I'll Try Anything Twice - by Carly Schwartz (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For readers who wish Eat, Pray, Love had a cynical streak comes this propulsive, wildly original memoir about a journalist's quest to conquer depression and addiction, set against the backdrop of international adventures and modern communal living.

Through the eyes of others, Carly Schwartz seems to have everything going for her: top editor at the world's biggest news site, fancy college degree, a seemingly endless parade of friends and parties. But she's been struggling with crippling, suicidal depression since she was a teenager, and by her late twenties she has learned to cope with a steady diet of drugs, alcohol, and unavailable men.

Then she meets a charismatic guy who invites her to move to the mysterious "sustainable town" he's building in the Panamanian jungle. As Carly chases her appetite for adventure down to the equator, she ends up consumed by a darkness she can no longer hide from. And when she finally conjures the courage to confront her demons, she finds help where she least expects it.

Equal parts hilarious and heart-wrenching, I'll Try Anything Twice is a vivid and vulnerable portrayal of the search for belonging, the definition of success, and the risks we're willing to take in order to learn how to love ourselves.

Review Quotes

"Schwartz has created a coming-of-age story for modern times. This book is a primer on the costs of escape and the benefits of radical self-honesty. The best memoirs hold up a mirror not just to an author but also to a culture at large. I'll Try Anything Twice achieves both. It's a story for anyone longing for connection in these disconnected times."--Hope Edelman, New York Times best-selling author of Motherless Daughters and The Possibility of Everything

"Through her energetic prose, insight, and humor, I'll Try Anything Twice shines a light on how challenging it can be to admit the true nature of our afflictions . . . and the kind of bravery it takes to get honest and make a change. With tender writing and beautifully expressed love for the family and friends who stuck by her through her darkest moments, Schwartz has written an ode to perseverance, grace, and survival against all odds."--Leslie Schwartz, author of The Lost Chapters

"Raw, unflinching, and ultimately hopeful, I'll Try Anything Twice doesn't romanticize addiction or recovery. With dark humor, brutal honesty, and the eye of a seasoned journalist, Schwartz chronicles the painstaking and important work of learning to love yourself, one day at a time."--Sarah Levy, author of Drinking Games

"Through her energetic prose, insight, and humor, Schwartz shines a light on how challenging it can be to admit the true nature of our afflictions . . . and the kind of bravery it takes to get honest and make a change. With tender writing and beautifully expressed love for the family and friends who stuck by her through her darkest moments, Schwartz has written an ode to perseverance, grace, and survival against all odds."--LeslieSchwartz, author of The Lost Chapters

About the Author

Carly Schwartz is the former editor in chief of the San Francisco Examiner and founding editor of HuffPost's SF bureau. Editor & Publisher magazine named her one of ten "women to watch," and her writing has appeared in the San Francisco Standard, ELLE magazine, MSNBC, and more. As an advocate for suicide prevention and addiction recovery, Carly has been a spokesperson for the Jed Foundation and Google's Recovery Month. She lives in San Francisco's Mission District.