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Smile, or You're Doing it Wrong: A Journey from Rock Bottom to Redemption
Ultrarunner Andy Glaze has spent years moving through landscapes that test the limits of the human body—hundred-mile races, multi-day marathons, mountains and deserts that demanded everything. But the toughest endurance challenge Andy faced wasn’t found in any of those miles, it was in rebuilding a life shattered by addiction, institutional abuse, and a childhood full of chaos. This is the unfiltered story of how a kid fell hard but got back up even harder.
From a wilderness rehab program where kids hiked for days without food, to a “therapeutic” boarding school run by predators, Glaze survived places that were meant to break people. But this isn’t just a story about the wreckage. It’s about what comes after.
Firefighting. Fatherhood. Finding peace on trails where every step hurts like hell but heals something deeper. Because the difference between a life ruled by fear and a life guided by possibility comes down to one simple taking the first step.
This memoir is about endurance in its rawest the endurance to keep moving forward even when it feels impossible, to rebuild a life one step at a time, and to discover that sometimes the only way through the darkness is to keep going—and smile, or you’re doing it wrong.
From a wilderness rehab program where kids hiked for days without food, to a “therapeutic” boarding school run by predators, Glaze survived places that were meant to break people. But this isn’t just a story about the wreckage. It’s about what comes after.
Firefighting. Fatherhood. Finding peace on trails where every step hurts like hell but heals something deeper. Because the difference between a life ruled by fear and a life guided by possibility comes down to one simple taking the first step.
This memoir is about endurance in its rawest the endurance to keep moving forward even when it feels impossible, to rebuild a life one step at a time, and to discover that sometimes the only way through the darkness is to keep going—and smile, or you’re doing it wrong.
296 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
June 2, 2026
I hate to do this, but I can't sit through any more of this.
Andy Glaze is one of my favorite and most inspiring athletes in the ultra-running space. He has a great story and a great outlook.
One of the things that makes him so lovable is his unique voice.
This book does not reflect that voice at all.
Unfortunately, while I believe that all of the inputs of the book are accurate to his life, I have a strong feeling that Andy or his editor passed the entire book through an AI copywriting tool to "clean it up." The result is a neverending deluge of "ChatGPT-isms" (i.e, "It wasn't just [A], it was [B], [C], [D]...") Seriously, that structure and framing is used about every other paragraph.
As a result, the interesting story feels disconnected from a real human experience.
Super disappointed as I was really looking forward to this one, but I can't go on anymore.
Andy Glaze is one of my favorite and most inspiring athletes in the ultra-running space. He has a great story and a great outlook.
One of the things that makes him so lovable is his unique voice.
This book does not reflect that voice at all.
Unfortunately, while I believe that all of the inputs of the book are accurate to his life, I have a strong feeling that Andy or his editor passed the entire book through an AI copywriting tool to "clean it up." The result is a neverending deluge of "ChatGPT-isms" (i.e, "It wasn't just [A], it was [B], [C], [D]...") Seriously, that structure and framing is used about every other paragraph.
As a result, the interesting story feels disconnected from a real human experience.
Super disappointed as I was really looking forward to this one, but I can't go on anymore.
March 7, 2026
I’ve been following Andy Glaze recently since he started sharing his runs on TikTok and they were inspiring when I began ultra running. It was incredible to read about the whole journey and learn more about what lead to the Smile motto. Well worth reading and an amazing journey. Can’t wait to find Andy on a run or cheer from the trails
April 4, 2026
I highly recommend the audiobook, as Andy narrated it himself. A fantastic "read" about his life and what led him to running ultra marathons. Andy is vulnerable, funny, and poetic.
April 3, 2026
Wow…I did not think a book would get me to feel such big emotions!!!
I’m a runner-but not an ultra runner, which is what initially made me hesitate to pick this up. In the end, I’m so glad I did, because this book reaches far beyond running. It’s about resilience, mindset, and what it really means to keep going when things feel impossibly hard.
This was a very powerful & emotional read that stays with you long after the last page.
I’m a runner-but not an ultra runner, which is what initially made me hesitate to pick this up. In the end, I’m so glad I did, because this book reaches far beyond running. It’s about resilience, mindset, and what it really means to keep going when things feel impossibly hard.
