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Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
In this intimate and engaging account of his struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder, television celebrity and Obsessive Compulsive Foundation national spokesperson Marc Summers redefines the disorder by showing its positive aspects.
As the host of Nickelodeon's Double Dare and Family Double Dare, two of the sloppiest game shows on television, it was Marc Summers's job to be cheerfully splattered with goo. While smiling on the outside, however, inwardly Summers was consumed by anxiety. It wasn't until preeminent psychiatrist Dr. Eric Hollander appeared as a guest on Summers's Lifetime talk show that the source of his distress became clear: like an estimated 6 million Americans today--that's one in forty adults--Summers suffers the effects of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Everything in Its Place has been written for the many functional people battling OCD in silence, people who do not identify with popular profiles of OCD sufferers as bizarre, mentally ill victims. Extending beyond a memoir, clinical study, or how-to manual, Summers's book explores positive aspects of the disorder that can actually foster success.
For the millions of people who suspect their strange quirks are symptoms of the disorder, Summers clarifies the differences between superstition, caution, and real OCD. For those who have OCD and think they're alone in the world, he sets a positive example with his personal success. Informed by the latest research findings as well as the unique perspective of the doctor who made Summers's own symptoms manageable, Everything in Its Place is a book on OCD unlike any other.
As the host of Nickelodeon's Double Dare and Family Double Dare, two of the sloppiest game shows on television, it was Marc Summers's job to be cheerfully splattered with goo. While smiling on the outside, however, inwardly Summers was consumed by anxiety. It wasn't until preeminent psychiatrist Dr. Eric Hollander appeared as a guest on Summers's Lifetime talk show that the source of his distress became clear: like an estimated 6 million Americans today--that's one in forty adults--Summers suffers the effects of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Everything in Its Place has been written for the many functional people battling OCD in silence, people who do not identify with popular profiles of OCD sufferers as bizarre, mentally ill victims. Extending beyond a memoir, clinical study, or how-to manual, Summers's book explores positive aspects of the disorder that can actually foster success.
For the millions of people who suspect their strange quirks are symptoms of the disorder, Summers clarifies the differences between superstition, caution, and real OCD. For those who have OCD and think they're alone in the world, he sets a positive example with his personal success. Informed by the latest research findings as well as the unique perspective of the doctor who made Summers's own symptoms manageable, Everything in Its Place is a book on OCD unlike any other.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 6, 2024
Thin, anxiety-inducing "memoir" that is more of a public service announcement about OCD than a true autobiography. You'll quickly tire of Summers rehashing his OCD quirks and bad science. And if you're looking for Double Dare stories or highlights from his other TV shows, you'll be extremely disappointed.
He treats his condition as an incurable genetic disease but the anxiety disorder is something that he could have corrected much sooner if he would have sought medical help and followed the drug regimen--instead he waits a long time to see a doctor and then decides to go off his medication cold turkey without telling his physician.
Woven within his (and others) tales of OCD activities are bits about his childhood in a Jewish family and his very slowly-developing career. This man think very highly of himself, quoting people who tell him how talented and wonderful he is. He even has one Mary Tyler Moore Show producer tell him after loosing a job with the fabled show, "You came across as the most arrogant, self-centered jerk I'd ever met in my life." While confidence is part of being in show business, it seems unwarranted here, especially with how he self-sabotages by refusing to take steps to stop he OCD.
The key seems simple--medication and exposure therapy to rewire a brain that has been messed up mostly by childhood environment, copying family members, and repetition. But, like an alcoholic or someone with addictive behavior, he must be willing to do the work and admit his inabilities. Here he seems to just want to prove how perfectly imperfect he is.
His heart is in the right place by wanting to help others with his story, but I fear that this may induce more anxiety than help heal someone of it. Everything does have its place, but this book is purely for those suffering from OCD, not anyone that desires inside stories about his limited career.
He treats his condition as an incurable genetic disease but the anxiety disorder is something that he could have corrected much sooner if he would have sought medical help and followed the drug regimen--instead he waits a long time to see a doctor and then decides to go off his medication cold turkey without telling his physician.
Woven within his (and others) tales of OCD activities are bits about his childhood in a Jewish family and his very slowly-developing career. This man think very highly of himself, quoting people who tell him how talented and wonderful he is. He even has one Mary Tyler Moore Show producer tell him after loosing a job with the fabled show, "You came across as the most arrogant, self-centered jerk I'd ever met in my life." While confidence is part of being in show business, it seems unwarranted here, especially with how he self-sabotages by refusing to take steps to stop he OCD.
