The Music of Madness [Paperback]

Tracy Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 2002

The Music of Madness is a book about a young, talented concert flutist and her harrowing journey from sanity into madness and back again. This true story is an odyssey that takes you through the dark cells of mental institutions to the lighted stages of concert halls. Come travel with the author as she journeys from her innocent childhood to the dark world of hallucinations, her face off with death and her emergence into the light of hope and final triumph as she reclaims her career and more importantly her sanity and her right to live life as it was meant to be. The Music of Madness is an inspirational book for all those who have felt the anguish and hopelessness of mental illness either for themselves or for a loved one. This painfully honest story is a source of renewed faith in life and provides everyone who reads it with a stronger belief in the strength of the human spirit. This book brings to everyone¡¯s library an exciting adventure full of truth, and the qualities that all of us share in surviving this chancy yet exciting existence we call life. The Music of Madness; have you heard it?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ms. Harris is presently Director of The Center for Music-Theoretic Research at the Pacific Center for Advanced Studies. www.PacificCenterforAdvancedStudies.com. She is an accomplished flute soloist giving recitals and concerto performances throughout the country, often giving concerts which combine her passion for music with advocacy for the mentally ill.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: IUniverse (January 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595212565
• ISBN-13: 978-0595212569
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,244,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully written book and a vivid portrayal, March 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Music of Madness (Paperback)

I just finished reading The Music of Madness and I was amazed at Tracy Harris' ability to draw the reader into her descent into madness. Her descriptions of her hallucinations, hospitalizations and depression are incredibly vivid and they reminded me of my brother, who also suffers from a severe mental illness. Her writing is beautiful and I couldn't put it down once I started. I think anyone who has suffered from mental illness could benefit from reading this book. The author's message is one of incredible hope. I have given this book to my brother to read so that he too can see that it truly is possible to lead a rewarding life, even with a severe mental illness. It was fascinating to witness the author's great talent for music and her mind's terrible madness merge into one incredible and unique experience. Bravo to the author for having the courage to share her painful mental illness with the world. Through sharing her story the author affords us all a better understanding of those that are suffering everyday with mental illness!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A candid struggle of one womans anguished mental affliction, February 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Music of Madness (Paperback)

Robert H. Gerner, M.D, Assoc. Research Psychiatrist- UCLA:

This is a candid struggle of one woman's anguished mental affliction and resolution experienced through the lens of her earlier gift of music. Patients, families and professional alike can readily feel her inner struggle with distorted perceptions of the world around her, and share in the reconstruction of her identity as an individual.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful story with a wonderful message of hope and healin, February 22, 2002

By 

Pacific Center for Advanced Studies (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Music of Madness (Paperback)

The Music of Madness is a book about a talented concert flutist and her harrowing journey from sanity into madness and back again. This true story is an odyssey that takes you through the dark cells of mental institutions to the lighted stages of concert halls. One is able to travel with the author as she journeys from her innocent childhood to the dark world of hallucinations, her face-off with death and her emergence into the light of hope and final triumph as she reclaims her career and more importantly her sanity and her right to live life as it was meant to be. The Music of Madness is an inspirational book for all those who have felt the anguish and hopelessness of mental illness either for themselves or for a loved one. This painfully honest story is a source of renewed faith in life and provides everyone who reads it with a stronger belief in the strength of the human spirit. This book brings to everyone's library an exciting adventure full of truth, and the qualities that all of us share in surviving this chancy yet exciting existence we call life.

Also recommended: A Beautiful Mind