This was a very powerful & emotional read that stays with you long after the last page.
May 20, 2026
This would probably have got a 3.5 if it were allowed. Two further clarifications; Andy is great and in my opinion speaks with higher clarity and depth about the issues covered in the book than was written. Additionally I’m not really a huge lover of the genre, motivational books rarely hit the right spot for me and rely to heavily on the substance of the individual and their history rather than how their message is being delivered.
The largest deduction for me was the writing style, its basic, and feels devoid of something more meaningful that Andy often achieves so easily in other mediums. This leads me to believe something could have happened in the edit. There’s a deeper thread running through this entire book I wish got picked up in a more serious way.
The book feels like a slightly more structured series of journal entries, expressed in the positive sense in its raw perspective but negatively in the quality of the writing and pacing. With that said though, if you need inspiration to get something moving Andy has so much to share. I’m grateful he was able to let us see some of his unique perspectives, particularly the experience in the wilderness therapy camps is something I don’t hear about very often, and was at times a tough read.
More than anything else though Andy is incredibly honest, this is the most important win for the book in my mind. There’s no sugar coating of anything discussed from his trauma to his highest successes.
The largest deduction for me was the writing style, its basic, and feels devoid of something more meaningful that Andy often achieves so easily in other mediums. This leads me to believe something could have happened in the edit. There’s a deeper thread running through this entire book I wish got picked up in a more serious way.
The book feels like a slightly more structured series of journal entries, expressed in the positive sense in its raw perspective but negatively in the quality of the writing and pacing. With that said though, if you need inspiration to get something moving Andy has so much to share. I’m grateful he was able to let us see some of his unique perspectives, particularly the experience in the wilderness therapy camps is something I don’t hear about very often, and was at times a tough read.
More than anything else though Andy is incredibly honest, this is the most important win for the book in my mind. There’s no sugar coating of anything discussed from his trauma to his highest successes.
April 26, 2026
I read this on my long runs training for a half marathon and I finished it today during the race. I liked it overall im not a huge memoir reader but this one was a good listen read by the author. Emotional, encouraging, inspiring.
I have a life long bucket list item to do a ultra run. I've done a 50k but I dream of a 50 or hundred miler. This really did help me see that limits don't exist.
I have a life long bucket list item to do a ultra run. I've done a 50k but I dream of a 50 or hundred miler. This really did help me see that limits don't exist.
May 26, 2026
I’m a Glaze glazer and his story is very inspiring but it was not well written at all. Too much reliance on lists and a suspicious amount of it’s not just x, it’s y. Also his narration of the audiobook was super monotonous.
March 7, 2026
Smile or you’re doing it wrong.
Do hard things.
Simple mantras with profound wisdom.
Thank you Andy for sharing your story through this book and social media. Your transparency with the demons you face and the importance of having the right attitude, support system, and medical intervention to deal with those demons is a message that more people need to hear. I’m typing this review while wearing a Metal Health Awareness shirt. The stigma around discussing mental health will only fade away if we keep chipping away at it. You are doing powerful things in this regard.
I am an ultra runner having completed a handful of 50k races and a 50 mile race. I am competing in my first 100 mile race in two weeks. I appreciate your honesty about how hard this is by sharing your DNF stories along with your successes. I’ll never be at a point to win one of these races. That’s not the point for me. I want to see what I’m capable of. I am the only one I am competing against.
And your call to action at the end of the of the book challenges people to find their own things that test their limits. Even if that’s running a 5k, committing to walk a mile 3 times a week, or hiking a trail they’ve never been to. Getting up and moving heals so much.
I listened to the audio book and can’t wait for my pre-ordered copy to come in. Love this book. I will be gifting it to many.
Do hard things.
Simple mantras with profound wisdom.
Thank you Andy for sharing your story through this book and social media. Your transparency with the demons you face and the importance of having the right attitude, support system, and medical intervention to deal with those demons is a message that more people need to hear. I’m typing this review while wearing a Metal Health Awareness shirt. The stigma around discussing mental health will only fade away if we keep chipping away at it. You are doing powerful things in this regard.
