Shane Burcaw

American writer, humorist, and disability advocate, author of the memoir "Laughing at My Nightmare" and creator of related online content (blog and YouTube), known for writing and advocacy about living with spinal muscular atrophy.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 2. Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

    And Other True Stories

    A candid, funny collection of personal essays that chronicle a young man's life with a progressive neuromuscular disease and the ups and downs of his romantic relationship, confronting public assumptions, awkward encounters, and questions of independence, caregiving, and love. With sharp humor and heartfelt honesty, he dismantles stereotypes about disability while reflecting on travel, dating, family, and activism, showing how ordinary life and romance persist amid misconceptions and logistical challenges.

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  2. 3. Laughing At My Nightmare

    How I Learned to Live with Passion, Pain, and a Terrible Sense of Humor

    A candid, humorous memoir about living with spinal muscular atrophy that mixes irreverent, laugh-out-loud anecdotes with frank reflections on dependence, family, dating, and the small indignities and triumphs of daily life. The narrator uses wit and honesty to challenge stereotypes about disability, showing how he finds joy, purpose, and meaningful relationships while advocating for accessibility and dignity.

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  3. 4. Not So Different

    What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability

    A candid, humorous, and heartfelt account that answers common questions about living with a physical disability, blending personal stories, cartoons, and practical information to challenge misconceptions and show what everyday life, relationships, independence, and advocacy really look like. Through frank Q&A and witty observations, it dismantles stereotypes about dependence, intimacy, and caregiving while celebrating ordinary joys and calling for empathy, inclusion, and respect.

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