Review: Everything is an Emergency by Jason Adam Katzenstein

I don’t think I have ever felt more seen in a book than with this little illustrated memoir. This is the story of Jason Adam Katzenstein, famed cartoonist and writer, and his struggle with Obsession Compulsive Disorder (“OCD”).

This book makes me want to talk about my OCD, something I only do with very close family, and that, in and of itself, is telling.

Everyone’s experience with OCD varies, but I saw myself in Jason’s story and found his struggles, coping mechanisms, and experience with ERP very true to my own experience, even though our triggers differed.

The art of the book is exceptionally amazing, with Jason’s cartoons throughout its pages, and filled with bits of his other art from different times in his life and in his experience with his OCD. It was fascinating for me, a non-artist, to see how his OCD affected something so personal and important to him as his art.

It’s a beautifully written and illustrated book that should be required reading for people who have loved ones with OCD. If you yourself have OCD and think you can handle reading his experience (it can be very triggering to read about other people’s obsessions and compulsions) I really recommend this for you as well. This is also just a really great book if you want to understand what it’s like to live as someone with OCD.

5/5 stars. Beautifully illustrated and extremely heartfelt. I loved this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions (and experience with OCD) are all my own!

Note: This isn’t the type of book I typically review, but this title deserves every bit of exposure it can get.