I am an ultra runner having completed a handful of 50k races and a 50 mile race. I am competing in my first 100 mile race in two weeks. I appreciate your honesty about how hard this is by sharing your DNF stories along with your successes. I’ll never be at a point to win one of these races. That’s not the point for me. I want to see what I’m capable of. I am the only one I am competing against.
And your call to action at the end of the of the book challenges people to find their own things that test their limits. Even if that’s running a 5k, committing to walk a mile 3 times a week, or hiking a trail they’ve never been to. Getting up and moving heals so much.
I listened to the audio book and can’t wait for my pre-ordered copy to come in. Love this book. I will be gifting it to many.
May 6, 2026
I can’t in good conscience give this more than a star. While I appreciate hearing his journey and story of resilience… it was so obviously written or edited by AI.
It just stripped his story from any rawness/vulnerability that make memoirs like these have an emotional impact. The lack of human voice in this really ruined it.
It just stripped his story from any rawness/vulnerability that make memoirs like these have an emotional impact. The lack of human voice in this really ruined it.
May 18, 2026
Start small. Start imperfect. Start scared. Just start.
And when it gets hard, and it will get hard, remember that hard things make us who we are. Remember that every person you admire has pushed through moments when they wanted to quit. Remember, the growth happens in the space between “I can’t“ and ”I did“.
Most importantly, remember to smile. Not because it’s easy, but because choosing joy and difficult moments is the most powerful thing we can do. Because a smile in the pain cave is rebellion against everything that wants to break us down. Because happiness is a practice, not a feeling, and we get better at it by doing it even when we don’t feel like it.
And when it gets hard, and it will get hard, remember that hard things make us who we are. Remember that every person you admire has pushed through moments when they wanted to quit. Remember, the growth happens in the space between “I can’t“ and ”I did“.
Most importantly, remember to smile. Not because it’s easy, but because choosing joy and difficult moments is the most powerful thing we can do. Because a smile in the pain cave is rebellion against everything that wants to break us down. Because happiness is a practice, not a feeling, and we get better at it by doing it even when we don’t feel like it.
April 12, 2026
I am very positive that this will be my top book for 2026!
April 28, 2026
I needed this book right at the time I purchased the audiobook and it helped me so much. It’s okay to have big goals and it’s okay to fail on your way to meeting them! Great book!! Highly recommend
May 26, 2026
I'm a bit bemused by the high rating for this book. I had never heard of him but ultra marathon memoirs are always 'good' at worst. This feels like bullet points were fed into chatgpt and it was asked to write a book. Also his voice is not made for audio. Hard to listen to. I must be the outliar based on these other reviews but I can't be the only one who was unmoved listening to this.
June 4, 2026
holy moly did this speak to my soul
April 21, 2026
One of the most anticipated books from one of the humblest guys. His story is inspiring and relatable: from the struggles, to the drugs, to the ultramarathon running, to doing the hard things in life. Andy Glaze has inspired me for years to smile in the struggle. Andy Glaze makes the distinction to not smile because you are living in some delusional world of what it about to come and that everything is sunshine and rainbows. He encourages you to see the hardship, respect it, and give it the smile and love you would give a family or child. He respects the pain and loves it, just like a father looks when he sees his child. Wholesome smile. Just an incredible story from a normal dude like me and you. He's not some professionally sponsored athlete whose job is being an ultrarunner. His bio on Instagram? Father/Husband/Firefighter. No mention of ultramarathon legend. Normal guy with incredible passion and drive and humility to inspire everyday people like me and you. I even recorded my first 50 miler experience with, "3 miles in... 27 miles in..." even "5k to go, even your mom can run a 5k!". I train to run far for me and maybe one day, I'll be at the same place at the same time as him, just to let him know the impact he's made in my life. That was hard
May 6, 2026
★★★★☆
I first discovered Andy Glaze through instagram reels about a year or so ago. His content is inspirational and full of positivity, and when I found out his book was a telling of his story I knew I wanted to read it!
