Comedian, actor, and self-professed baloneyhead Maria Bamford’s new memoir, Sure I’ll Join Your Cult, is an absolute delight to listen to as an audiobook. Since it is read by the author herself, the book feels akin to an extended standup set, which was a treat. I listened to it on a recent plane trip (and I hate flying!), so thank you to Maria for getting me through the turbulence and general unpleasantness of being stuck in the sky with dozens of strangers.
Know of a cult-like group ready to welcome anyone? Maria’s interested! And she will probably go to at least one meeting - as long as it’s free! Is there a 12-step program dedicated to a particular issue? Maria’s ready to do the work! Except for the times she forgets to meet up, wastes the sponsor’s time, and ruins everything. Because there is some of that, too. Maria’s eager to belong, but is also, as mentioned before, a lovable baloneyhead!
However, it’s not all lighthearted laughs and goofy groups. Maria bravely and openly discusses tough topics, such as her own mental health struggles and subsequent hospitalizations, the loss of her mother, suicidal thoughts, and more. She’s not afraid to be transparent about her life, including the dark parts, and tells the reader/listener exactly how much she gets paid for a gig, what medications she’s on and the exact dosages, and the reality of what it’s like to star in a Netflix show based on your life (spoiler: it’s absolutely exhausting!).
Through the highs and (really low) lows, there’s plenty of humor. I definitely laughed out loud at parts (even though I was in public) and, this is big for me, I would listen to it again! If you’re already a fan of Maria Bamford or if you enjoy comedy specials, memoirs, or unflinching honesty about mental health, you’ll enjoy this one.
