Book Review: Shit Happens by Justin bussman

A Comedic Memoir published by Buss Publishing House (10/24/25)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

“The bathroom was the only viable option. It offered the illusion of control, a controlled environment for an uncontrolled situation.”

This comedic memoir by Justin Bussman is a deeply personal exploration of a life full of chronic digestive anxiety and subsequent dietary and bathroom obsession. This book is intensely focused on food, stress, and the biological limitations of Justin’s throughout his life, from childhood to adulthood.

Keywords:

Nonfiction, Memoir, Bowel Movements, Life, Anxiety, Bodily Functions

My Review:

The book is a relentless inner monologue, with each thought, fear, and bodily sensation magnified, described, and sometimes exaggerated. Every paragraph comes loaded with adjectives, similes, and metaphors, leaving the reader occasionally overwhelmed with the glut of figurative and descriptive language devices.

Bussman’s obsessive attention to every little detail surrounding his digestion makes each story feel like a diary entry. This narrative is both exhausting and fascinating to read. The point of view is uniquely unfiltered and descriptive.

The memoir is divided into periods of time in the author’s life, and each of those chapters is divided into specific incidents related to digestive anxiety. This book could have been structured like an epic poem or ode to digestion without losing its focus or impact

There are strong running themes of stress, anxiety, and fear, particularly around public humiliation and embarrassment. The memoir skips over anything not related to food or digestive anxiety, which sharpens its focus but also contributes to repetition that can slow the reading experience.

The author’s exploration of bowel anxiety also touches on cultural prudishness. If only he had read Everyone Poos, so much of the psychological angst surrounding poop (and diarrhea) might have been avoided. The book underscores the shame and embarrassment that society attaches to natural bodily functions – especially if they are not experiencing them like the average person. The author shows us through his thoughts surrounding his experiences – read incidents – that our reactions to these experiences often matter more than the experiences themselves.

Ultimately, the memoir leaves you with questions: what is the takeaway, and why this book? Perhaps it is nothing more than a personal reflection and insight into living with anxiety around digestion and the constant mental calculations it provokes. Or maybe it’s intended to create empathy for anyone with atypical bowel movements or, more generally, social anxiety. Or maybe it’s just a fun book to read in small chunks while in the bathroom.

This novel was published on 10/24/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

Links for more information

Goodreads