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The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness Paperback – August 12, 2008

by Elyn R. Saks (Author)

595 customer reviews

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A much-praised memoir of living and surviving mental illness as well as "a stereotype-shattering look at a tenacious woman whose brain is her best friend and her worst enemy" (Time).

Elyn R. Saks is an esteemed professor, lawyer, and psychiatrist and is the Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, Psychiatry, and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Law School, yet she has suffered from schizophrenia for most of her life, and still has ongoing major episodes of the illness.

The Center Cannot Hold is the eloquent, moving story of Elyn's life, from the first time that she heard voices speaking to her as a young teenager, to attempted suicides in college, through learning to live on her own as an adult in an often terrifying world. Saks discusses frankly the paranoia, the inability to tell imaginary fears from real ones, the voices in her head telling her to kill herself (and to harm others), as well as the incredibly difficult obstacles she overcame to become a highly respected professional. This beautifully written memoir is destined to become a classic in its genre.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Elyn Saks has been to hell and back . . . chilling."―San Francisco Chronicle

"Her descriptions of her descents into psychosis are riveting."―Entertainment Weekly (Grade: A-)

About the Author

Elyn R. Saks is Associate Dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School, an expert in mental health law and a Mac¬Arthur Foundation Fellowship winner. She graduated from Oxford as a Marshall Scholar and received her J.D. from Yale Law School. She has published three books and more than two dozen articles, and serves on the board of several mental health foundations. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Will Vinet.

Product details

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Hachette Books; Reprint edition (August 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781401309442
ISBN-13: 978-1401309442
ASIN: 1401309445
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 595 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > West
- #4 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Schizophrenia
- #5 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Social Scientists & Psychologists

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As a mother of a schizophrenic, I lovingly thank the author

April 6, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Having grown up with a maternal grandmother with severe bi-polar, a mother who was diagnosed bi-polar in her later life , an uncle who committed sucicide and now a grown son suffering with schizophrenia, I must share my sincere thanks to the author. For those who had issues with this honest, heart-wrenching story, I pray that you never have to experience how a loved one suffers with this disease and I strongly suggest that you take time to thank God that mental illness has not entered your life. Through constant weekly counseling, a committed personal psychiatrist and a network of loving and supportive friends and family members, I am confident that I continue to do everything possible to find the strength, tools and ongoing hope that my son will be able to lead a productive and happy life. Mrs Saks has provided me with the insight into my son's daily struggles. He has come to a stage in his illness where he is sharing more and more of what is happening in his mind and we can discuss how he feels. After reading everything I can get my hands on, this personal biography with its explicit detail, has helped me cope and find answers to the ever-changing situations and challenges that are faced daily. My mother got involved in the mental health movement at an early age. Consequently, through her volunteer work and commitment to helping my grandmother who suffered for over 35 years, mother connected with mental health professionals who first experimented with lithium used for alcoholics and then those suffering from bi-polar. After the normal compliance issues, my grandmother's twilight years were peaceful and happy due to lithium. She lived out her life with grace and dignity. My hope is that my son, too, will find his way back from this disease and find a way to give back to society like Mrs Saks has done. Thank you for giving me this forum to share a small portion of my story. Thank you Mrs Saks - you are helping me and my son beyond your wildest dreams!

52 people found this helpful

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JoyfulLittleRiver

A Glimpse into the Life of Someone with Schizophrenia: A Humbling Read

January 22, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

"The Center Cannot Hold" by Elyn R. Saks

I acquired this book through my daily emails from BookBub and this one particularly stood out to me. In my quest to read books that are on atypical topics, this one fit the mold perfectly!

As an individual who has never experienced mental health issues, I have always sought to understand and read books such as this; books that tell of the experience from the perspective of someone who lives through it.

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age in which mental health continues to be stigmatized, particularly in the case of conditions such as schizophrenia. This happens, in part, because the only time we are ever exposed to such a disease is through a negative and skewed lens.

This book was a joy to read, but it was also incredibly hard. Elyn did an amazing job of relaying her life experiences with her disease, so much so that at times I felt as if my thoughts were also becoming disorganized. She blew me away with her way of presenting to the reader the disorganized thinking that is typical of an individual with schizophrenia. And because of her ability to coherently give the reader insight to this pattern of thinking, you begin to understand why and how an individual could find themselves thinking the thoughts that they are.

Elyn writes in a manner that makes it easy for you to feel like you are there with her, during her entire journey of trying to come to terms with her disease. You grow attached to some of her therapists and doctors, just as you are appalled at the behaviors of others. You feel her anxiety when having to change therapists, and hope the next one will be attune to her needs. Most importantly, you begin to understand why someone with her disease would be so focused on not taking any medicine. This is again, something that those of us who have never experienced such illnesses cannot even begin to understand.

I definitely count myself lucky for having stumbled upon this book and it has given me invaluable insight on what it means to have schizophrenia and the harrowing journey that many who have this disease must face. Most importantly, I feel like I have a slightly better understanding of the disease itself and how it affects those who have it.

Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of memoirs and is interested in finally having schizophrenia explained from the perspective of one affected by it.

*Please remember that calling someone a schizophrenic is offensive for it makes the person and the disease one. When a person has cancer you do not start calling them cancerous, or say they are cancer, just as you should not call someone with schizophrenia a schizophrenic.

18 people found this helpful

Comment

Irene P. Kittrell

It's a Wonderful Book

October 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It's hard to find the words to describe how deeply touching this book is. Elyn Saks is a champion who has achieved so much in her life while having a huge, unpredictable albatross around her neck, schizophrenia. Her story is about the triumph of her intellect and spirit over a sometimes extremely unruly brain. She's a skilled writer: when she was fearful, I was too. When things went well, I was happy for her. When she achieved her goals I was so happy that the tears welled. It's a cliff hanger until the end and throughout the book I wondered "Will she be able to meet this challenge too? If you've ever wondered what it's like to live with schizophrenia, this book will provide a vivid account. It's a wonderful book and the Kindle text-to-voice worked perfectly. Elyn is great company and an inspiration. I'll be reading her book again.

6 people found this helpful

Comment

Incredibly Fascinating Book and Woman

January 21, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

One of the most fascinating books I've ever read! The author delves so deeply into her own psychotic ramblings and her journey through hospitalizations, psychotherapy and the entire mental health field. There are points where it feels as though she is bragging on her accomplishments which came across as being egotistically motivated...initially, but after reading further and sitting with the idea a bit longer I now believe their frequent appearances are there to inspire those who struggle with mental health challenges, especially schizophrenia. Check out her Ted Talk on you tube if you still aren't sure if you should get it. I recommend this very highly for anyone interested in psychology, psychiatry, psychosis, or even just like a story of nearly impossible triumph. On a side note, if you do not suffer from psychosis or schizophrenia I doubt you could finish reading this book and not feel much better about your thoughts/feelings/actions that you don't fully understand yet.

12 people found this helpful

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