“Kagan Goh’s book Surviving Samsara is a tremendous, shared journey; an authentic honest celebration of what society labels as ‘manic depression.’ Reading it, I grasped the wonderful wild humour of a ‘puke-purple room,’ the desperation of the ‘Quiet Room,’ the deep, understanding love Kagan holds for his supportive mother and father. Surviving Samsara is a true ‘roller coaster ride’ as Kagan shifts gears, illuminating for us the many different landscapes he has navigated to negotiate, understand, and ultimately toss the label of ‘manic depression’ aside to survive and thrive. Life’s gifts greatly exceed suppressive labels. Surviving Samsara is such a gift.”

—Susanna Uchatius, Artistic Director of Theatre Terrific

“Surviving Samsara is a well-paced, beautifully rendered memoir, and a graceful successor to Goh’s Who Let in the Sky?. Kagan Goh is an eloquent and honest writer, directly transmitting experience to the reader who will heave deep sighs, weep softly, stiffen in irritation, and laugh aloud on this shared journey. Love is the glue that binds communities together, and Goh’s profound expressions of love encompass all, from the cats and dogs of the neighbourhood, the mother and father, the children, to the Bipolar Buddha and the Schizophrenic Christ. Goh’s wisdom, hard-won, and joy spilling over, are soul-nourishing.”

–Joanne Arnott, author of A Night for the Lady

“Written by a poet who delivers a beautiful story and an important message about mental health. Surviving Samsara is a raw and honest memoir about living with and recovering from mental illness. A notable contribution to our understanding of one another.”

—Lenore Rowntree, author of Cluck: A Novel and co-editor of Hidden Lives: True Stories from People who Live with Mental Illness