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An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness | 
 enlarge | Author: Kay Redfield Jamison
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $3.31
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Avg. Customer Rating:  314 reviews
Sales Rank: 706
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5 x 0.7
ISBN: 0679763309
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.8950092
EAN: 9780679763307
ASIN: 0679763309
Publication Date: January 14, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Light shelf wear
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Amazon.com
In Touched with Fire, Kay Redfield Jamison, a psychiatrist, turned a mirror on the creativity so often associated with mental illness. In this book she turns that mirror on herself. With breathtaking honesty she tells of her own manic depression, the bitter costs of her illness, and its paradoxical benefits: "There is a particular kind of pain, elation, loneliness and terror involved in this kind of madness.... It will never end, for madness carves its own reality." This is one of the best scientific autobiographies ever written, a combination of clarity, truth, and insight into human character. "We are all, as Byron put it, differently organized," Jamison writes. "We each move within the restraints of our temperament and live up only partially to its possibilities." Jamison's ability to live fully within her limitations is an inspiration to her fellow mortals, whatever our particular burdens may be. --Mary Ellen Curtin
Product Description
As a founder of UCLA's Affective Disorder Clinic and a co-author of a standard medical text, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison may be the foremost authority on manic-depressive illness.She is also one of its survivors.And it is this dual perspective -- as healer and healed -- that makes Jamison's memoir so lucid, learned, and profoundly affecting.
Even as she was pursuing her psychiatric training, Jamison found herself succumbing to the exhilarating highs and paralyzing lows that afflicted many of her patients. Though the disorder brought her seemingly boundless energy and mercurial creativity, it also propelled her into spending sprees, episodes of violence, and an attempt at suicide.
Powerfully candid, exceptionally wise, An Unquiet Mind is one of those rare books that has the power to transform lives -- and even save them.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 309 more reviews...
 Not what I hoped for or thought it would be... April 17, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
As newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I was initially drawn to the title of the book, because "An Unquiet Mind" was what I felt I had. I am not a stupid person, by any means, but I did not feel like the author spoke to me personally about bipolar disorder or her experiences with it. The author uses clinical language and words most people would have to look up in Webster's Dictionary to understand. I feel as though the author's intended audience are her colleagues in academia. I was insulted by the author's use of the term "madness" in describing bipolar disorder, as I do not feel that I am mad, or ever have been. I do not think I have suffered from the illness to the degree that the author has, but she did not make herself or her experience with the disorder seem human like or real to me at all. In some ways, the author almost seems to have a romantic type fascination with bipolar disorder, and I see nothing even remotely romantic about having this disorder. A truly good author has the ability to be on the same level as her reader, and bring them into the story being told. I did not feel that way while reading this book, and I wasn't able to connect on a level with the author in which she made herself seem vulnerable or to which I felt some sort of empathy for her or her illness; and since I too have bipolar disorder, I find that to be one of the most important reasons why I cannot recommend this book. Come down to Earth, Ms. Jamison; that's where you will find the rest of us.
 An Unquiet Mind April 12, 2008
This is the most "on key" book I have read about an unquiet mind. Jamison's depiction of the disease is easy to read and to the point. If you want an informative read, don't let this one slip away. It is a must have.
 Well written, great explanation. March 24, 2008
I bought this book because I was listening to an Abnormal Psych podcast, and three of the episodes dealt with the book. I haven't listened to those yet, but I did just finish the book.
I found it to be well written, easy to read (despite the occasional need for a dictionary), and most of all : it explains how the disease works and what it feels like without being too scientific about it, and with giving insight into what it feels like to be manic/depressive.
It's got a lot of (her) personality poured onto the pages.
I know no one with manic-depressive illness, I've never really read anything about it, but I feel as if I have a good bit of understanding now.
I found it very interesting to read that the Lithium side effects are very similar to what someone with cfids goes through (obviously minus the manic/depressive episodes and mood swings).
The "severe and prolonged depression" part got really emphasized in the book which after the 10th time had me sigh a "yeah, I got it the 5th time", but maybe that was because she wanted to make it really clear that this was not the usual kind of low-serotonin depression.
It's unbelievable March 20, 2008
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
I bought this book like most people, because I was told it was great. Nothing could be more remote from the reality of the book. Let's see why.
For one, Kay is an over-achiever. Despite the fact that some people could classify me as one, I know it's not the reality of most people with bipolar, although she keeps on repeating it over and over.
For two, the poor woman lives in a world that doesn't exist: perfect childhood, perfect lovers, perfect friends. Of course there is something that she either doctored up or didn't have the courage to admit.
For three, the scene of her in lingerie in her bathroom cutting her veins after sex - I'm sorry - it's ludicrous. During most of her "psychotic episodes" she is much more together than I am in a bad day LOL
But the thing that really yucked me out is how she said that love is what saved her and - especially - how she rationalized the fact that her husband didn't want children from a mentally ill wife.
The only point I could relate to was her missing her productive, happy highs which - again - aren't what most bipolars experience.
In short, her book could be written by Danielle Steel if it wasn't that Danielle Steel did write a book on her late son who did have bipolar, and did a spectacular job. Read that one instead!
Unveiling the Mask of Bipolar Disorder March 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Redfield Jamison gifted the world with her memoir about bipolar which targets the disorder from two angles: the professional and the personal. Story is always profound and powerful, and I greatly appreciated her commitment to honesty of what it means to live with bipolar. She truly combined the best of two worlds - the world of truth and the facts about bipolar, juxtaposed against her own story.
Possibly the most eye-opening part of the book is her struggle with lithium, and she covers the pros and cons, and wonderfully illustrates the lifesaving effects of the drug. Although she explains the many side effects and the disadvantages of the drug, she also reveals how many times it has saved her life...for better or worse.
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