Crazy Joy: Finding Wild Happiness in a World That's Upside Down

by Mary Katherine Backstrom

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The world tells us that a new car, job, or relationship will make us happy. But then we're always chasing more. The hilarious and relatable Mary Katherine Backstrom tells us that finding JOY is the real goal and that it's possible to find right in the middle of our messy, imperfect lives.

Best-selling author Mary Katherine Backstrom knows that life is a wild ride, and happiness fluctuates with our circumstances. Happiness is considered a destination, but the finish line is constantly moving—when we get married, find that dream job, move away from home, have a baby, build a dream house, etc. We are promised that a happy life is tied to these milestones.

But what if society has it wrong? What if happiness isn’t the goal at all?
With her trademark candor and hilarious storytelling, MK paints a picture of a different life—one bursting with a force that is far more sustainable and vibrant: joy.
Crazy Joy will help readers:
1.    Identify and reject ridiculous expectations that society has placed on their lives.
2.    Liberate their hearts from the comparison prison and feel content in their current circumstances.
3.    View themselves, inside and out, as the masterpiece creations they are.
4.    Find joy (and dare we say, laughter!) in the middle of life’s biggest messes.
Witty and refreshingly honest, MK invites her readers to embark on a counter-cultural journey toward a life filled to the brim with contentment, humor, and most importantly, Crazy Joy. 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781668618196
Publisher:	Hachette Book Group
Publication date:	08/30/2022
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mary Katherine Backstrom is best known for her viral videos and candid writing on family, faith, and mental illness. She has been featured on Today Show, CNN, and New York Times—but her friends and family are most impressed with her one-time appearance on Ellen. MK resides in Alabama with her husband, children, two dogs, and a cat. When she isn’t writing, MK is active in her church, her community, and her favorite Mexican restaurant.
 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Joy in the Journey 1

Chapter 1 In the Weeds 15

Chapter 2 Joy Is a Force 29

Chapter 3 Flowers for the Dead 48

Chapter 4 Muddy Math 66

Chapter 5 Lost in Translation 85

Chapter 6 A Ghost Story 102

Chapter 7 Dragons and Bridges 119

Chapter 8 Thief of Joy 134

Chapter 9 King of the Goblins 152

Chapter 10 Tinfoil Hats 166

Chapter 11 Mavericks and Magnolias 185

Chapter 12 Life in the Upside Down 207

Acknowledgments 217

About the Author 221

Editorial Reviews

What a refreshing, heartening experience! Mary Katherine is the kind, funny, and resilient friend we need alongside us as we contend for hope and joy in this world." —Sarah Bessey, New York Times bestselling author of A Rhythm of Prayer and Jesus Feminist

“MK out here in these streets trying to give out ALL the joy!  Crazy Joy is the perfect catalyst to finding your footing again in the midst of these insane times.”—Tyler Merritt, author of I Take My Coffee Black

“Mary Katherine is the bomb. In a world of competition and curated perfection, happiness relies on so much. Joy, on the other hand, requires none of those exhausting variables and is exactly what MK turns upside down in Crazy Joy. Through MK’s humor and seriousness, Crazy Joy will inspire you to give up the happy act.”—Natalie Franke, entrepreneur and author of Built to Belong

"If there was ever a person qualified to talk about joy, it’s Mary Katherine Backstrom. Even when life is hard, her ability to laugh and make others laugh is impressive. My life has more joy because she's a part of it."—April Ajoy, Evangelicalish Podcast

“Mary Katherine is a crazy joy genius.” —Meredith Masony, author of Ask Me What’s For Dinner One More Time

“What timely and valuable insight from my friend Mary Kathrine Backstrom. In a culture that seems so chaotic and uncertain, finding our joy is imperative to being our best selves. MK not only writes it, but she lives it. You can feel her genuine joy for life and relationships whenever you are around her. It's infectious.”—Jeremy Coleman, TikTok’s “That Pastor from Oklahoma"

“Mary Katherine’s writing gives me permission to laugh and cry, but also think deeper about what’s happening in the world around me.”—Kate Swenson, founder of Finding Coopers Voice & National bestselling author of Forever Boy

From the Publisher