LITTLE PANIC Dispatches from an Anxious Life

Brittany Pressley does a justifiable narration of Amanda Stern's memoir of living with panic disorder. Pressley's gentle, friendly vocal disposition is fitting to tell Stern's story. Pressley has a certain clearness and purity in her interpretation; she expresses each anxious thought powerfully, guiding the listener to understand its complexity and debilitating effects. Adjusting her tone for each panic-stricken moment, she sounds authentically hysterical, fearful, or agitated. Stern's struggle with handling her extreme anxiety on her own while hiding it from others and seeking a diagnosis is fascinating and relatable. Her ability to express distressing thoughts and the unique way she views the world can be surprisingly humorous. D.Z. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2018]