This story starts from the beginning, unpacking his experience with addiction, family troubles, and losses time and time again. Not only does he go indepth on his hardships, but equally as in depth on the positives that have changed his life. With a focus on mindful optimism and resilience to survive, Glaze’s book does an inspiring job at revealing how movement is medicine. He doesn’t narrow his definition of movement either; running, putting in the work to support your partner, athletic prowess, trying a new hobby, even just getting up in the morning. A read that anyone can hold appreciation for and respect for sharing so closely his person story!
The only reason this book isn’t 5 stars is because of some editing preferences I have.
(Read through audiobook)
I first discovered Andy Glaze through instagram reels about a year or so ago. His content is inspirational and full of positivity, and when I found out his book was a telling of his story I knew I wanted to read it!
This story starts from the beginning, unpacking his experience with addiction, family troubles, and losses time and time again. Not only does he go indepth on his hardships, but equally as in depth on the positives that have changed his life. With a focus on mindful optimism and resilience to survive, Glaze’s book does an inspiring job at revealing how movement is medicine. He doesn’t narrow his definition of movement either; running, putting in the work to support your partner, athletic prowess, trying a new hobby, even just getting up in the morning. A read that anyone can hold appreciation for and respect for sharing so closely his person story!
The only reason this book isn’t 5 stars is because of some editing preferences I have.
(Read through audiobook)
May 12, 2026
4.5 rounded down simply because a five-star book needs to feel life-changing to me in some way. Nevertheless, this book absolutely has the potential to be that for someone else — perhaps especially for someone battling mental health challenges.
It’s a genuinely motivating story about resilience, the psychological power of mind over matter, and the idea that the impossible can become possible through sheer will and determination. What stood out was that this message doesn’t come from the perspective of some untouchable elite athlete whose physical abilities feel completely out of reach. Instead, he somehow manages to make it feel relatable and approachable while still being incredibly inspiring. I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.
“Smile, or you’re doing it wrong.” ❤️
It’s a genuinely motivating story about resilience, the psychological power of mind over matter, and the idea that the impossible can become possible through sheer will and determination. What stood out was that this message doesn’t come from the perspective of some untouchable elite athlete whose physical abilities feel completely out of reach. Instead, he somehow manages to make it feel relatable and approachable while still being incredibly inspiring. I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.
“Smile, or you’re doing it wrong.” ❤️
April 5, 2026
I knew this would be phenomenal before I even started.
“Even if no one claps, no one notices, no one understands why you are pushing yourself through something that seems pointless or excessive or crazy. Even if the only witness to your effort is yourself and the only reward is the knowledge that you didn’t quit when quitting would have been easier. Do it anyway…. The magic lives in the space between ‘I can’t’ and ‘I did’, in the territory you can only explore by refusing to accept your current limitations as permanent, by treating obstacles as invitations to discover what you’re really made of.”
Smile or you’re doing it wrong 🙂
“Even if no one claps, no one notices, no one understands why you are pushing yourself through something that seems pointless or excessive or crazy. Even if the only witness to your effort is yourself and the only reward is the knowledge that you didn’t quit when quitting would have been easier. Do it anyway…. The magic lives in the space between ‘I can’t’ and ‘I did’, in the territory you can only explore by refusing to accept your current limitations as permanent, by treating obstacles as invitations to discover what you’re really made of.”
Smile or you’re doing it wrong 🙂
April 30, 2026
MY FAVORITE BOOK I READ THIS YEAR !!!
👏🏼 “Smile or you’re doing it wrong man not change the mountain you’re climbing but how the climb feels - which could make all the difference.”👏🏼
In this story andy tells his experience as he overcomes multiple injuries, addictions, losses, and even divorces and how viewing these life events as a foundation for something better helped him build himself as the man he is today.
Incredibly written and one I will definitely reread 💛
👏🏼 “Smile or you’re doing it wrong man not change the mountain you’re climbing but how the climb feels - which could make all the difference.”👏🏼
In this story andy tells his experience as he overcomes multiple injuries, addictions, losses, and even divorces and how viewing these life events as a foundation for something better helped him build himself as the man he is today.
Incredibly written and one I will definitely reread 💛
May 23, 2026
4.5 stars. I’ve been following Andy for a while and have always enjoyed his content. For anyone that does follow him, you’ll enjoy this book because it feels written by him, not just another book of an athlete that someone else wrote for them. There was a lot of Andy’s life I didn’t know about till this book. I appreciated that this book isn’t trying to tell you that everyone should start running, it’s telling you that everyone should do hard things because that’s what helps you grow and rewards you.
