I wanted to read a cancer memoir since I felt like a fiction book I'd just read romanticized it. Turns out the diction book didn't romanticize it, but skimmed over things due to confines of word count, tone, and audience. I wanted a book that didn't, and happened upon this one. I couldn't put it down! I didn't know the celebrity, but had heard of the radio show he's been on for so long. This made me curious about the show. Bishop's tone is warm, engaging, and reading male friendships written like this was refreshing. Maybe it's an age thing. He put "tumor tips" in throughout the book and ooh, several times I just saw the heading and grabbed a pen to jot down everything. I don't have cancer, but my family history is so strong that it's not "if", it's "when." His adoration for his wife restored--well, it--it had a big, positive impact on me. I had a sense of hope I hadn't had in awhile due to cynicism, not illness. Some of his jokes were problematic. I had dreaded more of them, but only some.

He's super ableist, though. There's--there's no other way to put it. I understand why. Still. I've been disabled my whole life. I had a stoke when I was a baby, shortly after being born. When I was sixteen, I was also hit by a car. I will never have to go through all of what Brian precisely did because I'd already lived with some of it my whole life or had it happen to me. When he described and had photos of a wedding he'd attended, he spoke of regret and things he couldn't do due to cancer. I forgot the cancer part and marveled at his accommodations: a chair for him to sit in incase he needed it when he was standing with the groomsmen. How it had been arranged for him to sit at the table first so he wouldn't be exhausted. I saw it through the lens of someone for whom that is all grand and loving. I've never had cancer. Maybe--idk, onward. Oh wait. He mentioned further in the book that most people recovering from TBI's are in their 80s, so he and his wife stood out. As of the time of this writing, I'm in my thirties and yeah, I'm taking his descriptions of people there personally. (sigh) I can have this opinion and be conflicted about it both.

I checked out whether he's okay, while I read this. As of 2021, he's had many joyous milestones, and I'm genuinely so happy for him. ( )

Shrinkage: Manhood, Marriage and the Tumor that Tried to Kill Me by Bryan Bishop had me moaning with all his references to Southern California and information for people who haven’t ever been there! I had lived there for several years and knew all that stuff! There is a lot about his experiences with the Adam Corolla show. I was beginning to wonder when he was going to get to his experiences with the brain tumor. I did like his stories about his childhood which range true for me, both of us being an eldest child. But as soon as he knew that something was wrong, he won my heart.

When his symptoms got so bad that they could not be ignored any longer and he and his future wife, Christi went to hear the diagnosis. The book changed into a heart wrenching story that made me love him and Christy. That turned into a story of determination and courage. He uses gallows humor and that made me identify with him I have a lot of medical problems and that is the best way for me to deal with it. He told the inside story of the difficult experiences that go with radiation and chemotherapy. From then on, he felt like my friend. He is so very honest. One of the best parts of the book is his “tumor tips”. He has sound advice for anyone who has a brain tumor or any serious illness. Some of it I wish that I had known a long time ago. I don’t have a brain tumor but the advice does apply to my medical problems. The advice is so great, you can’t find it on the Internet or in books. Usually this is from friends and relatives who have been through what you are going through.

I loved the pictures that are sprinkled throughout the book. And Christy is amazing, she is the epitome of the person that everyone hopes to marry. She is patient, strong, determined and loving. The tone of this book is conversational and made me feel that I would be honored to have Bryan Bishop as a friend. When this book was finished, I really wanted to read more about Bryan. It is hard to say good-bye.

I highly recommend this book to all who have serious medical problems and those who want to know what it is like to have an inoperable brain tumor.

I received this book as win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review. ( )