Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Fisher’s guiding philosophy is that if her life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, which she found unacceptable. How did this blend of tragedy and sharp, relentless comedy work for you as a reader?

2. Did reading this memoir change your perception of Fisher, either as Princess Leia or as a public figure? In what ways does her highly curated public persona compare to the vulnerable self she presents in the book?

3. For those who have read Fisher’s other work, how does the direct address storytelling in Wishful Drinking compare to her semi-autobiographical novel Postcards from the Edge (1987)? Does hearing her story in this memoir format change how you might view her fiction?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Fisher champions the idea that we are “only as sick as our secrets” (15). Is there a time in your own life when you’ve found healing by speaking openly about something you’d previously kept hidden?

2. The memoir explores the idea of being “Good Anecdote, Bad Reality,” suggesting that life’s most challenging experiences often make for the best stories later on. Have you ever found this to be true in your own life?

3. Fisher frames her decision to undergo ECT as a practical choice for survival, contrasting it with the frightening portrayals common in films and literature. Have you ever chosen to do something that others disapproved of because you believed it was right for you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Fisher directly compares the 1950s scandal involving her parents and Elizabeth Taylor to the modern tabloid coverage of Brad Pitt’s relationships with Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. How have celebrity culture and our consumption of it either changed or remained the same over the last several decades?

2. This memoir was instrumental in advancing public conversations about mental health. In what ways do you think Fisher’s candid, humorous approach to discussing her bipolar disorder and addiction helped reduce stigma in contemporary discourse?

3. How does Fisher’s commentary on the Princess Leia merchandise contribute to contemporary conversations around how women’s bodies and identities are commodified in popular culture?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why do you think Fisher chose to structure her life story in a non-linear way, opening with her memory loss and the death of her friend, Greg, rather than with her birth?

2. The recurring motif of “Hollywood inbreeding” is used to describe Fisher’s family’s many scandals and relationships. How does this darkly comedic concept shape her critique of celebrity culture?

3. How would you define Fisher’s authorial voice in this book? How does she balance the roles of vulnerable patient, sharp-witted performer, and self-aware cultural critic throughout the narrative?

4. What literary techniques does Fisher use to explore the tension between fame and reality, especially in the divide between her own identity and the global icon of Princess Leia? Does she ever seem to fully reconcile the two?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Fisher frames her book as a radically detailed personal ad so any future partner would know exactly what they were getting into. Write a one-paragraph personal ad in Fisher’s candid style. What defining stories or personal quirks would you include to paint a funny but true picture of yourself?

2. Imagine you were tasked with designing one of the “Bipolar Pride Day” parade floats that Fisher jokingly describes. What would a float representing either “Rollicking Roy” (mania) or “Sediment Pam” (depression) look like, and what message would you want it to convey?

3. Fisher’s philosophy is to find a “funny slant” on painful truths to make them bearable. Think of a minor, everyday frustration or inconvenience from your own life. How could you reframe it using Fisher’s characteristic humor to turn it into an entertaining anecdote?