Does adversity make us better? Are hard times good for us? Maybe not, we would never wish difficulty on any of us, but certainly going through troubles can teach us lessons. What Doesn’t Kill You: Fifteen Stories of Survival is a collection of essays from contributors such as Rory Bremner, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Lily Bailey, Irenosen Okojie, Ben Saunders, and Emily Reynolds that tell the story of their, not triumphs exactly, examples of overcoming trials.
Ben Saunders, one of the world’s leading polar explorers, skied to both the North and South Poles solo and speaks about the time he ran out of food and wanted to give up. Melanie McGrath talks about what she has learned from being paralysed in a riding accident. Kate Leaver is an author and journalist writing about women, pop culture and mental health at Glamour UK, Vice and Guardian – and she has recovered from anorexia, and describes her difficult experiences and the complexities with finding a good relationship with food in a world obsessed with diet culture. Irenosen Okojie a novelist and short story writer writes about the crippling anxiety with being faced with a blank page, and of feeling other. It’s her brother’s death that is the subject of Cathy Rentzinbrink’s piece, whilst Rory Bremner speaks about life with ADHD.
This is a powerful book, full of heart tugging stories and narratives of strength. Struggle and strife isn’t billed us something to yearn for, it’s not that great people are built only in great despair. But more a tale of how we all have our difficulties, and it’s in the process of going through clarity can come and growth can be achieved. What doesn’t kill you can indeed make you stronger.
