Rating: 
Summary: a must read for anyone who suffers or knows someone who does
Review: I just got this book yesterday from Amazon. To say its the best, most salient book on the subject I have ever read- well I cannot do it justice. I have read almost every book on this subject, since I am afflicted by it. It is very well written, moe for the lay person, than the medical establishment. I've learned more about this from this book than any other book I have read. And it is written not only for people who are manic depressive, but those who love us. It's pretty much a must read, and should be read by everyone who either suffers from it, or knows a loved one who does.
Rating:
Summary: Look No Further: This is THE book on Manic-Depression
Review: I've learned more in the first 100 pages of this book than I have learned in all the other books I have read on Manic-Depressive Illness combined. And I have read most of them. Torrey & Knable have a knack of making the latest research on Manic-Depressive Illness clear and understandable by a general audience, but never too simplistic. Yes, there is information in this book that you have never read before, whether you are a provider, significant other, or sufferer. This is not a re-packaging of what is already known about Manic-Depressive Illness, but a synthesis of far-flung research into a easily readable account.
There will come a time when this book is outdated, but for now skip the Goodwin and Jamison 982 page tome published in 1990 and costing $ and head straight for this book.
What can I say to the authors, but thank you not just for this long overdue and timely work on Manic-Depressive Illness, but for the service you have performed for the manic-depressive community? I have and will recommend this book to my significant others, providers, and fellow sufferers who are learning to deal with this illness. Thank you once again, E. Fuller Torrey & Michael B. Knable for such a straight-on handling of the illness and a wonderful service you have done for all of us.
You have made my job of living with this illness and keeping my head up easier. Thank you.
For those who are interested in reading personal histories I highly recommend "A Brilliant Madness" by Patty Duke, "An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison, and for teenagers "His Bright Light" by Danielle Steel.
Rating:
Summary: Look No Further: This is THE book on Manic-Depression
Review: Since being diagnosed with BP I have looked for books to help me understand more about the disease. This is the best I have found. Unlike most other works, it treats BP as a disorder different from depression and the authors respect their readers, giving details and theories that many other books leave out. It may be work to read, but it is very rewarding. Every bipolar person and family members of bipolar people should read this comprehensive book.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best BP book I've ever read.
Review: Since being diagnosed with BP I have looked for books to help me understand more about the disease. This is the best I have found. Unlike most other works, it treats BP as a disorder different from depression and the authors respect their readers, giving details and theories that many other books leave out. It may be work to read, but it is very rewarding. Every bipolar person and family members of bipolar people should read this comprehensive book.
Rating:
Summary: More than you expect
Review: The title does this book justice. Manic Depression afflicts more than a million and may affect as many as 3,000,000 people in the US alone. With that many suffering, there is no dearth of literature on this subject. Yet most of the information prior even to the early 1990's is dated and obtuse. There is much confusion in the earlier literature between schizophrenia and bipolar. It is now understood that bipolar disorders are chemical deficiencies in the brain and can largely be controled by medications and that the patients can achieve normalcy. That's where this book is so valuable. Just published in 2002, it reviews the most recent meds and their side effects. Someone suffering with this condition needs to know this stuff. Moreover there is comprehensive information for those suffering from clinical depression and other disorders that medications frequently can help. And that's my final remark on this wealth of information. That's why it lives up to its title. This book helps the patient and her/his family to cope. As with meds, the patients learn their life problems never really go away, but how they deal with them improves. After reading this book, both patients and those who interact with them will be enriched in their comprehension and better able to adapt to the bipolar condition.
