This book gets all the stars from me! Jenny Lawson is one heck of a writer. The book is all short essays (which I normally hate) yet each one was so eThis book gets all the stars from me! Jenny Lawson is one heck of a writer. The book is all short essays (which I normally hate) yet each one was so engrossing, I couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with next. It’s been a long time since a book has made me laugh till tears were streaming down my face! But it’s not all fun. The illnesses she suffers from, especially mental illness was described in ways that gave me powerful insight into just what depression or anxiety REALLY feel like. I’ve suffered from anxiety myself, and could never have described it as well. Just a fantastic read that took me all around that crazy head of hers! ...more
I've put off writing this review for far too long, because I just don't know what to say. It did draw me in at the beginning, but then kept me at a diI've put off writing this review for far too long, because I just don't know what to say. It did draw me in at the beginning, but then kept me at a distance from the characters.
In the story, a fathers mental illness is passed to one of the sons, and is told through his eyes. While this gave me an inside look at the thoughts and actions of one with such an illness, it also distanced me from the deeper emotions of the family. I was left with a feeling of this is what happened. For me, I really missed not having a more personal connection to the story.
I did absolutely love Haslett's writing though. Very sophisticated, yet not overly so. I got to look up many words that I was only somewhat familiar with. (Thank you Kindle.) While this book may have not hit the spot for me, I will be checking out his others....more
Okay, so I literally couldn't put this book down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about when I could get back to it. Burroughs has such a canOkay, so I literally couldn't put this book down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about when I could get back to it. Burroughs has such a candid way of writing. He's full of humor, insight, and I felt like he was sitting right next to me chatting. I do understand why the long title now as he took on so many different topics, the topics that matter most in life. For me, the chapters on disease and dying were the best I've ever read. Others on race and relationships, or emotions such as shame, resentment, and anger were all top notch. Here's a couple of small quotes I loved, "The past does not haunt us. We haunt the past," or "Try to see the therapist as more like a hooker." Seriously, you could throw away every self-help book, or actually the self-help industry would die with one reading of this book. Yup, I loved it!...more
Oh how I wish I liked this one more! It really did start off holding my attention, and I was excited as to where it could lead. However, the writing wOh how I wish I liked this one more! It really did start off holding my attention, and I was excited as to where it could lead. However, the writing was flat, and often I found myself wanting the story to get on with itself. There are lots of theories as to why the main character suffers from amnesia and why he disappears once a week every year only to return home with no memories. Not only does he have no memories of this, but also the first 19-20 years of his life. I felt the strongest part of this book was his determination to uncover what happens during these these missing weeks, as a lot of questions are slowly revealed. Unlike other thrillers though, where a couple holds completely different realities, both here were so similar I felt I was reading the same story twice.
Yes, the boyfriend suffers from amnesia and there are definitely some tense moments throughout. It felt as if the author had a great idea and wanted to keep reinforcing in it. Mainly that being, if we can't collaborate early memories, are they real? (I kinda hope so as an only child) To quote from the book, " Do we not over time believe those altered accounts and fix them to some form of false permanency in our minds? And once a false memory is fixed, how would we know it to be false without someone to corroborate or deny it?" See? Great premise, just didn't follow through for me.
A big thank you to Goodreads first reads giveaways!
I am amazed by this most comprehensive and thoroughly researched book on the subject of psychiatry.A big thank you to Goodreads first reads giveaways!
I am amazed by this most comprehensive and thoroughly researched book on the subject of psychiatry. It's divided into three main sections: The story of diagnosis, The story of treatment, and Psychiatry reborn. I found it fascinating to explore the birth of psychiatry right up to it's present day developments. In fact, I was jotting down so many important details I found myself with 18 pages of notes! It does cover a lot of territory, but Lieberman's writing style flows, and the information is easy to understand and follow. His interspersions of the personal also make it a more intimate read, one I will not soon forget.
The first two sections focus on the history of how diagnosis's were established, and treatments progressed over the years. Some of the early treatments were so bizarre and horrific, I wondered just who was mentally ill! The third section was my favorite as it focuses on the brain itself, genetics, and a disease which not only involves the brain but emotions as well; PTSD. It is a grand adventure to peer into the intricacies of what it took to finally become a respected profession which now offers real help to those who suffer mental illness.
I decided to just list a few of the highlights I felt were the most important gathered from this read.
* From 1800 - 1950 nothing could be done to treat mental illness, which meant a lifetime of languishing in an asylum.
* Physicians used to believe mental illness had moral origins. Those with this disease had chosen to behave badly, and God was punishing them for their sins.
* Two distance professions arose. For identifiable disorders physicians became neurologists. For unidentifiable disorders they became psychiatrists.