June 1, 2026
What’s the difference between Obsession and Addiction?
Andy is in the good dudes club. From smoking meth to finding purpose and pushing the limits of the body and mind this is a great story of perseverance and perspective. I listened to the audiobook which was read by Andy and honestly I always recommend autobiographies read by the author as there are many very emotional parts to his story that become even more emotional as you can hear his voice break.
Smile or you’re doing it wrong.
Andy is in the good dudes club. From smoking meth to finding purpose and pushing the limits of the body and mind this is a great story of perseverance and perspective. I listened to the audiobook which was read by Andy and honestly I always recommend autobiographies read by the author as there are many very emotional parts to his story that become even more emotional as you can hear his voice break.
Smile or you’re doing it wrong.
April 15, 2026
You could have never run a single mile in your life and I will still say this book is for you!
Andy talks about many hardships; failed marriages, being cheated on; loss + grief, and so much more. I cried 4 different times and found so much motivation.
Loved the audio that he narrated himself. Ran and ordered a physical copy already.
Smile 😁 or you're doing it wrong!
Andy talks about many hardships; failed marriages, being cheated on; loss + grief, and so much more. I cried 4 different times and found so much motivation.
Loved the audio that he narrated himself. Ran and ordered a physical copy already.
Smile 😁 or you're doing it wrong!
April 23, 2026
Dreadful garbage. 1.5 stars rounded down.
Glaze is a dumb guy who low-key seems to hate women. Per the reviews this is maybe enjoyable if you're already a fan of his from social media but if your primary interests are reading and/or running I would skip this one altogether.
This would have been a smidgen more enjoyable had I actually read it rather than listen to the audiobook. Glaze narrates it himself and based on his cadence it seems he didn't actually write all of it.
Glaze is a dumb guy who low-key seems to hate women. Per the reviews this is maybe enjoyable if you're already a fan of his from social media but if your primary interests are reading and/or running I would skip this one altogether.
This would have been a smidgen more enjoyable had I actually read it rather than listen to the audiobook. Glaze narrates it himself and based on his cadence it seems he didn't actually write all of it.
May 19, 2026
I REALLY loved this book - not only was the author brutally honest and vulnerable about his past and challenges, but he was funny and encouraging and down to earth. I got a lot of good motivation from this book, not just about running but just life in general.
I was volunteering at an aid station for the 2026 Cocodona race but wasn't able to stay around to see Andy come through. Would have been very cool to see him - I hope he continues to be as inspiring and honest about this wild sport.
Dare Greatly!
I was volunteering at an aid station for the 2026 Cocodona race but wasn't able to stay around to see Andy come through. Would have been very cool to see him - I hope he continues to be as inspiring and honest about this wild sport.
Dare Greatly!
March 23, 2026
I did not expect to cry so many times reading this book or leave feeling so inspired, but in truly Glaze fashion, I did both. SO grateful he chose to do hard things and write it. Smile, or you’re doing it wrong, my friends.
April 11, 2026
Andy shares his story of rocky teenage years, figuring out adulthood and the adversities that come along with that season, and how he utilized movement as a means to cope with the stressors. He presents the opportunity of moving your body as a means of controlling what you can control. He shares his notes and lessons learned and encourages the reader to adapt the model for their benefit. If you’re looking for a humble coaching voice in your own journey - I recommend you engage this quick read.
May 7, 2026
I loved listening to this book!! He has such a great mindset that I was able to connect with and there’s so many different quotes I will keep with me. This book is for everyone not just runners and I recommend listening to it because Andy himself reads it
April 8, 2026
Ik volg hem al jaren. Ex-verslaafde die nu 300 mile lange races hardloopt. Zijn Instagram is een bezoek waard!
April 9, 2026
Thank you, Andy, for being vulnerable to share your story and for continuing to inspire so many.
April 22, 2026
“I knew what was worse than failure- regret.”
Love a good memoir. Love an inspiring one even more!
Love a good memoir. Love an inspiring one even more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews