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Kay Redfield Jamison

Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament Paperback – October 18, 1996

by Kay Redfield Jamison (Author)

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The definitive work on the profound and surprising links between manic-depression and creativity, from the bestselling psychologist of bipolar disorders who wrote An Unquiet Mind.

One of the foremost psychologists in America, “Kay Jamison is plainly among the few who have a profound understanding of the relationship that exists between art and madness” (William Styron).

The anguished and volatile intensity associated with the artistic temperament was once thought to be a symptom of genius or eccentricity peculiar to artists, writers, and musicians. Her work, based on her study as a clinical psychologist and researcher in mood disorders, reveals that many artists subject to exalted highs and despairing lows were in fact engaged in a struggle with clinically identifiable manic-depressive illness.

Jamison presents proof of the biological foundations of this disease and applies what is known about the illness to the lives and works of some of the world's greatest artists including Lord Byron, Vincent Van Gogh, and Virginia Woolf.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Free Press
Publication date

October 18, 1996
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.9 x 8.44 inches
ISBN-10

068483183X
ISBN-13

978-0684831831
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From Publishers Weekly

Drawing from the lives of artists such as Van Gogh, Byron and Virginia Woolf, Jamison examines the links between manic-depression and creativity.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, is the bestselling author of An Unquiet Mind, Touched with Fire, and other books. She is a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and has been named a “Hero of Medicine” by Time.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Press; Reissue edition (October 18, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 068483183X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684831831
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.44 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #67,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in Behavioral Psychology (Books)
- #61 in Coping with Bipolar Disorder
- #62 in Social Services & Welfare (Books)

Customer Reviews:
562 ratings

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Kay Redfield Jamison

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Kay Redfield Jamison (born June 22, 1946) is an American clinical psychologist and writer. Her work has centered on bipolar disorder, which she has had since her early adulthood. She holds a post of Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is an Honorary Professor of English at the University of St Andrews.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Unknown, Copyright Holder is JHMI [CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

5 star		72%
4 star		14%
3 star		7%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Tree

A serious read.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020

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Explains everything I have been experiencing since I was a little kid. I have bipolar, and went un-diagnosed my whole life. The highs and low, mixed states, the intense experiences.
Every page has 1 or more references and meanings to my life experiences. I am lucky to have been able to find a good psych to help me understand my wonderful madness.
Collage level book.

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

silencenomore

This is a great read expressing reference to the great artist and genius ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2016

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This is a great read expressing reference to the great artist and genius minds of people with manic-depressive illness. The expression of the arts allows the person with manic-depression to express and create. The mind is constant in suffering, understanding, and finding a need to be creative with expression. Manic-depression is greatly misunderstood. The mind may be lacking in certain chemicals, but in intelligence and talent the gifts are profound. I enjoy realizing some of the greatest artist and world famous people suffered from the same illness I have. I have had the pleasure of meeting the late Patty Duke an advocate for mental health, and Mariel Hemingway. I seek out books expressing mental health, and the positive influences of people. Also, the real struggles and stories of people and the family who try to hard to understand mental health. Thank you for bringing a positive light to the greatness of this disease. I would recommend this book.

26 people found this helpful

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Adam C. Misra

Kindle This Fire

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2015

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Few authors can address the delicate points of mental illness with such wisdom and discretion. Manic-Depressive Illness (Bipolar Disorder I) is a terribly difficult illness to explain to those who have not had close contact with those afflicted. You are not simply on a see-saw emotionally but can experience dysphoric periods of mixed depressive and manic symptoms. With the increasing parallels between Bipolar Disorder and the Schizophrenia spectrum disorders it has even been given a place outside of the Mood Disorders category.

Touched with Fire was written long ago, it seems, but reaches even further into the past to examine the unique place Manic-Depression has had throughout history in an objective manner. One of the keys is that Dr. Jamison addresses the taboo subject of Mania having 'beneficial' effects along with detrimental ones. The nature of the illness is also one that causes the afflicted to occasionally rise to prominence due to the properties of the manic state where they may not have had the momentum and 'fire' were they not of the afflicted.

This topic is personal for me, but there is a truly worldwide audience for this book; it's not just those directly touched by Bipolar Disorder who should pay attention. If history was shaped, in part, by a certain brain phenomenon still shifting its position in the diagnostic world, there should be curiosity kindled and research amped up. If those who can't help but dissect the brains of serial killers and gaze at the physical totem of Einstein's own were to return to a state of wonder at this ailment that gives and takes brilliance than perhaps the diagnostic system for mental illness might get a much-needed reboot.

26 people found this helpful

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P Spencer Norby

I have this condition, lost the book so bought another one. The book is right on.

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2020

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In a world where we all exist for the convenience of those the industrial/banking complexes, this book explains just why creatives just do not fit into the corporate convenience. Bouncing between suicidal thoughts and wild fits of creativity... this tells why.

6 people found this helpful

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Carol A.

