[Alffe]

The fly cover states this is a "moving and exhilarating memoir by a woman whose furious determination to learn the enemy, to use her gifts of intellect to make a difference, led her to become, by the time she was forty, a world authority on manic-depression, and whose work has helped save countless lives.

It's a remarkable personal testimony: the revelation of her own struggle since adolescence with manic-depression, and how it shaped her life.

An excerpt...............................

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"So why would I want anything to do with this illness? Because I honestly believe that as a result of it I have felt more things, more deeply; had more experiences, more intensely; loved more, and been more loved; laughed more often, for having cried more often; appreciated more the springs, for all the winters; worn death "as close as dungarees,: appreciated it - and life - more; seen the finest and the most terrible in people, and slowly learned the values of caring, loyalty, and seeing things through. I have seen the breadth and depth and width of my mind and heart and seen how frail they both are, and how ultimately unknowable they both are. Depressed, I have crawled on my hands and knees in order to get across a room and have done it for month after month. But, normal or manic, I have run faster, thought faster, and loved faster than most I know. And I think much of this is related to my illness - the intensity it give to things and the perspective it forces on me. I think it has made me test the limits of my mind (which, while wanting, is holding) and the limits of my upbringing, family, education and friends.

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It's a wonderful, insightful and very readable book. The pages of mine are beginning to fall out! *grin

[Addy]

I bought this book - months ago, when you first told me about it, dear Alffee...
I just dusted it off.
Thank you for reminding me of it again.

I will bring it with me when I go "home".

I'm going to stay with my sister, Sparkle, for about a month - through Christmas and into January. This book will come with me.
I may decide to move back home.
That is why I am going.

It is time I make decisions... another crossroads.

KathyM... if you are reading this - I sure hope your sister makes it there safely. It will take me 8 hours to drive to my sister's home in the Kootenays. I am waiting for a clear day - in the next few weeks.
I love snow but not when I'm driving!

xoooooo dear Alffeeeee! and Bizi (a rock like her dear mom!)

[Alffe]

Oh Addy...the very word "home" conjurs up such warmth and longing. I'm glad you are going to be with Sparkle...you can "try it on" and see how it goes. You don't have to make any life changing decisions in a hurry.

Do take the book with you....I think it's the bible of BiPolar illness!

Please give your sister my best, how well I remember that awful time you both went thru.

[Alffe]

I'm searching for an old post so will be bumping up some in the process.

[Addy]

Well.... well.... well...

well... I did go back to the Kootenays for about 6 wks... don't remember reading the book tho geeze...

well... I did decide to move back there... and I did....

but only for 1 1/2 years because I couldn't stand how boring it was... I'd rather be bored closer to my sons and my lovely grand-Addy so I moved back here

and how right you are... how right you were dear Alffe...