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Manic in Miami: Bipolar Guy Living Life
At 26 years old, I had my first full-blown manic episode, and my whole world came crashing down. Buckle up—this raw, unfiltered ride puts you in the passenger seat with a bipolar driver. From Bible College to federal crime. From a mental hospital to moving in my drug dealer. From buying a nightclub to becoming homeless. This is my stranger-than-fiction story about losing control in the midst of absolute chaos and then pulling off an epic comeback against all odds.
In Manic in Miami, David Funes delivers an unflinching account of his battle with bipolar disorder, struggle with addiction, and the long road to recovery, self-acceptance, and self-love. Told with brutal honesty and brazen humor, this mental health memoir sheds light on the rollercoaster reality of living with this mental illness and offers hope that healing is possible. It's meant to entertain—with a motley crew of characters you won't soon forget—but more importantly, to encourage and show anyone still struggling that they're not alone, and they're more resilient than they realize.
In Manic in Miami, David Funes delivers an unflinching account of his battle with bipolar disorder, struggle with addiction, and the long road to recovery, self-acceptance, and self-love. Told with brutal honesty and brazen humor, this mental health memoir sheds light on the rollercoaster reality of living with this mental illness and offers hope that healing is possible. It's meant to entertain—with a motley crew of characters you won't soon forget—but more importantly, to encourage and show anyone still struggling that they're not alone, and they're more resilient than they realize.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2025
18 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 13, 2026
I don’t know how I heard about this book but it sounded interesting. It was very interesting until the second to last chapter…
The majority of the book was so chaotic and shocking! He loved the life I only knew about from movies. I enjoyed the read up to the second to last chapter. Not that the chapter was bad or pointless because it had great purpose! The beginning of that chapter and the end of it were enjoyable to read. Most of it was sooo long and boring, very drawn out. I feel bad saying that because of course it’s the chapter where he gets his life together and is super motivated and positive 😅 but I think it would’ve been more powerful if it was condensed. It took me so long to read that chapter because I was soo bored with it, it took me like a week…
The book was very interesting especially to me since I know nothing of the world he lived in for many years. I’m glad things worked out for him and he was able to get his life together!
I loved how he didn’t let his diagnosis define him. He used it for good and always saw the silver lining in poor situations even when it was easy too. I admire that greatly!
The majority of the book was so chaotic and shocking! He loved the life I only knew about from movies. I enjoyed the read up to the second to last chapter. Not that the chapter was bad or pointless because it had great purpose! The beginning of that chapter and the end of it were enjoyable to read. Most of it was sooo long and boring, very drawn out. I feel bad saying that because of course it’s the chapter where he gets his life together and is super motivated and positive 😅 but I think it would’ve been more powerful if it was condensed. It took me so long to read that chapter because I was soo bored with it, it took me like a week…
The book was very interesting especially to me since I know nothing of the world he lived in for many years. I’m glad things worked out for him and he was able to get his life together!
I loved how he didn’t let his diagnosis define him. He used it for good and always saw the silver lining in poor situations even when it was easy too. I admire that greatly!
June 9, 2025
Raw, chaotic, and unexpectedly healing.
Towards the end of last year, I was scrolling TikTok when one of David’s videos popped up on my FYP. He was telling a story about moving his drug dealer, “Ciroq Papi,” into his spare bedroom. The way he spoke—funny, self-aware, chaotic but sincere—hooked me right away.
As someone who spent most of my adult life in bars (ages 21 to 33), I related to the energy and the people in his stories. I’ve known plenty of dealers, lost people I loved, and made more bad decisions than I can count. I found my best friend after he took his own life when I was 23. That moment broke me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later. I used alcohol, weed, and cocaine to numb myself. At 33, I finally checked into detox and did outpatient rehab. I’ve been sober almost two years now—and only recently have I started really living in the present instead of constantly replaying the past.
That’s one of the biggest lessons I took from rehab: you can’t change the past, but you can shape your future. And that message runs throughout Manic in Miami.
Very early on in the book, David shares that he checked himself into a mental hospital because he was suicidal. That level of honesty takes real courage. I can’t applaud him enough for doing that—for choosing to stay, and for reaching out for help when so many people don’t. That moment alone makes this book worth reading. It’s admirable, and honestly, it could save lives.
One of David’s mantras really hit home for me: “What would your tomorrow want your today to do?” It’s simple, but powerful. I think about it a lot. I’ve always gotten myself into trouble by dwelling on the past and getting anxious about the future.
David’s story is wild—funny, reckless, and full of moments that feel almost too insane to be real. But it’s also brutally honest. It’s about someone who went through hell, asked for help more than once, and somehow found a way back. It’s not a clean-cut recovery story—it’s messy, real, and incredibly human.
What makes this book so special is that it doesn’t shy away from the pain, but it also doesn’t dwell in it. It lets you laugh—hard—at some of the darkest, most outrageous moments. And that’s important. We need to be able to look back and laugh through the pain. It’s part of the healing.
After finishing the book, I feel more hopeful about my own life. It reminded me how far I’ve come, and how grateful I am for the people who’ve stuck by me—my friends, my family, my job. It made me reflect, not in a way that pulled me backward, but in a way that made me want to keep going forward.
If you’ve ever felt lost, or stuck in your past, or unsure if change is even possible—read this. It’s not just a book. It’s a reminder that survival is badass, growth is possible, and the future is still yours to shape.
Towards the end of last year, I was scrolling TikTok when one of David’s videos popped up on my FYP. He was telling a story about moving his drug dealer, “Ciroq Papi,” into his spare bedroom. The way he spoke—funny, self-aware, chaotic but sincere—hooked me right away.
As someone who spent most of my adult life in bars (ages 21 to 33), I related to the energy and the people in his stories. I’ve known plenty of dealers, lost people I loved, and made more bad decisions than I can count. I found my best friend after he took his own life when I was 23. That moment broke me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later. I used alcohol, weed, and cocaine to numb myself. At 33, I finally checked into detox and did outpatient rehab. I’ve been sober almost two years now—and only recently have I started really living in the present instead of constantly replaying the past.
That’s one of the biggest lessons I took from rehab: you can’t change the past, but you can shape your future. And that message runs throughout Manic in Miami.
Very early on in the book, David shares that he checked himself into a mental hospital because he was suicidal. That level of honesty takes real courage. I can’t applaud him enough for doing that—for choosing to stay, and for reaching out for help when so many people don’t. That moment alone makes this book worth reading. It’s admirable, and honestly, it could save lives.
One of David’s mantras really hit home for me: “What would your tomorrow want your today to do?” It’s simple, but powerful. I think about it a lot. I’ve always gotten myself into trouble by dwelling on the past and getting anxious about the future.
David’s story is wild—funny, reckless, and full of moments that feel almost too insane to be real. But it’s also brutally honest. It’s about someone who went through hell, asked for help more than once, and somehow found a way back. It’s not a clean-cut recovery story—it’s messy, real, and incredibly human.
What makes this book so special is that it doesn’t shy away from the pain, but it also doesn’t dwell in it. It lets you laugh—hard—at some of the darkest, most outrageous moments. And that’s important. We need to be able to look back and laugh through the pain. It’s part of the healing.
After finishing the book, I feel more hopeful about my own life. It reminded me how far I’ve come, and how grateful I am for the people who’ve stuck by me—my friends, my family, my job. It made me reflect, not in a way that pulled me backward, but in a way that made me want to keep going forward.
If you’ve ever felt lost, or stuck in your past, or unsure if change is even possible—read this. It’s not just a book. It’s a reminder that survival is badass, growth is possible, and the future is still yours to shape.
September 11, 2025
What an epic debut from David Funes! As entertaining as it is informative and inspiring. It reads almost cinematically at the start, when describing his “colorful” days in Florida and Austin, TX. Then you are by his side in recovery, discovery, and healing. The raw, personal writing is refreshing and it makes for one fantastic read.
August 12, 2025
This book deserves all its flowers and more
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews