An Unquiet Mind
Ratings25
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings25
Average rating4.1
'It stands alone in the literature of manic depression for its bravery, brilliance and beauty' - Oliver Sacks An Unquiet Mind is a definitive examination of manic depression from both sides: doctor and patient, the healer and the healed. A classic memoir of enormous candour and courage, it teems with the wit and wisdom of its creator. Dr Kay Redfield Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic depression (bipolar disorder), but she has also experienced its terrors and cruel allure first-hand. While pursuing her career in medicine, she was affected by the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic lows that afflicted many of her patients. From her jubilant childhood to the disquiet that has dominated her adult life, she charts a journey through her own mind, and those of others. 'Invaluable' - New York Times Book Review
Reviews with the most likes.
Fascinating book about manic/depressive disorder (now referred to as bipolar), written by a person afflicted with the illness. It's a short book, and I found that a lot of it was fluff. It probably could have been about half the size and still been just as good. It also had some extremely slow chapters (so slow that I could only read a couple pages before putting it down and doing something else for a while). If you're interested, but not sure you'll like it, I recommend reading the epilogue first. If it catches your interest, then it'll be worth the read.
Could be good for someone with bipolar disorder, but not necessarily applicable to all cases
I'm amazed by the quality of the memoirs my therapist recommended to me thus far. I especially loved how I learned more about the deadly consequences of bipolar disorder if left untreated, such as maxing out credit cards and spending lots of money over a short period of time while manic. I'm especially glad that Kay got her bipolar disorder under control thanks to lithium, talk therapy, and the support and love from her family. I'm happy that she is able to help those who have bipolar disorder like her and teach people along the way.
