An Unquiet Mind : A Memoir of Moods and Madness

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Summary: A clear voice in a very frightening place.
Review: "An Unquiet Mind" sheds light on a very dark subject. If you love someone with Bi-Polar disorder, I urge you to read this book. I have suffered from BPD most of my adult life and found this book very enlightening. Ms. Jamison's compassion, born of years of struggle, is an invaluable gift to us that have fought for years to keep our heads above the waters of despair. I don't know if it changed my life, but it definately enriched it

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Summary: Shocks open the eyes of the ignorant.
Review: I would not even talk to my brother, who suffers from bipolar II disorder, because I blamed him for actions which were embarrassing and uncomfortable. This book REALLY helped me to understand that this is a disease, which is the first and NECESSARY step to understanding it. Thank you Kay, I understand what has happened so much better now, and am able to have a relationship with my brother

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Summary: Insightful, amazing, touching
Review: Reading this book was like listening to my daughter's voice coming back to haunt me over the years of frustration and pain. Redfield gave me hope for my child and a deeper understanding of what she hasn't been able to explain to me. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart

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Summary: A soul revealing book; honest, joyous and painful.
Review: To say that this is a memoir of manic depressive illness gives the book and its author short shrift. It is the story of the author's life and nobility of her spirit. I am thankful that she was able to come out of the closet about her mental illness. Her courage provides education and hope for many, and provides another chip away at the stigma of mental illness

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Summary: A stunning achievement of immense courage
Review: Authoring any book takes a certain courage, but in writing An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison has reached the zenith of sheer guts. Here is a brilliant woman who has weathered the violent storms of a horrendous mental illness and achieved great renown and tangible success as a mental health care provider. That in itself is astounding. Now she risks it all for the sake of explaining to anyone who will read her book what manic depression is like from the inside out. Here is compassion with no trace of self-pity, insight without hyperbole, and a graceful restraint that lends even more power to her expressiveness. As her reader, I felt myself to be right on the end of her pencil --she holds her audience so close, and never condescends. My own mother suffered from manic depression, and I only wish that this book (and lithium) had been around back in the years when she was in agony and I could merely struggle to approach some understanding of what she was enduring. Jamison is a true hero and should be celebrated as one. A Pulitzer or other notable award is in order, so that her words may reach an even greater audience

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Summary: Riveting
Review: Powerful and poignant autobiography. Gripping narrative. Developed my understanding of manic-depressive illness

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Summary: Insightful and touching
Review: A revealing first-hand look at manic depression. Kay writes honestly of the disbelief, anger and subsequent acceptance of her mania. She pulls no punches; hides no flaws. Although some might disagree that medicine is a viable treatment for such an illness, Kay's account would hopefully make them think twice. For me, there was the feeling of victory and hope - someone has been to the fringe of madness and suicide and survived

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Summary: Writer worthy of great praise for her courage!
Review: Dear Ms. Jamison, You have saved my life! Write me, please

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Summary: A wonderful work...
Review: I don't usually read nonfiction, but this book held such personal appeal for me that I started and finished reading it this past weekend. An Unquiet Mind explained my sister to me, and I found my father and his behaviors in it as well. Thank you, Kay Redfield Jamison!

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Summary: If you read only one book about bipolar disorder, this is it
Review: An outstanding book for the average person written by the person who wrote the definitive text about bipolar disorder (manic-depression). A must read for anyone suffering from the disorder or any person in the life of someone suffering from this disorder. Written in the first person by someone suffering from the disease willing to subject herself to the potential problems people suffering from this disease put up with from an unknowing public.