This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something—Anything—Like Your Life Depends on It

In her witty first book, Australian journalist Carvan offers a compelling argument for prioritizing “pure leisure” interests and activities that do nothing except provide joy. As an overwhelmed young parent, Carvan felt that her identity had been buried under mountains of motherhood responsibilities. One morning, standing in line for coffee (celebrating that “for the first time in one thousand years” she was neither pregnant nor breastfeeding), she spots Benedict Cumberbatch on a magazine cover and is overwhelmed by a sense of yearning. From there, she describes her increasing infatuation with the actor, and the corresponding feelings of guilt which lead her to research the fandom mindset. Through this research and interviews with academics and other superfans, Carvan concludes that being passionate about anything, whether it’s playing chess or writing Sherlock fan fiction, can help people find community, cultivate creativity, and improve their overall well-being. With spot-on comedic timing, narrator Tanya Schneider perfectly conveys Carvan’s self-deprecating tone. She deftly delivers Carvan’s sparkling prose, which gracefully flows from laugh-out-loud to heartfelt to inspirational.