness!
• 
  Julie

  Another book that has been on the to-read list for a while. I did the audiobook seeing as it’s another biography that the author themselves read the audiobook. I have followed Jazz on TikTok for a while and really wanted to read her book before her podcast comes out. Solid read from someone who clearly has a talent for explaining her story from suicidal to motivational speaker.
  
  I don’t why this book hits hard - maybe it’s the shared experience of the torture that is High School in Timaru if you don’t fit the cookie cutter “beautiful, smart, sport girl” and how we shared the desire and need to flee the town. Many of her stories could have easily been me and my mindset in High School and how those thoughts stay with you long into adulthood. Or whether it was the details into how and why she tried countless times to end her life or her sexual assaults - all stories that are eerily similar to me.
  
  This was a raw and honest recounting of a traumatic childhood, mental health and how survival mode is not the best way to go through life. If you have anyone who needs help with their mental help - this is a great book to share with them.
  
• 
  Verity

  I think this is a really important book for everybody to read, whether you suffer from mental illness or not. For me, it revealed a lot of things that I need to reevaluate about myself and gave me tools to help do that. I would recommend keeping a notepad close by while you read this so that you can take notes. Jazz manages to reveal truths about yourself while making you feel less alone, and it is so important.
• 
  Eline W.

  I think this book deserves three stars when it comes to the technical part, but due to the importance of this story, I’ll give this one four stars. I truly believe that it was really brave of her to write this book so honest, and that it’s an important one to read even though it could have been written in a better and smoother way. I think we all have a lot to learn from this book.
• 
  Haylee Old

  Amazing read ❤️
• 
  Naomi

  A good insight into youth suicide.
• 
  Kristi Staub Radach

  I discovered Jazz on Social Media, and already knew a lot of her story. But I loved hearing her narrate the story in her beautiful New Zealand accent.. and the content was uplifting and HOPEFUL. It's a worthwhile and quick read, regardless of your own history of (or lack thereof) mental health.
• 
  Christine Reganti

  As a big fan of Jazz's I really enjoyed this book! It brings a lot of issues to light and allows people to understand more about mental health
• 
  yassie

  2.5 🌟
• 
  Alice TR

  4.5* I normally don’t like self-help books or all that stuff because they just ramble on idealistically about hope and crap, but this one is an exception. Jazz Thornton writes captivatingly and she speaks to me so profoundly. She doesn’t fling false hope to you. She allows you to create your own hope. You are your own saviour. Stop surviving and Start Fighting is the best mental health, self-help and inspirational memoir I’ve ever read.
• 
  Malany

  A bit slow and repetitive to start, however as I continued I realised that for the intended audience the repitition was completely necessary, and the slow entry helped to build the audience up with the story and the message.
  The book ended on an incredible high note that inspired hope, change and dreams for the future of those suffering with acute mental illness.
  As someone who has had mild depression, to the point of suicide ideation, and been in and out of therapy trying to "fix myself" as well, this was an brilliant read and I learnt many things.
  The mental illness I suffered/still suffer from sometimes may not be as acute, but I was able to recognise patterns of similar behaviour.
  Highly recommend, and will probably buy this, as it was borrowed from the library.
• 
  Renée

  Words cannot express how amazing and inspirational Jazz is. Her story is absolutely crazy and I love how she is now an advocate for awareness.
• 
  Michelle Beck

  It took me awhile to get through this book. It’s a tough read in many ways (even as a social worker who hears these stories, albeit in pieces, daily), but it’s a really important conversation to be having. Jazz is so brave to tell her story, and with it, change the world.
  
  This book is such a shining light of hope for those struggling, but also for professionals/anyone supporting young people through abuse, bullying, mental health, suicidal ideation etc.
• 
  Jess Brien

  Beautiful book about hope. I think this book is an excellent insight into mental health and suicidal thoughts. I learnt a lot! It is a full on book though, and I recommend taking appropriate steps to read. Thanks for sharing your story, Jazz
• 
  Tif Cohen

  Going into this book I thought it was a memoir but it’s not - it’s so much more than that. Jazz’s vulnerability and insight from what she has learned on her journey is so inspiring. Young people, especially, would benefit from reading this to help them when life just doesn’t make sense or feel worth it. It’s a must read for anyone struggling with mental health and loved ones of those suffering.