An Unquiet Mind

A Memoir of Moods and Madness

By: Kay Redfield Jamison

Narrated by: Kay Redfield Jamison

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A deeply powerful memoir about bipolar illness that has both transformed and saved lives—with a new preface by the author.

Dr. Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive (bipolar) illness; she has also experienced it firsthand. For even while she was pursuing her career in academic medicine, Jamison found herself succumbing to the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic depressions that afflicted many of her patients, as her disorder launched her into ruinous spending sprees, episodes of violence, and an attempted suicide.

Here Jamison examines bipolar illness from the dual perspectives of the healer and the healed, revealing both its terrors and the cruel allure that at times prompted her to resist taking medication.

©1995 Kay Redfield Jamison (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“An invaluable memoir of manic depression, at once medically knowledgeable, deeply human and beautifully written ... at times poetic, at times straightforward, always unashamedly honest.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Stands alone in the literature of manic-depression for its bravery, brilliance and beauty.”—Oliver Sacks

“Jamison’s [strength] is in the gutsy way she has made her disease her life’s work and in her brilliant ability to convey its joys and its anguish.... Extraordinary.” —Washington Post Book World

Excellent

Well written almost how wet it in style very descriptive allows one to really feel and try to experience what it is like to have manic depressive illness everyone should read it

skips parts of story when read

skips parts of story when read 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Intimate hopefull insight

My son was recently been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Kay relates her own story and struggle which helps me understand more my son and his own struggle, making me more aware and sensitive to the hurdles he will face.
It sheds great light and hope into it.
Is for everybody who would like to understand more about this disorder.

Grateful for those that share the journey

Appreciate the author narrating. Made it much more personal. A few sections were slow.

worth listening to, although highlighter worthy

first: obligatory why oh why does audible only have an abridged version

if something is worth doing, it is worth doing poorly. bc it is better than not doing it at all

Short but amazing

This book was sooo enlightening. Short but still heavy with information and emotion. I felt every word.

Beautiful insightful story

I really appreciate that the author endured the vulnerability required to write an honest account of her life. She brings an authenticity to the story because if it. The book helped my wife and I gain insight into the illness.

I wanted to understand more

The author does a great job of explaining bi-polar disorder. my heart goes out to people suffering from this illness.

Eye opening

The story is a very personal account of this disease. As it is read by the author, one takes away an even more personal account of her struggles, and helps the reader to relate to the story.

A compassionate review of Manic Depressive Disorder.

The author and reader are Kay Jamison. She is a PhD physiologist and clinical practitioner who has studied and lived with manic depressive disorder for over 30 year. The work is elegant and poignant as well as deeply personal and insightful. It is beautiful and recommended for anyone suffering from or living with someone with the disorder.