An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness and over 670,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
436 used & new from $3.93
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
 
 
See all product images
See all 2 customer images
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness [Paperback]

Kay Redfield Jamison (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (374 customer reviews)
List Price: $15.00
Price: $9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.01 (33%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Wednesday, September 8? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
75 new from $6.75 350 used from $3.93 11 collectible from $9.99

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $8.69   -- --
Hardcover $19.11   $10.95 $1.18
Paperback $9.99   $6.75 $3.93
Audio, Cassette, Audiobook --   -- $49.86
Unknown Binding --   $36.09 --
Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $7.88 or $7.49 with new Audible.com membership

Best Value

Buy An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness and get Nothing Was the Same at an additional 5% off Amazon.com's everyday low price.

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness + Nothing Was the Same
Buy Together Today: $25.67

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness Paperback

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Nothing Was the Same Hardcover

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Nothing Was the Same

Nothing Was the Same

by Kay Redfield Jamison
4.3 out of 5 stars (20)  $16.50
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament

Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament

by Kay Redfield Jamison
3.8 out of 5 stars (62)  $10.88
The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness

The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness

by Lori Schiller
4.8 out of 5 stars (64)  $10.04
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (Modern Library)

Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (Modern Library)

by William Styron
4.3 out of 5 stars (162)  $10.85
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

by Elyn R. Saks
4.5 out of 5 stars (95)  $10.19
› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Touched with Fire, Kay Redfield Jamison, a psychiatrist, turned a mirror on the creativity so often associated with mental illness. In this book she turns that mirror on herself. With breathtaking honesty she tells of her own manic depression, the bitter costs of her illness, and its paradoxical benefits: "There is a particular kind of pain, elation, loneliness and terror involved in this kind of madness.... It will never end, for madness carves its own reality." This is one of the best scientific autobiographies ever written, a combination of clarity, truth, and insight into human character. "We are all, as Byron put it, differently organized," Jamison writes. "We each move within the restraints of our temperament and live up only partially to its possibilities." Jamison's ability to live fully within her limitations is an inspiration to her fellow mortals, whatever our particular burdens may be. --Mary Ellen Curtin

From Publishers Weekly

Jamison's memoir springs from her dual perspective as both a psychiatric expert in manic depression and a sufferer of the disease.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 219 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; 1 edition (January 14, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0679763309
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679763307
  • Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (374 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #1 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Aging > Depression
    #1 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Manic Depression
    #1 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Mood Disorders

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Kay Redfield Jamison
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Kay Redfield Jamison Page
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
I was standing with my head back, one pigtail caught between my teeth, listening to the jet overhead. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
clinical privileges, taking lithium, psychology interns
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Los Angeles, Air Force, Hyde Park, University of California, Johns Hopkins, Colonel Jamison, Neuropsychiatric Institute
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 18 books:
See all 18 books this book cites
 
100 books cite this book:
See all 100 books citing this book

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
96% buy the item featured on this page:
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison Paperback 4.3 out of 5 stars (374)
$9.99
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament
1% buy
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay Redfield Jamison Paperback 3.8 out of 5 stars (62)
$10.88
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales
1% buy
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks Paperback 4.5 out of 5 stars (133)
$10.20
Nothing Was the Same
1% buy
Nothing Was the Same by Kay Redfield Jamison Hardcover 4.3 out of 5 stars (20)
$16.50
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(86)
(67)
(57)
(47)
(36)
(33)
(26)
(11)
(9)
(6)
Agree with these tags?
See all 92 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

374 Reviews
5 star:
 (238)
4 star:
 (60)
3 star:
 (37)
2 star:
 (16)
1 star:
 (23)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (374 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
476 of 490 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive and enlightening, December 7, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Paperback)
Over the past 20 years I've had several friends who suffered from manic-depressive illnesses. It's abundantly clear to me that the disease is primarily biochemical and "not their fault." But I had trouble understanding why these people refused to take their medication (or stopped taking it after they started) and otherwise engaged in massive denial. Jamison's frank and well-written book was a revelation: now I feel I have a better sense of the seductiveness of mania, and why creative, intelligent people are often willing to risk the lows of their illness for the sake of the highs. As Jamison points out emphatically, however, the long-term effects of bipolar disorder can be devastating mentally and physically (not to mention the financial and personal fallout) -- hence her crusade to understand the basis of the illness, and learn how to fine-tune the medication so that the sufferer achieves equilibrium without deadening the sensitivity and creativity that often accompany this disease. I'd already read "Night Falls Fast," which is also excellent, but this book set out the personal story behind Jamison's research interests. While she insists that love alone won't cure the disease, it's also clear that, without the love of her loyal friends, this intelligent, talented, and articulate woman might never have made it through the more difficult years, let alone become a respected authority in her profession. Anyone who suffers from bipolar disorders, and those who love them, should read this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
193 of 201 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Manic/Depressive - The Inside View, March 30, 2001
By Elderbear (Loma Linda, Aztlan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   
This review is from: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Paperback)
What's it like to have an incurable, but manageable disease? One that changes your perceptions of the world around you, loosens your inhibitions or cripples your ability to do anything? Kay Redfield Jamison pours out her experience of living with a mood disorder, using descriptive, image-evoking prose.

