Rating: 
Summary: interesting but irresponsible
Review: I really wish people would quit associating creativity with mental illness, especially the so-called "experts" in the field such as the author of this book. She wrote the book on manic depressive illness back in the day, she suffers from it herself and yet she could not refrain from what constitutes bad science in the scholarship of this book. How do we know the artists and poets in this book were bipolar? We do not as they are long dead, of natural causes or by their own hand. Anne Sexton was mentally ill most of her creative life, but was never correctly diagnosed and spent her time between thorazine and alcohol, self-medicating with the latter up until her suicide. We do not know that she was bipolar though. Nor do we know that of Sylvia Plath or TS Eliot. If this book is meant to bring some meaning to the bipolar person's creative existence, it succeeds, but at the expense of the bipolar's sanity. A person should not quit meds in order to get in touch with the creative self. The author does not condone this, but it sure doesn't look that way when you read this book and find yourself convinced of her premise: madness and creativity go hand in hand. I do not know any bipolar people who plan to quit lithium and get in touch with the inner muse, and the bipolar people that I do know are pretty disgusted with this book overall. Left untreated, lots of people could end up like Van Gogh (was he indeed bipolar?), but couldn't a room full of chimps on typewriters also come up with one Shakespeare manuscript?
Rating: 
Summary: Thank You
Review: Though not perfect, this book helped me to understand my and my family's struggle with various forms of manic depression and depression. Particularly helpful was the pattern of unconcious genetic parings that can increase or minimize odds of the illness surfacing. This has been the case in my family tree.
Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable insight into this pathology
Review: I was so moved by this book. I sent a copy to a loved one right away. The disapproving reviews I have compassion with as it the book does emphasise the positive aspects of the illness. I personally am sick of reading all the gloom of the illness. I LIVED IT FOR YEARS. This is so refreshing.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Helped ME
Review: If you or a loved one are trying to understand bi-polar disorder this is a fantastic book.
Rating:
Summary: Impeccably, hauntingly, frightfully well-researched.
Review: Though merely a layman, I enjoyed this book im mensly, and continue to refer to it on occasion. My husband purchased a copy for me while was confined to our local hospital's "mental ward" for deeply suicidal depression. At the time I could scarcely comprehend a single line of it, however, as I grew more coherent I was able to absorb and relate to the torment, as I am manic-depressive myself. I tend to be more melancholy and introspective. When I am hypomanic I usually take apart the entire house, and completely re-arrange EVERYTHING. I've also gone running in the dark thinking God was my puppeteer and somehow cosmically/intrinsically connected to my Nikes. I dont believe I have ever run so fast in my life. I am not well-versed with the poets' and I am unable to share in the depth of passion of Dr. Jamison's feelings, and unfathomable descriptions,however, she is quite adept at portraying the joy, terror, and torment of these gifted beings; I am able to relate to that--the alcohol and drug abuse; the destruction of relationships; writing fervently for days, then not lifting a pen (or these days), not touching a keyboard for months or perhaps longer. Anyway, this is to be a review and I am straying. Thank you Dr. Jamison for your depth in searching, depth of caring, and also shortly afterward, sharing your personal experience. Touched With Fire is certainly aptly titled. There are few books that are worth reading on the topic of manic-depression; they are either poorly written, or else they simply chronicle an individual's family's experience in diary format.
Rating: 
Summary: Hey, stop taking your lithium!
Review: It's interesting. I'll give her that much. But first of all, Jamison has some misleading information in that not everyone she lists was necessarily suffering from bipolar. She has pulled out and listed every Byronic hero in the art, literature, and music community when half of these people are long dead and there is absolutely no way to prove such conjecture.I have bipolar, and this book makes me a little bit angry because it purely glorifies this illness by pointing out the star achievements of all those who supposedly had it, giving very little focus to the tragic, rollercoaster lives many of them led. This illness is not a "magic madness" or a "dark gift" or any of the other stupid things I've heard it called. It is an extremely difficult, extremely challenging bitch of a disease that is owed control and respect, but for heaven's sake don't write a book portraying it as if it's some kind of blessing. I know this was not Ms Jamison's intent, but this book paints a very romantic picture of an illness there is nothing romantic about. If I didn't know better, I'd almost think I should quit taking my lithium in order to be BRILLIANT. As a manic depressive herself, Ms Jamison should have known better.
Rating:
Summary: I was totally absorbed in this book!
Review: As someone who loves both literature and psychology this book captivated my attention from start to finish. The swings from darkness and despair to the dazzling highs that existed for some of our greatest writers and poets was both difficult and fasinating to read about and I read and reread. A must for people in both fields of interest! If you know someone who is Bi-Polar you may gain some insight you didn't expect.
Rating:
Summary: Clear, illustrative & essential to understanding bi-polar
Review: Used as a text, this book is enlightening to the dichotomory of being manic depressive. It connects the presence of the illness with the gifts of being artistic, and how they fuel yet hinder each other. An insightful book filled with inner pain and outward beauty.
Rating:
Summary: A very insightful look at manic depression .
Review: This is a great read for the person who is not a novice at learning about this disorder. The author brought many subjects to light that have been left out of other books. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Piece
Review: Few authors have such a presence in two worlds--the professional and the artistic--and are able to argue science with poetry. Opie, please read this book. GG
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