* Freud changed U.S. thinking with his use of psychoanalysis, essentially that all mental illness stem from the unconscious. His emphasis on sex is because sex urges are essential for survival, and contribute heavily to a persons evolutionary success.
* Psychiatry is mostly German, as most of the pivotal thinkers originated from this country.
* The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of mental illness was founded in 1844. It is the equivalent to the bible of psychiatry, and directly impacts everything from insurance coverage to whether people go to jail. The DSM - 3 was the most fought over ever published. It firmly established mental illnesses, and now required an M.D.
* In 1973 psychiatry experienced the biggest crisis to date. "Science" journal exposed them as a scam through secret experiments of their own and discovered " They cannot distinguish the same from the insane in psychiatric hospitals." This caused state legislators to cut funding, dumping patients out into the community. It is a very real factor for the U.S.'s current problem with homelessness and prison overpopulation.
* In 1843 most all blacks were considered mentally ill, and advocates of slavery argued that slavery had mental health benefits!
* It took until 1987 to finally eliminate homosexuality from the DSM. Last year the first openly gay man became president of the APA.
The author ends by saying the biggest hinderance to treatment today is the social stigma. He relates a recent encounter with a woman who hard suffered with schizophrenia for 39 years. Her wealthy family had hidden her in a far wing of the home. They were forced to bring her to the hospital when her hands became infected to the point of staff infection. Once treated, they refused mental illness treatment and hid her back in the far wing as how would they explain her disappearance for so long, and what would the woman say once treated.
It is extremely sad with all the available treatments that mental illness is still a mark of shame, especially since it affects one out of four people in their lifetime. The promising areas of research going on in genetics, better drugs to precisely target disease, better tools for diagnostic tests, and so much more provide hope for us all.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in psychiatry. It's all here!...more
I really wanted to read this book as it provoked a stir in the media about the "likability" factor of a character. That, coupled with a friends urgingI really wanted to read this book as it provoked a stir in the media about the "likability" factor of a character. That, coupled with a friends urging, lead me right up the stairs. This book seems to be one that produces so many different reactions by different readers. For me, I was hooked right away, and couldn't put it down.
It actually disturbs me that the question of whether or not Nora (the main character) is likable or not was even brought up. I found her fascinating, and the thought of whether or not I liked her never occurred to me. This really brings up the question of stereotypes in our society, and just how prevalent they are. I found Messud's writing absolutely brilliant, and was enthralled the entire time.
While this book does lack a solid plot, there is so much to chew on. It revolves around Nora, a schoolteacher, who is "the woman upstairs." In the beginning Nora talked about her anger, anger that she is trapped in a world that is a sham. One she feels has limited her in every way. Describing the woman upstairs, she says "We're the quiet women at the end of the 3rd floor hallway, who's trash is always tidy, who smiles brightly in the stairwell with a cheerful greeting, and who, from behind closed doors, never makes a sound...we are furious...we're completely invisible..." She also asks a hypothetical question, given the chance, would we rather fly, or be invisible. She states that most choose to fly, but right away I chose to be invisible, which is maybe why I loved this book so much. But then again, I had never considered Nora's type of invisible.
The entire story centers on a particular period of time in Nora's life where she felt alive and hopeful again. It happens when a particular couple and their young son enter her life and she becomes madly obsessed with them. She falls in love with them, each in a different and profound way. Her dream has always been to be an artist. She feels life has passed her by at the age of 37. To feel this way at 37? Yet, as I look at societies obsession with youth, and, how few women I see over that age, especially in acting, television, and the music industry, it gives me pause. Yet another societal stereotype Messud has cleverly inserted into her story. As Nora's dream was to become an artist, her feelings may not be that far off the mark. Yet, as she is drawn into this families life, she experiences a new passion for her art, and everything she assumed was lost to her. However, these passions only awaken through others. It becomes a scary look into a woman who has no self.
I can't help but look at women who's lives are so bound by what others think of them, how the outside must always look in perfect order, and just how damaging this is. And, where it could lead, through the character of Nora. The ending of this book packs a wallop, and left me wanting to know more. Highly Recommended!
