When Nothing Feels Real (Nathan Dunne, Murdoch)

When Nothing Feels Real is a raw and immersive first-person account of journalist Nathan Dunne’s experience of depersonalisation. It begins with a moment – a dive into cold water – that triggers a mental and physical upending. From there, we follow Dunne as he tries to rediscover his identity. By the final page, some readers may feel grateful to have only encountered this disorienting medical condition through the safety of Dunne’s words. Depersonalisation is a complex and often misunderstood mental illness that causes a person to dissociate from their body and thoughts; Dunne makes this topic emotionally accessible through a combination of memoir, neuroscience research, patient stories and expert interviews. His vivid descriptions of losing himself are graphic, visceral and, at times, alarming – powerful storytelling but potentially triggering for those with lived experiences. The book spares the reader nothing as Dunne offers an unflinching portrait of his struggle, including moments where he is not always likable, but always painfully honest. His condition is often met with scepticism, even from those closest to him, and many of the doctors he turns to fail to provide the help he so desperately needs. Throughout, readers are drawn into the unsettling fog of Dunne’s reality – often unsure, like him, of what is real and what is not. While the subject matter is confronting, the book offers glimmers of hope, as well as resources for anyone who is experiencing or interested in depersonalisation.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Becca Whitehead is a features and content writer based in Naarm-Melbourne. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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