An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

Kay Redfield Jamison

Most of us know a friend, acquaintance, or family member who suffers from the mental disease now called “bi-polar disorder”. An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, by Kay Redfield Jamison is an often painfully honest chronicle of a life lived with this disease. According to Oliver Sacks (author of one of my favorite books, recommended here by me last month (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat), “This Book stands alone in the literature of manic-depression for its bravery, brilliance, and beauty.” [Ms Jamison prefers to describe herself as being “manic-depressive” rather than “bi-polar”, as she believes the former, not the latter term is more descriptive of the actual disease from which she suffers.]

Dr. Jamison is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She is considered one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive illness and is the coauthor of the standard medical text.

Kay Jamison’s book is a classic memoir. One is impressed with her honesty and openness. Oliver Sacks was correct in calling attention to her bravery in writing this intimate and powerful book. One gains great insights into the euphoria and depression, and for the first time I personally began to understand why patients are not compliant in taking their lithium.

I consider this another “must-read” for all of us, because it is important to understand this powerful mental disease and how it controls the lives of those who suffer from it. Because the author is both a scientist and a sufferer she brings unique perspective and insights that I would think would be almost impossible to find elsewhere.

Review by Len Oppenheim