First Person Plural: My Life As a Mutilple

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Summary: A COURAGOUS GROUNDBREAKER IN THE STRUGGLE TO LIVE WITH DID
Review: Genuine gratitude to Cam West for sharing his experiences on the journey to healing and living with DID. In revealing the inner world of being a multiple, and the challenges that must be faced in the "real" world, shows the creativity and strength of mind and spirit to survive the unthinkable! By taking us inside the minds of alter personalities and their roles and functions, he allows us to see the need for their creation. Once inside this system, we meet very human people--both children and adults who had no other choice, but to figure out a way to continue their survivalin an atmosphere of extreme abuse. The alternatives to DID are death or insanity!! Thank God I'm "only" DID! In his testimony, Cam West gives credibility to the very existence of this disorder. Denial does'nt make it go away! But, he has also shown the difficult road to recovery. More importantly, knowing we are not alone, and that successful treatment exists, encourages the quest to seek it! To perpetrators of child sexual abuse--our healing is the best revenge! As a parent, I rejoice with Mr. West that the abuse stops when we refuse to allow OUR children to become victims. This is a difficult task when it involves protecting them from their own relatives. I commend and respect his wife, Rikki, for her courage in supporting her husband, protecting her son; while being an active and loving part of the process needed to heal. In her candid account of what DID can do to a family,her painful yet honest experiences will help spouses and children to understand their own feelings and not blame themselves. They too, need to know that this is NOT thei fault.

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Summary: Dancing with Denial
Review: I have never read a better description of the rumblings before the voices, or the neverending dance with Denial. The constant churning: which is worse, for the abuse to be true, or the alters? This has always been the most painful part of DID, to always have others want to deny your experience. I have not encountered the media on this book, but it does not surprise me that Robin Williams would be in the film. He's always felt like "one of us."

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Summary: A book for ANYONE.
Review: I was given this book by a friend that recommended it as a good read. From the first chapter, I was gripped with several different emotions that carried on throughout the book -- sadness, anger, disgust, compassion. I feel from Dr. West and his family, and can only imagine from the descriptions given the struggles they went through day to day. Not knowing anyone with DID, I can't comment on the relationship to understanding the condition, but I can say, without doubt, that this is an incredible book on dealing with problems of relationships, marriages, families, and dealing with a life you may not have chosen. It brings into perspective not only the feelings of the struggling individual, but also the struggles of those around them. I commend you on your courage to write this book, and the courage of your family to cope with all your guys and to stay together like you have. It should give hope to all.

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Summary: Recovery is a process of God shaking the truth out of you...
Review: I am grateful and glad that Cameron West had the courage to undertake this book. As a grad student of pyschology, I have also had my own demons to battle due to parental neglect and abuse. When I consider how I did not turn out to be like them---I know I have been victorious. Cameron and Rikki, you should both be very proud that the legacy of abuse ended once and for all with your own generation. Your son has been spared the hell you endured (Cameron) and that gift is, in and of itself, priceless. God bless you both. It's amazing isn't it how the truth really DOES set you free! Mary D. in Northville, MI

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Summary: A good fiction read...???
Review: I'm pretty gullible, but halfway thru this book, I came to check other reviews to see if it was just me, or if this struck others as unbelievable. I certainly don't want to denounce this man if it's all true, but his book surely doesn't read that way. As others have mentioned, the reference to his Benz and Volvo and LL Bean are annoying, and the description of details of which he was not a part makes me skeptical. I've always been fascinated by DID info, but other books I've read ring more true. I'm enjoying the reading, but I don't believe it....

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Summary: I Couldn't Put It Down!
Review: This was a heart-wrenching story of Cam West's struggle with himself. He did a wonderful job portraying his numerous selves and the difficulty accompanying them. He shared with us the curiosity of his new lifestyle, clearing the air of any questions about the disorder anyone would ever have. This book is overall excellent and I would strongly reccomend it to anyone who has interest in this subject.

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Summary: An average book on the topic.
Review: Though the book is interesting, it could have been more detailed on the authors struggles with his inner voices. Not so much family problems! Everybody has those.

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Summary: Having Dissociative Identity Disorder I was disappointed.
Review: I saw Dr. West on Oprah and was excited to hear of his book. I also have Dissociative Identity Disorder. This excitement did not last long.

The author gives a very simplistic description of Dissociative Identity Disorder. A great opportunity has been lost to share with others the inside world of a Multiple.

The pages are filled with endless "rules" and "whining" on the part ofthe spouse. The author leads the reader into great detail about his spouse's experiences and anger. Such detail leaves the reader pondering... "who is telling the story". Empty handed, the reader walks away with the impression, having D.I.D. is a burden to those around them, rather than a wonderful wayin which the mind copes with horrendous trauma.

One may indeed wonder how Robin Williams will take such a book and truly illustrate what a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder experiences.

Pamela

Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: I saw Cam and his wife on LEEZA, of course, to find out more info on the subject of DID I bought the book. I am not one to pick up a book and read but this one was hard to put down. Cam gives vivid accounts of all of his 24 alters (some very graphic). It let us understand what someone with DID must have endured and the patience, compassion and love Rikki has to live with a person with DID. His style of writing it made it easy to read, it felt like you were in his shoes.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Even though I'm not quite finished with the book, I think it is very good. I think the subject is very interesting.