Copyright is 1993

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2021

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This is dense writing. It explores the interesting idea that manic depression/bipolar and other psychological conditions are more prevalent in artistic, creative individuals than in the general population. There are several problems with this argument as you will realize as reading it. There is also some pretty good evidence that this is true, which brings forth other questions about treating affected people with medication that knocks that creativity out of them. The copyright goes back almost 30 years, which makes this pretty outdated, so current research and even diagnosis criteria are now different.

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Kel Lemieux

Amazing Text (Less Structure Than One Might Suppose)

Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2021

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What I like about this book is that it is about the human condition for cultural professionals (dancers, poets, etc...) and just how much of that 'thing' is a mental disability. What I do not like about this book (so far) is an impressionistic textual structure (but don't I love the Impressionists?!) I have finished the first two chapters. Manic-Depression does qualify an artist for Social Security Disability Income.

One person found this helpful

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Antiggy98

Great Book aboutut BiPolar and its link to Art

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019

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I have bought this book as least 3 times and I lend it and it never comes back! This book describes the relation to this Disorder and all forms of Art.

7 people found this helpful

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Elizabeth Martin

kind of boring

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020

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I bought this when someone recommended it to me when i was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

I guess it's good to know that talented people in history with bipolar disorder were able to accomplish great works, but it's really not all that engaging. It's just case study after case study. I actually gave it away after I read it, knowing I would never read it again.

One person found this helpful

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David H

Informative and interesting take on the “tortured artist”

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2019

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Redfield Jamison is a world authority on manic depressive, or bipolar, illness and her expertise really shines through in this book. The book is an interesting and needed take on the notion of the “mad genius” and “tortured artist”. The book is thorough and informative, including both scientific evidence and biographical information from famous creatives (such as Tennyson, Melville, Van Gogh, Woolf and Hemingway). Some may be distracted by Jamison’s inclusion of graphs, though these serve to illustrate her point and clearly lay out required information. Those who do not appreciate such illustrations can simply skip over them, and would lose nothing in doing so due to their explanation in the text.

A great deal of the book involves analysing the works, biographies and correspondence of creative types who were plagued by mental illness. This is required and necessary given the topic, and each analysis bolsters the author’s argument. Some may, however, find the many literary inclusions distracting, especially if one had been expecting a more straightforward scientific book and is unused to subjective testimony used in this way. That said, they are integrated well into the text and it is easy to follow. My only complaint is the occasional deep dive into a particular individual, such as chapter 5’s subject Byron, which I found less engaging than marshaling an argument with reference to a multitude of individuals.

The book also delves into the fraught ethical and social terrain of treating those who may, in some way, benefit from their illness. Jamison rightly points out the many artists who claim to have been inspired or made productive by mental illness, and asks hard questions over whether treatment may dampen creative abilities. As expected, the answers are unclear, but Jamison marshals facts and biographic details to clarify the problem and recognize the problems of forgoing treatment as well.

All in all, the book is intriguing, well written and informative. Concrete examples and meticulous referencing highlight the work that has gone into it, and its factual basis does not prevent the book from making a moving and emotional read. For anyone interested in mood disorders, the nature of creativity and the notion of the “tortured artist” this book is a must read, giving a deep insight into the complex nature of creativity and mood. Readers would serve themselves well in checking out Jamison’s other work as well, particularly her moving memoir “An Unquiet Mind”.

One person found this helpful

Josh Reynolds

or the like. She possesses a degree of artistic and critical ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2016

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A fascinating read - especially as I am affected by the disease Ms Jamison discusses (with deft synthesis of a range of artists, in a manner, if I may say so, surprising for one whose academic qualifications do not include literature, art history, or the like. She possesses a degree of artistic and critical flair which should delight an open-minded reader who is interested in her thesis). Unfortunately, there is a grain of salt to be taken alongside the product, albeit only for those affected by Bipolar Disorder: one should not take this work as a license to take on a warped view of oneself. Manic-depression is not a superpower, nor is it a boon to an artist - if anything, it is a great hindrance to the would-be artist, stifling them with undue anguish and much lost time instead of hours of happy creativity.

We cannot all be Tennessee Williams, Ezra Pound, Van Gogh, Lord Byron or whomever else she puts under the yoke of Bipolar Disorder. Nonetheless, she reveals some of the "silver linings" of Bipolar Disorder - one which is the experience heightened emotional states; if you are a young artist perusing the reviews and considering purchasing this work, I would advise that you do so. Ms Jamison, as a sufferer, captures the experience of the condition succinctly while providing a series of case studies on the subject. If you're at all literary-minded, the book should be a joy of itself, but if you also suffer from the condition, you will discover another layer of fascination and poignancy to the work.

This review is not meant to discourage would-be readers who have not experienced or witnessed this condition. It is a superb work, and if you're curious, I would advise that you feed your fascination!

11 people found this helpful

Martyn J Pass

Informative but meaty

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2019

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Informative but a heavy slog. Thought I had loads left to read but turned out there’s a massive appendix at the end.

2 people found this helpful

Grego

Great book worth reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great book

One person found this helpful

Eleanor

Good product

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

Product exactly as described. Book itself is a little difficult to read.

2 people found this helpful

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