This book contains her life story, told from the point, not just of a disease sufferer, but also from the standpoint of a healer. Dr. Jamison is both. As a psychotherapist & professor of psychiatry, not only did she write a definitive book on the treatment of manic-depressive illness, but she also suffers from the disease herself.

We read her first-person account of how the disease snuck into her life. How parts of it were seductive and alluring, how she enjoyed having the extra energy, the industry; but also how that energy would turn to mania, would be damaging. Then we learn how dark, how bleak the downs could be. She exposes her struggle with medication, how she felt it limited her, how difficult it was to find and maintain the correct dose. We learn about the impact of her disease on her relationships.

She examines the path of manic-depressive illness in her life and paints a picture for the reader. One cannot put this book down without being touched. If you, or somebody you know, suffers from a mood disorder, this book is =REQUIRED= reading. If you would like a deep insightful read, not only will you enjoy this book, but you'll come away from it with a new appreciation for living with a chemically balanced brain.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
104 of 110 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial for Understanding Bipolar, March 18, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Paperback)
I picked up a copy of this book at an airport bookstore on my way to a job interview. I typically never read autobiographies or memoirs, but the title of this "An Unquiet Mind" resonated so perfectly with the type of hypomania that I experience. I had just been diagnosed and was (am still) dealing with the stigma, questioning, repercussions, misunderstandings, explanations, etc. This book, written by an authority with both clinical and personal knowledge of manic depression, gave me a better understanding of my own condition, as well as the means to educate others (friends, family) who can't grasp that what they thought was me is actually my illness. Jamison's is the best book I have found to date that can provide insight into the lived experience of both mania and depression. I recommend it to anyone in the field of mental health, as well as to those of us diagnosed bipolar and our families and friends. This is definitely crucial reading to develop an understanding of this devastating disorder.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Important message
This author discusses a difficult topic which has many unrelated symptoms. She pulls it all together through her own difficult life long struggle and makes it a valuable resource... Read more
Published 10 days ago by joyinHawaii

5.0 out of 5 stars Hi Sis, I am Bipolar
After being diagnosed I called my sister and blurted it out. Her reply? "Finally, we all knew that, now you do." Researching the disease, I came across this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lizzie Lin

1.0 out of 5 stars Keep looking, there must be something better.
This was required reading for my psy. class and it's the only reason I read it. My text book did a better job of explaining bipolar spectrum disorder than this book did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Davidson

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and great!
This book was recommended to my family by a therapist. She said we needed to own it, so I went to Amazon. The book was well worth purchasing and it came super fast. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. E. Swain

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!
Whether you are a student or a a sufferer, this book is very usefull. It explained many situations to myself, and helped me relate to others.
Published 3 months ago by Jennifer L. Mardin

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about bipolar disorder, an inside view
As a psychiatrist I've read it during my fellow.
It's a great book for patients, family and mental health professionals. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Alvarez

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Inspiring
This is the first book I have read about anything having to do with psychology, and I have to say, I absolutely loved it! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bob

5.0 out of 5 stars Unquiet Mind- POWERFUL
This is actually my second copy of the book, I had lent it out to someone and they didn't return it before moving away. Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. Duhan

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing & eye-opening!
This book will give you a new (and much needed) perspective on how someone with bi-polar not only views life, but also the extreme difference in how they sometimes experience... Read more
Published 4 months ago by K. Erwin

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unquiet Mind, by Kay Redfield Jamison
For anyone who suffers with a mental illness called manic-depressive disorder, or anyone who is related to someone in that position, this book could bring hope. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Janet S. Gary

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
what happened to Dana Wang's review of this book? 0 January 2007
› See all discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:

















i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.