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Weekends at Bellevue Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,440 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Julie Holland thought she knew what crazy was. Then she came to Bellevue. For nine eventful years, Dr. Holland was the weekend physician in charge of Bellevue's psychiatric emergency room. Deciding who gets locked up and who gets talked down would be an awesome responsibility for most people. For her, it was just another day at the office...
In an absorbing memoir laced with humor, Holland provides an unvarnished look at life in the Psych ER, recounting stories from her vast case file that are alternately terrifying, tragically comic, and profoundly moving. As Holland comes to understand, the degree to which someone can lose his or her mind is infinite, and each patient's pain leaves a mark on her as well--as does the cancer battle of a fellow doctor who is both her best friend and her most trusted mentor.
Writing with uncommon candor about her life both inside and outside the hospital, Holland supplies a fascinating glimpse into the inner lives of doctors, struggling to maintain perspective in a world where sanity is in the eye of the beholder.
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"I thought this book was pretty fascinating to read. I was amazed by all that the author went through working the weekend, night shift of a pysch hospital. The author of this book is quite the wild child so I didn't always agree with the things she did. Overall, the book was very interesting to read!"
— Brooke (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“An extraordinary insider’s look at the typical days and nights of that most extraordinary place, written with a rare combination of toughness, tenderness, and outrageous humor.”
— Andrew Weil, MD, New York Times bestselling author -
“Unforgettable…Tells a mean story.”
— New York Daily News -
“The tension between [Holland’s] macho swagger and her shame at the harsh way she occasionally treats patients gives this memoir extra intrigue.”
— Psychology Today -
“A gem of a memoir…Holland takes us for a ride through the psych ER that is at once wild and poignant, a ride that leaves deep tracks in even the healthiest of minds.”
— Katrina Firlik, MD, author of Another Day in the Frontal Lobe
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Weekends at Bellevue Listener Reviews
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" You would think that Dr. Holland would have a lot of interesting stories to tell. Not so much. I also couldn't get past the author's narcissism. We get it, you're smart and a bad-ass... "
— Michelle, 2/12/2014 -
" Some interesting stories here... disappointed at some big examples of transphobia. "
— Cat, 2/6/2014 -
" So interesting! Especially for someone in the mental health field "
— Camille, 1/30/2014 -
" As someone who has worked in all types of mental health settings, I couldn't wait to read this book. I found the author to be a bit self indulgent and was dissappointed that there was more about her than stories of her patients. "
— Synne, 1/21/2014 -
" I do appreciate her honesty, but she really annoyed me. "
— Kris, 1/21/2014 -
" Interesting book about Dr. Hollands eight years in Bellevue's mental health unit. However I am disturbed at Dr. Holland's lack of clinical skills. She might be good at diagnosis and prescribing the correct medication but patients with mental illness need a psychiatrists to have clinical talk therapy skills. Dr. Holland herself goes into therapy in an attempt to improve her interaction with her patients. Sadly in my opinion she never reaches the levels of compassion needed to treat patients with severe mental illness. I was relieved that Dr. Holland left Bellevue hospital at the end of the book. "
— Katherine, 1/17/2014 -
" couldn't finish b/c of extreme boredom. "
— Ashley, 1/6/2014 -
" Went in thinking would be a telling book about mental illness - but was more of a memoir. Some parts good though. "
— Robert, 12/31/2013 -
" Physician, heal thy self! "
— Leigh, 12/16/2013 -
" This was a good book, but I was hoping the book would have more patient stories and less about the author's life. All in all a decent book, one I would recommend to others. "
— Missy, 12/7/2013 -
" Not nearly as interesting as I had hoped for. When I finished the book I thought that the author was never a person I would want to know. "
— Heather, 8/20/2013 -
" I would have liked more about the hospital & patients and less about her life. "
— Jennifer, 12/31/2012 -
" Loved it! Julie Holland is brilliant. Just heard it's going to be made into a TV show. "
— Lauren, 10/12/2012 -
" I won this book on the giveaways and I'm glad I did! It is probably a book I might not have boughten off the shelf, not my normal type. But it was really interesting and gave insight into a topic I knew nothing about. Readers should check it out! "
— Caithlin, 7/10/2012 -
" thoroughly enjoyed this book. Julie Holland is an engaging and entertaining writer. "
— Naida, 7/4/2012 -
" It gives me unhappy feelings when I feel like I wouldn't get along with the author as a person, but there ya go. Maybe it was just how interesting Bellevue was vs. how completely typical her life & struggles were. Conclusion: wish there was a "just the crazy parts" version. "
— Janet, 2/12/2012 -
" I read this book in a weekend. I really liked it and it brought me back to my days at the state psych hospital. She has a good way of writing that made me able to relate to what she was sayng and also think of my own life journey. "
— Mindy, 10/5/2011 -
" Started stronger than it finished but still a very intersting look at ER psych medicine. "
— Kristin, 8/29/2011 -
" Allows the reader to be a fly on the wall at the most famous hospital in NYC. The author is hard to like, as her actions show little compassion. Not that I read the book to learn about the doctor as much as being that fly on the wall. "
— Michele, 8/11/2011 -
" Holland's stories of working at Bellevue Psych ER for 9 years - fascinating! "
— Wils, 7/31/2011 -
" I loved this memoir, really interesting how she combines her experiences with patients, and her own reflections on herself as a doctor. "
— Coco, 7/8/2011 -
" I didn't care for this very much, I thought the author was too self-centered to be an effective psychiatric caregiver. "
— Janet, 5/9/2011 -
" I love this story!!! It gives you a view of what physicians who deals with mental health patients dothrough. "
— Summerlove, 4/27/2011 -
" Makes me feel a hell of a lot better about my own craziness. At least I am not running naked through Times Square barking like a dog! "
— Emily, 4/26/2011 -
" Weekends at Bellvue is a fast and interesting biography. There are a few places where it gets a little boring but for the most part I really liked it. "
— Lori, 3/11/2011 -
" Fabulous insight into the inner workings of the Psych Ward at the famous hospital! I really liked it. "
— Connie, 3/2/2011 -
" Not nearly as interesting as I had hoped for. When I finished the book I thought that the author was never a person I would want to know. "
— Heather, 3/1/2011 -
" You would think that Dr. Holland would have a lot of interesting stories to tell. Not so much. I also couldn't get past the author's narcissism. We get it, you're smart and a bad-ass... "
— Michelle, 2/19/2011 -
" Aside from entertaining, this book also tells the story of a psyche-doctor's exploration into her own defenses and attitudes, and her maturation into a vulnerable adult.<br/><br/>Wow that sounded cheesy but it's true. It was easy and enjoyable to read, but I feel I gained some insight as well. "
— Kristen, 2/12/2011 -
" I love a good book about the medical field and this one fit the bill. "
— Annette, 2/11/2011 -
" I gave this 5 stars not because it's my favorit, cherished book. But rather because it was incredibly interesting and every story got me involved from the very start. Plus, I like the subject matter :) "
— Nicholas, 1/29/2011
About Julie Holland
Julie Holland, MD, is a psychiatrist specializing in psychopharmacology. An assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, she spent her weekends running the psychiatric emergency room at Bellevue Hospital for nine years. She is the editor of Ecstasy: The Complete Guide-A Comprehensive Look at the Risks and Benefits of MDMA. She lectures widely and has been quoted in Time, Harper’s, Slate, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Holland has appeared as a medical expert regarding mental illness and drug use on numerous television shows, including Today and Good Morning America. She runs a private practice in New York City and lives with her husband and two children in the Hudson Valley.