3 out of 4 stars
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Matt Crofton became the unfortunate victim of Histoplasmosis and Sarcoidosis. Separately, they aren’t fatal but together they become a recipe for death. After 16 days in a coma and six months of grueling recovery, Matt Crofton emerged from his own personal hell a different man. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression thrust him to the edge of the abyss, and in a desperate strait to heal his spirit, he decided to do what no one has done before. On nothing more than a paddleboard, he tackled the Mississippi River. More than 2000 miles on 3 inches of foam.Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
-Mark Twain (also quoted in Mighty)
Matt Crofton’s biography paints the miraculous story of four months of adventure after beating death. He shares stories about all the people he met along the way and the obstacles he faced, including another near-death experience. He is brutally honest about his struggles with chronic pain, depression, and PTSD. The fast pace and impactful yet simple writing make this an easy read filled with tragic tear-jerker moments. The author’s growth throughout this adventure is staggering and would inspire any reader.
Matt Crofton’s sense of humour also shines through. His truths can become difficult to read, but he easily balances it out with some much-appreciated comic relief. Mighty also features short journal entries and lovely photographs of Matt Crofton’s adventure, making this read even more personal. He connects with his reader - something I enjoyed immensely.
What I liked most about Mighty is how real the author’s struggle is. He is candid about the hopelessness he experienced and how almost dying left him with a broken spirit. His memoir is extremely personal and his love for writing, stories, and helping people is obvious throughout the whole book, making it impossible not the like him. I also love that a portion of the money of every book sold is donated to childhood cancer research.
While Mighty does appear to be professionally edited, I found two tense shifts and the journal entries had many missed capital letters. The journal entries are more informal, and the errors didn’t bother me much, but it is something that I can’t overlook. I would also like to add that while this book is a hopeful and uplifting read, the author’s struggles may be hard or triggering for those who have struggled or are struggling with major depression or PTSD.
I rate Mighty 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to those that need an uplifting and hopeful read that will put some of life's mysteries into perspective. I have hope that Matt Crofton’s story will help inspire many people like it inspired me.
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Mighty
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True that. Thank you for the comment.
Should have clarified that! 
