How to Travel Light: My Memoirs of Madness and Melancholia

Diagnosed as bipolar at twenty-three, a young journalist struggles for a decade, fighting a cycle of depression and euphoria. In this unique journey, we visit former loves and eccentric fellow sufferers, mental health institutions and Benares. We relive his moments with Diana Eck and Deepika Padukone-and his reckonings with past wounds. Part confession, part joyride and wholly enjoyable, this riveting debut announces a formidable new talent. Nevatia is a master storyteller, empathetic, intelligent and witty. Here is the story of owning your narrative, no matter how difficult and complicated it is. Here is How to Travel Light. 'Nevatia's honest and powerful memoir bravely whirls through the extreme exhilarations and despondency of life with bipolar disorder, all the while holding in focus the joy and redemption gained through a profound engagement with literature and art'-Mahesh Rao 'A must-read. Shreevatsa Nevatia grabs you by the collar and pulls you right into this compelling account'-Meenal Baghel 'A candid and original memoir. Nevatia provides an intimate glimpse into a world that so many of us poorly understand'-Abraham Verghese 'A book like no other: by turns brutally honest and almost completely naked. We've all been there. Nevatia has had the courage to come back with a report'-Jerry Pinto