With this memoir, Jamison, a psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of mood research, revealed her own struggle with manic-depressive, or bipolar, illness. Interspersing humorous descriptions of the strange logic that permeated her manic episodes with haunting recollections of the depressions that would follow, she chronicles her professional journey to understand the biological basics for mood disorders while she was fighting--and hiding--her own.
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The author opens her her mind and emotions to the reader. Her descriptions of mania and depression are so vivid. She gets to the heart of experiences relating to mental illness - both positive and negative. She has the vocabulary and intelligence to convey the scientific aspects of the disease. However, what makes this book special is that the professional discussion and analysis can be found on the same page as the intense emotional experiences, because they are both a part of the author.
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babyboone
from Sacramento, California, Nov 5, 2007
It is difficult to call this book "entertaining" because of the gravity of the subject matter. I'm not sure what it says for any of us to call a memoir "entertaining".
Regardless, this book is well written, smart and incredibly informative. I understand my father MUCH better after having read this--he was diagnosed with bi-polar last year and I've struggled to understand what he's going through.
As a writer myself, I have difficulty reading poorly-written work and I have to give high kudos to Kay Jamison and her ability to create a beautiful prose with such a difficult subject. What a brave, remarkable and talented woman.
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This is a riveting read, I hardly could put it down--on a misunderstood chemical imbalance that some 1-2 to more percent of people suffer from. Until you've seen it, until you've learned to understand it isn't a choice people make--but one that they are driven to--you won't understand.
Kay does a fabulous job of pulling the reader into the head of every person, a person who is bipolar. This allows the reader to either sympathize or empathize (depending on your situation) with not only Kay, but family and friends--who we love but don't 'get'.
Worth the cost, and as was told to me by psychologists and MDs...a classic.
Unfortunately asking about the "entertainment value" a bit sick, unless you are into illnessness. But then, a one size fits all rating is like that.
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