The key seems simple--medication and exposure therapy to rewire a brain that has been messed up mostly by childhood environment, copying family members, and repetition. But, like an alcoholic or someone with addictive behavior, he must be willing to do the work and admit his inabilities. Here he seems to just want to prove how perfectly imperfect he is.
His heart is in the right place by wanting to help others with his story, but I fear that this may induce more anxiety than help heal someone of it. Everything does have its place, but this book is purely for those suffering from OCD, not anyone that desires inside stories about his limited career.
April 29, 2024
I’ve always liked Marc summers. He’s open and honest in the book. Some of the medical info is a bit outdated but it’s great he’s bringing more awareness and reducing the stigma with ocd. He avoids painting himself as being perfect. He does share the harsh reality of Hollywood and having a career in show business can affect your family life.
May 8, 2021
I would have liked/expected more emphasis on how OCD affected his life and less on the biography of his career. I didn’t pick up the book to learn about his roles in Hollywood but how OCD has affected his life. To me, it seemed 75% career biography and 25% about OCD.
January 21, 2024
Interesting, but outdated info about the causes and treatments for OCD. Mostly, it was an autobiography of Marc Summers, but that was okay. I've never really been a fan, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
October 18, 2017
A great look into someone else suffering from OCD, like me. Great guy too!
February 4, 2019
I really liked this book. It was a quick, easy to read, informative book on OCD.
April 9, 2010
When I was a kid watching Double Dare on Nickelodeon (along with the other greats like Doug, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, All That, Clarissa Explains it All... I have to stop there), I never would have imagined that the guy below was completely miserable the entire time:
But he was. He had to shower continuously after every show. He could never quite get the smells out of his suits. The set stank to high heaven. Everything about Double Dare was chaos, and everything in Marc Summers's mind is about order. I still can't quite reconcile the Marc Summers I "knew" as a kid with the Marc Summers in this book. Luckily not a whole lot of it is about Double Dare, so I kind of set that aside as I read.
It was interesting to compare this book with Howie Mandel's recent Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me. Marc is much less of an ass, but both of them have type A personalities and a drive to be noticed and in the spotlight. It was easier to read Marc's book since it wasn't filled with lame practical jokes, but I've decided I just do not like Hollywood memoirs. They're just boring. Life is too easy. Luckily Marc does pull away a little bit from his career, mostly because after his talk show in New York ended he didn't have a whole lot of that left to talk about. The last bit of the book where he discusses hitting rock bottom with his compulsions, actually getting treatment and getting better, is the best in terms of an actual book about OCD. I think I ought to read a book about OCD that is not about somebody famous, because they evidently feel compelled to put a memoir in there too.
On a personal note, there is a short little OCD questionnaire hidden in the beginning of the book. It says a score of 8 equates to about a mild OCD sufferer and people usually seek treatment when they hit a score of about 20-30. I put hardly any stock in these self-tests over a trained professional but I scored an 18, which totally shocked me. My compulsions are mostly at home (except for checking if I turned my truck's light off and if the doors are closed) and are mostly checking. Oh and, as Marc relates, intrusive thoughts running in a narrative through my head constantly. Nothing like his neatness obsession or Howie Mandel's germophobia, which I am super grateful for.
Marc does do a good job of bringing the disorder out into the realm of acceptibility. He explains the medical reasons behind the disorder with nice clarity and has a few interesting stories about other OCD sufferers. It could have used a little less Hollywood and a little more of that information.
But he was. He had to shower continuously after every show. He could never quite get the smells out of his suits. The set stank to high heaven. Everything about Double Dare was chaos, and everything in Marc Summers's mind is about order. I still can't quite reconcile the Marc Summers I "knew" as a kid with the Marc Summers in this book. Luckily not a whole lot of it is about Double Dare, so I kind of set that aside as I read.
It was interesting to compare this book with Howie Mandel's recent Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me. Marc is much less of an ass, but both of them have type A personalities and a drive to be noticed and in the spotlight. It was easier to read Marc's book since it wasn't filled with lame practical jokes, but I've decided I just do not like Hollywood memoirs. They're just boring. Life is too easy. Luckily Marc does pull away a little bit from his career, mostly because after his talk show in New York ended he didn't have a whole lot of that left to talk about. The last bit of the book where he discusses hitting rock bottom with his compulsions, actually getting treatment and getting better, is the best in terms of an actual book about OCD. I think I ought to read a book about OCD that is not about somebody famous, because they evidently feel compelled to put a memoir in there too.
