Madness: A Bipolar Life Audiobook

" I read this book fairly quickly, at least for me, in order to get through it. I had to be hospitalized for two episodes that I had, but my experience, while some descriptions of things such as feeling like hearing people as though we were underwater were relatable, are nothing as intense and extreme and self-destructive as Hornbacher's. I'm sure this is an accurate picture of her bipolar life, and she shares it completely. It's a terrible disorder, and it was terrible to read about it, but I'm glad she wrote it. There's lots of brain research going on these days, so maybe one of these days a cure will be found. "

" I'm a big fan of "Wasted" so I was interested in reading "Madness" because I think she's a great writer. I think this book is valuable because it is a very honest picture of living with a mental illness. Many memoirs, especially ones that deal with depression and/or eating disorders and/or dysfunctional families, sort of (sometimes accidentally, I'm sure) romanticize mental illness as a component of creativity--you know, that people who are a little unstable are more creative artists or writers, or that artists/writers are a little more sensitive, live a slightly more unhinged life, than "normal" people do, etc. etc. But this book makes it very clear that mental illness is brutal and unrelenting and devastating and many times those with mental illnesses are their own worst enemy. And so forth. This would be a good book to read for any adolescents (real or prolonged!) who are a little too dreamy about the whole tortured-artist thing. "

" Loved it. Hated it at first because it was too much like listening to my own thoughts but even louder, and for fun. But she is just a golden writer and story teller and is so easy to follow. Great story. "

" No thank you. I couldn't even finish it. It's just her style of writing. "

" I read Wasted a few years ago, which was really interesting. This book, dealing with her experiences with bipolar is not as good. Going from the timeframe of the book, most if not all of it was written whilst she was really suffering. She talks in the book for example about not sleeping for 3 days and writing non stop during manic phases (so you mean writing this book presumably?) So some chapters are a bit shapeless and page after page of why/what/help/panic/blargh. The bits where she talks about her wild up happy phase blowing all the money she earned from Wasted sales were interesting. Unfortunately for her, this time I borrowed Madness from the library. "

" Marya Hornbacher is well skilled in accounting her personnel journey's. This is a follow up read to an earlier book as well, which has been well appraised. "

" I thought it was awfully depressing having gone through a manic episode myself and coming through it. She was very irresponsible with her meds and ruined her life a bit. But a good read nonetheless. "

" My sister left Madness for me after her last visit. I finally picked it up this morning and haven't been able to put it down since! "

" Slightly interesting, although it was almost stressful at times to read. "

" The one where the eating disorder girl goes on to talk about her experiences with bipolar disorder. "

" A really vivid view of what it's like to live with bipolar disorder...vivid, troubling, and a bit exhausting. (I'm guessing the prose reflects the experience.) "

" Very interesting and educational. It really shows why a person with bipolar disorder behaves the way they do. "

" Wow. It's pretty much all that I can say about this book. I read the author's first book and thought that things really couldn't have gotten much worse for her, but I have to admit that I was not surprised by her diagnosis. As always, the book was beautifully written. "

" A brave, intense book. "

" Good book. Helpful real-life look at Bipolar D/O. "

" Wow! scary! "

" A look at Bipolar that scared me because she writes to experience what she goes through "

" So interesting- I am acquainted with a couple of people who are diagnosed bipolar, and after reading this I think I understand them a little better. And am SO grateful to not have that particular cross to bear. "

" This was hard to get through, yet I couldn't put it down. The whole time, I was relieved and worried throughout the book. Relieved that I am NOT that bad, worried because at times I knew exactly what she was talking about. It's honest and to the point about all that this disease can entail. "

" Thank goodness she wrote this book! In so many ways she has told MY story and I was able to pass this along to people so that they may understand me better. Written with utmost honesty and humor. "