Customer Reviews

Mind Race: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Bipolar Disorder (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a professional, I am always on the alert to find books that educate me, my clients, and their families. When a family member can have an experience of reading a similar account of what their loved one who is afflicted with that illness cannot say to them directly, it can build a bridge of understanding that weeks of family therapy may not be able to do. Understanding may not fix a situation, but it can open a window of compassion. This book does that and is quite readable as well - accurate, funny, poignant, and real. I highly recommend it.

A wonderful, easy to understand, first person narrative about coming to grips with bi-polar disorder. It was eye opening to read about what it is like to have bi-polar - especially from the perspective of a young person. Whether you are diagnosed or are the friend, spouse or co-worker of one who is dealing with bipolar, this book will help you learn how to navigate through the highs and lows. It is also very encouraging to know that that this young man learned how to manage his disease and succeed in life. There is hope.

A well-written and thoroughly enjoyable book. I enjoyed the anecdotal aspects of Patrick's story, and would have actually preferred more of this. Some readers may be expecting this to have been written by a fifteen-year-old, given the title, but it's clearly stated on the cover that he has a PhD. The book covers a lot of ground in a highly entertaining, creative, and informative manner. Readers will learn a lot about bipolar disorder in this concise book. Paul Fitzgerald, author of: Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health

As the parents of a wonderful child who is being treated for a chemical imbalance in her brain that has been recently diagnosed (after years of miss diagnosis) as bipolar, we have found that this book has given us more insight into the illness than any other book we have read to date (which is quite a few). This is NOT a reference book with general advice on treating the condition, but a single person's experience with it. While his experiences are not the same as ours, this telling is very vivid and understandable, and he pulls no punches while not getting preachy. He brings up many of the issues that face this illness including the impacts it has on friendships, lifestyle, how certain terminology in our society can affect the person struggling with these issues. The book is a short easy read that touches on many aspects of the treatments but not as a reference but more as an explanation. His use of humor to ease some of the heavy parts is excellent, and the book has become a wonderful way to open dialog with all members of our family. We have purchased a number of copies of the book and are sharing them with others. THANK YOU Patrick Jamieson. You have given us both the focus of seriousness of the condition as well as hope that our wonderful child can live a full and wonderful life.

This book shows me personally. Living with bipolar, I formed a connection. With humor, yet poignant truth this book clearly depicts inner turmoil and shame experienced. His constant denial of a psychological diagnosis was the lack of education of society during his upbringing; where brain based chemical imbalances defined you "crazy" and "dangerous." The book's complete honesty using layman terms can depict the two unpredictable uproars of "mass destruction." Where mania and depression play tug a war inside a solitary body. GOOD READ.

This book is a well-written and interesting first person account of the coming of age of a teenager with bipolar disorder. It is the best book I've seen that describes what what mania and depression feels like. It discusses all the pertinent topics, drugs, depression, mania, suicidal feelings and hospitalization, including why one would be hospitalized and what it is like being in hospital. The author talks about all these things as he has experienced them, which is the chief strength of the book. I would recommend this book for anyone who is bipolar and for the family and friends of people who are bipolar. It is very well done.

This book was very informative and gave answers I was searching for. I liked the "first person" format. It made it easier to relate to the problems the author had while growing up. Excellent Book!

This is the story, written autobiographical style, about a boy diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It takes you from the begining and answers frequently asked questions about the disorder. This book really helps you gain a perspective on having a disorder, especially highlighting the manic and depressive episodes. Highly recommended reading for anyone who may be, or will be working with individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder or other mood disorders.

I was very dissapointed with this book. Fortuantely I bought it through marketplace and didn't spend too much on it. The book was a waste of my time. Also the book is deceptive, it sates that it is told from the reference of a teen, but it is told from the reference of an adult who, at that, mentions more of medication and treatment. Not more that 30 pages are towards his experience in a psych wards as a teen. It also looks more like a pamphlet than a book.

This book is geared towards teenegers and recommended for ages 9-12 by Amazon. I am 39 and found it to have way too many big words and full of poor humor. Overall, I think there are alot better books on this subject for teenagers.