Rating:
Summary: The best "how to manage manic-depression book ever written"
Review: This book, (co-author Fuller Torrey is one of the worlds foremost experts on the subject) is, by far, the best "how to manage manic-depression" book I have ever read, and, I believe, ever written. My only regret is that this book wasn't available to me when I needed it even more a few years ago but much of the information contained in it wasn't known a few years years ago. Its that up-to-date, and extremely well written. Anyone who has manic-depression, or who cares about the millions of people who do, will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: An extremely important book
Review: This is a book I wish no one had to read, but for those of us who have a loved one suffering from manic depression, this is the absolutely essential read. There are some parts of it, concerning various studies and statistics, which aren't really germane to what we, as family members, need to know about the illness, but the bulk of the work is tremendously helpful. We are given the symptoms of the illness, in all of its varied forms, and quite importantly, the current medications are thoroughly discussed, with all of their helps and hindrances, including side effects and interactions with other drugs. It's not an easy book to read, but I don't mean that in the comprehension sense: in that way, anyone can read and understand. It's just that manic depression is such a terrible illness, not only on the person who has it, but on all those around that person who love him or her and try to be helpful. When you read some of the small case studies, and also learn about some of the very tragic situations for those afflicted, sometime you just want to close the book and cry for awhile. However you get through this book, it's essential that you do, for it can only improve everyone's understanding of this illness, and hopefully enable the rest of us to cope with, and love unequivocally, our ill family member. More than any drug or treatment, I truly believe that love and unconditional care from us is essestial. It's not a cure, but it will help.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book of Its Type
Review: This is a typical Torrey performance--arrogant, somewhat informative, and certain to inveigle many undiscriminating readers. I realize that the book couldn't be 500 pages, but 350 would have been nice. Almost every section was too short to do justice to the topic--e.g. brain structure and function; manicdepression from the "inside"; almost nothing on how to survive manicdepression. This is what really makes this book a failure: it doesn't show how someone with manic-depression can survive this dreadful disease. The reason is obvious: it is very difficult to "survive" manic-depression, if you really have it (most diagnoses in the last ten years misread badly manicdepression). I am sure there are some psyhciatrists who realize that bipolar disease needs to be narrowly defined and treated. Torrey is heavily influenced by Kay Jamison who campaigns tirelessly for manicdepression as a diagnosis of choice. Many doctors have been intimidated and have switched from depression (perhaps with ADD) to a diagnosis of manic-depression. Torrey doesn't discuss the possibility that we are in a world, awash with over-diagnosis of this disorder. And, as stated above, this book doesn't live up to its name, whether or not you believe in wide scope of diagnosis of bipolar or, like me, you believe that bipolar has become the flavor of the month. By the way I am considered manic-depressant I (severe depression, never fully escaped and several sever manic attacks), not to mention constant hypomania (ADD ruled out by two nationally regarded doctors). I take Lithium, Lamictal, Seroquel and small amount of Klonopin daily. Also diagosed with chronic anxiety and narcissistic disorder. Several second opinion to ensure proper diagnosis. SO not biased against manic-depression. Only feel that Torrey does poor job explaining disorder and is miles away from writing a book living up to its title. Recommend Patty Duke's book, not Jamison's conceited memoir, nor Styron's essay in self-indulgence
Rating: 
Summary: Some good information, but doesn't measure up to title
Review: This is a typical Torrey performance--arrogant, somewhat informative, and certain to inveigle many undiscriminating readers. I realize that the book couldn't be 500 pages, but 350 would have been nice. Almost every section was too short to do justice to the topic--e.g. brain structure and function; manicdepression from the "inside"; almost nothing on how to survive manicdepression. This is what really makes this book a failure: it doesn't show how someone with manic-depression can survive this dreadful disease. The reason is obvious: it is very difficult to "survive" manic-depression, if you really have it (most diagnoses in the last ten years misread badly manicdepression). I am sure there are some psyhciatrists who realize that bipolar disease needs to be narrowly defined and treated. Torrey is heavily influenced by Kay Jamison who campaigns tirelessly for manicdepression as a diagnosis of choice. Many doctors have been intimidated and have switched from depression (perhaps with ADD) to a diagnosis of manic-depression. Torrey doesn't discuss the possibility that we are in a world, awash with over-diagnosis of this disorder. And, as stated above, this book doesn't live up to its name, whether or not you believe in wide scope of diagnosis of bipolar or, like me, you believe that bipolar has become the flavor of the month. By the way I am considered manic-depressant I (severe depression, never fully escaped and several sever manic attacks), not to mention constant hypomania (ADD ruled out by two nationally regarded doctors). I take Lithium, Lamictal, Seroquel and small amount of Klonopin daily. Also diagosed with chronic anxiety and narcissistic disorder. Several second opinion to ensure proper diagnosis. SO not biased against manic-depression. Only feel that Torrey does poor job explaining disorder and is miles away from writing a book living up to its title. Recommend Patty Duke's book, not Jamison's conceited memoir, nor Styron's essay in self-indulgence
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful for beginners -- not for advanced use
Review: Those lured by the table of contents into thinking they will find new information here about some of the state-of-the-art psychopharmacology for bipolar disorder or revolutionary breakthroughs, etc. will be disappointed by this comprehensive, honest, and hard-working book. It is most appropriate as an introductory guide for laypersons who have been diagnosed themselves or have a family member with bipolar disorder and who want information and reassurance plus referrals to additional sources of information. It is not a book for mental health professionals treating persons with bipolar disorder who are seeking new information about this disease, or for highly informed patients who are already familiar with the course of the illness, its symptoms, available treatments, etc. They will find little that is new here. Nonetheless this is an admirable work that will be very helpful to many people, and it is well organized and comprehensive.
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