I really enjoyed listening to this one. The author would make a statement, then provide numerous examples. Totally debunked my idea of a psychopath. PI really enjoyed listening to this one. The author would make a statement, then provide numerous examples. Totally debunked my idea of a psychopath. Psychopaths lack empathy, but are experts at covering this flaw. While most are not killers, those that are, are the ones we hear most about as their lack of empathy leads to the most grizzly of murders. Most psychopaths are world class con artists tricking even the best psychiatrists. While there is no single test, what I found the most interesting is the vacant look in their eyes. If fact, it seems to be the only trait recognizable in all psychopaths...and there are a lot more than I ever realized. ...more
This is a book I will cherish for many years to come. In it, Eve Ensler creates dialogues for girls, each inspired "by an article, an experience, a meThis is a book I will cherish for many years to come. In it, Eve Ensler creates dialogues for girls, each inspired "by an article, an experience, a memory, a dream, a wish, an image, or a moment of grief and rage. Many "Girl Facts" are given before topics. One such fact was, "Barbie was based on a German doll named Lilli that was sold as a sexy novelty for men." I adored each and every monologue, sometimes written as prose, poetry, or story. All touched my heart in profound ways, as they each evoked an awareness, a recognition, and heartfelt truths.
Ensler talks about the energy girls possess to change the world, the way they make us question ourselves, often to "wake up!" She shows how girls are under tremendous pressure to please, to fit in, to push themselves to do what boys want, to be pretty and skinny. Many of these monologues left me on tears, or screaming that nothing ever changes. I wish I had this book when I was a girl. Every story, no matter how it is written, often took me back to my own childhood. Yet this book is not one merely for girls, it is written for everyone. The insights are far-reaching as Ensler travels around the world. The main aim of this book is for us all to question rather than to please. Highly recommended....more
This is a true story of the authors journey through and with schizophrenia. I liked how it was told from the various viewpoints of her family, psychiaThis is a true story of the authors journey through and with schizophrenia. I liked how it was told from the various viewpoints of her family, psychiatrists, and her own perspective. I loved the authors writing and how she was able to take me into her world. The experience is something I cannot imagine living. I now have a new understand of how this disease affects everyone in the sufferers life. How it has a sudden onset in the late teens and destroys all connections to the outside world. Voices inside one's head become more real than outside voices. As this took place in the 1980's it showed me the limited options available at the time. I was truly horrified at many of the methods used, one of which was called "the quiet room." A heartfelt thank you to the author for her courage in writing such a deeply personal account....more
I'm giving this book 4 stars because it had me turning pages late into the night. It is a story of a man who lost the love of his life. He becomes obsI'm giving this book 4 stars because it had me turning pages late into the night. It is a story of a man who lost the love of his life. He becomes obsessed with her loss and she begins to visit him each night in his dreams. As the story progresses I had figured out the plot a little more than half way through. Even though I knew what was to come, it did not seem to matter. I needed to know why and how. What I didn't like was how the story focused on his feelings alone no matter who he may hurt along the way. It also would have been nice for the author to find a proofreader before publishing. All on all it will keep your heart racing right along with the pages....more
Just finished this wonderful book, and still have tears in my eyes. Lisa Genova is such an incredible author. This story centers around the lives of tJust finished this wonderful book, and still have tears in my eyes. Lisa Genova is such an incredible author. This story centers around the lives of two women, both looking for answers to some of life's most challenging questions. Although the story seems predictable, as we know their lives will become intwined, it still touched my heart in a way few books do. One woman, Olivia, is searching for answers in the death of her autistic son. The other, Beth, is in the midst of a dissolving marriage, and turns to her long forgotten passion of writing. Little did Beth know her writing would not only answer her own questions, but also those of Olivia. An exquisite look at autism, the meaning of love, and how all our lives are inevitably connected....more
I have a friend who suffers from PTSD due to early childhood trauma and wanted to learn more about this subject. This book did not disappoint. Marla
I have a friend who suffers from PTSD due to early childhood trauma and wanted to learn more about this subject. This book did not disappoint. Marla Handy opened the door to her world and I highly commend her for the amount of courage this took. I cannot pretend to fully understand living with this disorder, as it is beyond my experience. She speaks to the "messiness" of this disorder, explaining the difference between regular PTSD defined by a single traumatizing event such as soldiers experience, and c-PTSD where there is "never a time before things got bad." This changes a person at a biological level. There is never a sense of safety, and she describes her world as a split screen. I highly recommend this book and while there may be no cures, there can be compassion for those who suffer, and as the author states "because we're everywhere"....more
This is a profound book. First, I have to say that professionals who work in the field of mental disorders should listen to there heart and not prof
This is a profound book. First, I have to say that professionals who work in the field of mental disorders should listen to there heart and not professional training. It is truly a sad state that so called "professionals" have no clue. The damage they cause is irreversible, and breaks my heart. I want to tell the author, thank you so much, you are so brave, and you have not only helped me, but I am sure countless others. This is a book that can break your heart, but also bring hope in the honesty of it's telling. Thank you Natalie....more
Debbie "DJ"
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mental-health
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