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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Thought-provoking read about mood disorders specifically bipolar
informative
A really important take by one of the only people I'd trust to take it.
Jamison's premise is a fine line to walk, given that it is near-impossible to nail down definitions of words like "creative" or "inspired," let alone "poet." She does the best she could, using accepted psychological scales and DSM diagnoses. The family heredity trees were beyond fascinating.
She also accounts for wide variation in these conclusions - even with simple possibilities like the mentally ill might simply be more self-aware, and that famous writers might exaggerate their letters knowing they'd be saved for posterity. Again, she covers what angles she can. But overall, much as I wanted to as a bipolar sufferer myself, I didn't find her results compelling. At best it was for me a sort of consolation prize for enduring what we do. I felt like she was telling me, don't worry, at least you're more creative than other people. And given that she clearly began with an expectation in mind, that weakens the draw for me as well.
It's beyond difficult to separate truth from trope here. Still super enjoyable; but I don't feel much more than validated or gratified. I'm not sure if her purpose was any different.
Jamison's premise is a fine line to walk, given that it is near-impossible to nail down definitions of words like "creative" or "inspired," let alone "poet." She does the best she could, using accepted psychological scales and DSM diagnoses. The family heredity trees were beyond fascinating.
She also accounts for wide variation in these conclusions - even with simple possibilities like the mentally ill might simply be more self-aware, and that famous writers might exaggerate their letters knowing they'd be saved for posterity. Again, she covers what angles she can. But overall, much as I wanted to as a bipolar sufferer myself, I didn't find her results compelling. At best it was for me a sort of consolation prize for enduring what we do. I felt like she was telling me, don't worry, at least you're more creative than other people. And given that she clearly began with an expectation in mind, that weakens the draw for me as well.
It's beyond difficult to separate truth from trope here. Still super enjoyable; but I don't feel much more than validated or gratified. I'm not sure if her purpose was any different.
I read this some time ago, and the take-home message only served to underscore the stereotype of The Artist as a tragic figure of tortured genius. Romanticizing mental illness is neither productive nor helpful when discussing it in the context of daily life. Pithy bits of poetry to set the mood at the start of each chapter just felt belittling. Attributing some level of artistic mastery to illness undermines the hard work it takes to achieve that level of skill.
I'd rank it half a star if I could, for upholding a false and damaging ideal.
I'd rank it half a star if I could, for upholding a false and damaging ideal.
The other books by Kay Redfield Jamison that I have read have been fascinating and I also felt very accessible to the average reader interested in these topics. This book was obviously well researched but I thought the reading was dry. It felt like it may be geared to people working in psychology/psychiatry.
I was going to write a well-thought review, but am sitting here on a much-too-hot afternoon and just don't have the energy. So briefly: this book has lots of excellent examples from and about the many artistic people explored. It's relatively easy to read, though I found it a little dense on occasion.
This is such an affirming book for someone like myself who is discovering more about my mental health diagnosis. Really fascinating. I will say though, it's very clinical (which I greatly appreciate) but it's filled with inspiring and relatable quotes and stories from famous historical authors and artists, which I also greatly appreciate. It's not a read for just anyone to pick up and enjoy - would be very, very dry to someone who is not studying the topic or experiencing the topic.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