On a personal note, there is a short little OCD questionnaire hidden in the beginning of the book. It says a score of 8 equates to about a mild OCD sufferer and people usually seek treatment when they hit a score of about 20-30. I put hardly any stock in these self-tests over a trained professional but I scored an 18, which totally shocked me. My compulsions are mostly at home (except for checking if I turned my truck's light off and if the doors are closed) and are mostly checking. Oh and, as Marc relates, intrusive thoughts running in a narrative through my head constantly. Nothing like his neatness obsession or Howie Mandel's germophobia, which I am super grateful for.
Marc does do a good job of bringing the disorder out into the realm of acceptibility. He explains the medical reasons behind the disorder with nice clarity and has a few interesting stories about other OCD sufferers. It could have used a little less Hollywood and a little more of that information.
November 21, 2007
Probably best known for his role as host of Nickeodeon's Double Dare, a kids' game show from the 1990's with lots of messy activities, Marc Summers has been affected with obsessive compulsive disorder for his whole life.
This book, part memoir and part overview of OCD, is an interesting look at a misunderstood condition. I didn't realize how much of the disorder was based on brain chemistry, for example. Summers tells his story openly, and entertainingly, recalling incidents from his childhood, as well as more recent events. While, he feels his OCD helped him achieve his career goals, he is thrilled to finally be getting the treatment he needs. It reminded me a lot of Temple Grandin's Thinking In Pictures : And Other Reports From My Life With Autism.
Recommended to anyone interested in learning more about OCD from both the medical and personal sides.
This book, part memoir and part overview of OCD, is an interesting look at a misunderstood condition. I didn't realize how much of the disorder was based on brain chemistry, for example. Summers tells his story openly, and entertainingly, recalling incidents from his childhood, as well as more recent events. While, he feels his OCD helped him achieve his career goals, he is thrilled to finally be getting the treatment he needs. It reminded me a lot of Temple Grandin's Thinking In Pictures : And Other Reports From My Life With Autism.
Recommended to anyone interested in learning more about OCD from both the medical and personal sides.
October 7, 2007
I always thought Marc Summers seemed like a great guy and was surprised to learn that he had OCD. He's very charming and humorous and that really shows in this book. He gives some technical information about the disorder and the neurobiological functions that occur without using confusing jargon, but overall this book discusses his own personal lifelong struggle with the need for everything to be "just right". This is a quick, enjoyable read for someone who either has OCD and is seeking more info, or just plain curious about it. I honestly picked this up just to see how bad his case really was and it turned out to be an interesting book.
January 9, 2011
I really liked this book in general (not in the rating it as really liked sense). I found it to be a more charming version of something like Prozac Nation, albeit cheerier based on the topic and the always apparent can-do attitude of Marc Summers. I found it interesting and helpful to read about the troubles and successes of someone I grew up watching and definitely liking a ton as a kid. A nice read overall.
December 28, 2024
A really informative read. Growing up watching Nickelodeon, I never noticed Summers' quirky behaviors. Some of this book gave me anxiety, as I too have some OCD behaviors and have helped children with severe OCD. As a trained behavior therapist, it's really hard not to look at the world through an ABA lens sometimes.
The connections to strept throat and depression were really interesting and revealing. It's also pretty wild how quickly Summers proposed to his wife multiple times.
The connections to strept throat and depression were really interesting and revealing. It's also pretty wild how quickly Summers proposed to his wife multiple times.
July 19, 2007
The style was overly simplistic, almost patronizing at times, but it was a fun read. It was a little over-the-top in the "I had a terrible time but you don't have to, get help now!" department; those bits got old and annoying. It provided an in-depth profile, though, that was both funny and touching, and did a good job of painting a clear clinical picture.
July 23, 2013
I loved this book! A very candid story about Marc Summers' struggles with OCD. I like how he's become a spokesperson for this issue that has a strong stigma and isn't talked about nearly as much as it should.
June 13, 2007
Tha Double Dare guy is crazy, y'all!!!!!!!!!!
March 9, 2008
I was a hardcore of Double Dare, and I adore anything on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so this one only made sense...
March 31, 2008
Summers is incredibly honest in this book. It was an easy, entertaining read.
April 1, 2008
Interesting story though not helpful to deal with the disease.
May 21, 2008
If you have OCD or know someone with OCD, this is a great book to inspire hope.
November 8, 2008
Great insight into the disorder, though not as intense as Rewind, Replay, Repeat by Jeff Bell.
August 4, 2011
Good book. Especially helpful if you have OCD or know someone that does.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews