Zig-zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly – How Ziggy Saved My Life

by Tom Wilson

Our lives aren't composed like a headstone with a straight line that marks the date of the first breath we take to the last; the journey we're on is really a zigzagging series of unexpected detours. Every detour is a destination unto itself, and regardless of our plans, it's what we don't see coming that often affects us most…

Ziggy cartoonist Tom Wilson didn't see it coming: after losing his beloved young wife to breast cancer, it's up to him to raise two children alone and keep the laughs coming in his cartoons worldwide—even as his own personal orbit is falling apart. In this mesmerizing and nostalgic account of a beloved artist's life, Tom Wilson details his compelling journey from growing up in the shadow of his father's genius to inheriting an iconic cartoon when his father falls ill, all while struggling to overcome a crippling depression.

With his trademark humor and self-effacing wisdom, Tom invites you into his intimate life as he searches for hope and strength to overcome his own life detours. In an ironic twist of art imitating life, Tom reveals how Ziggy's own weekly syndicated quest for answers was the unforeseen catalyst that enabled him to say yes to life again and face his greatest challenges. In Zig-zagging, Tom and Ziggy explore the consequences of the upward, downward, inward, wayward, and sometimes backward roads of our zigzagging lives—and discover that while there is no road map for living, with a little character, you don't have to be lost along the way.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2009

About the author

Tom Wilson is the author of the phenomenally popular cartoon Ziggy, which is syndicated internationally in more than 600 newspapers. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his two sons and is president of Ziggy and Friends, Inc. Wilson is also founder of Character Matters, a branding and marketing firm.

Reviews

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Wilson, Jr’s beloved father was the creator of the Ziggy cartoon, so Tom grew up feeling like Ziggy was his younger brother. Tom would sit in the basement with his father and create drawings of his own. Tom attended Miami University and fell in love with Susan, a very spiritual woman. Tom and Susan settled into a quiet, stable life and had two boys.

When Tom’s father became ill, Tom took over drawing the Ziggy cartoon because he felt like no one else knew Ziggy like he does. When Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer, Tom felt like his world was falling apart, yet Susan remained rock steady. Susan fought the cancer for years, but finally succumbed to it and Tom sank into a deep depression.

Zig-Zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly. . . How Ziggy Saved My Life by Tom Wilson is the story of Tom’s struggle out of the depths of despair. This book is full of raw emotion - anger at God, love for his wife, sorrow for his children having to grow up without their mother. Tom is very honest in sharing his feelings. The love for his late wife is evident throughout. His faith in God is too, yet the book doesn’t come across as preachy. This book would be great for someone who is mourning the death of a loved one or the friend of someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. It gave me a deeper understanding of the grieving process. This is one of my favorite passages in the book:

"The real superheroes are the single parents doing their best to raise their kids alone. They’re the faithful husbands, the loving mothers, the understanding friends who are always there in the time of need and crisis. These superheroes wear no impenetrable suits, yet they never hesitate to face life’s bullets, even thought their only armor consists of the scars from previous battles often fought but not always won. In spite of their human imperfections, or maybe because of them, they never think twice about doing “the right thing,” no matter what the odds against them."

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom Wilson has an affecting tale to tell -- about his relationship with his father, about his relationship to art and the character his father created (and he has drawn for many years) Ziggy, about his relationship with his wife and her battle with cancer, and about his anger with God and the subsequent realizations he has come to about life, love, and family. It's obvious that Tom is a talented artist, but writing is not his forte; the book would have benefitted from stronger editing or a co-writer to pull the story together.

[Deb Krill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book about the grieving process giving some insight into a cartoonist life, it was okay.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew Ziggy comics were passed from father to son. Great memoir about how having a passion for work can help you survive in difficult times.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny. Inspirational. Too short? Honest, but glosses over some details. Poor reproduction of some artwork.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember loving this book the first time I read it. This time I quit three-quarters of the way through. Maybe the talk of God pissed me off after the Newtown shootings.

[Len Svitenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Tom's expression of his feelings were real and honest.