Hachette The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

Wow. What can I say? This book is such an excellent read that I recommend it to everyone and anyone who is interested in reading an autobiography about a Jewish woman who overcame a livelong battle with a mental illness only to emerge victorious and highly successful, helping countless people in the process. I recently bought this book after researching similar ones on Amazon about schizophrenia. I wanted to read about the mental illness and share it with someone who also wanted to read and discuss the same book together. I was given the task of choosing such a book. After reading many book reviews, this one had the most reviews, most positive reviews, and when I read the synopsis, I decided it was it. This was the book. This book was so hard to put down. I read it from cover to cover in a matter of a few days. It would have taken me a shorter time, had I had the time to sit down and read it all in one go. It was a real page turner, really well written, highly entertaining and informative, and beautifully crafted. The real events in her life dealing with schizophrenia are sad and terrifying, but it was something she suffered through and remembered clearly enough to retell it in highly descriptive detail, drawing the reader in with every battle. I especially loved the ending, with her recent academic accomplishments and accolades and of course, her wedding to her husband. The Center Cannot Hold was a comforting and thrilling read for me. Although I could not relate to much of her life and experiences, the book was moving and touching. I highly recommend Elyn Saks's book, The Center Cannot Hold to my parents, friends, family, and husband as well as to everyone in the general public. It is an excellent book that is well worth your time and money.

A 'no holds barred' journey through the mindfield /minefield of schizophrenia. Very helpful in understanding the delusional, negative and persecutory thoughts and voices experiences by someone suffering from this debilitating illness. I have learned, through this author, how to be a 'therapeutic friend' to someone experiencing ongoing psychosis , and to encourage and enable self-management. There is 'a hope in Hell'.

I heard about the author through Ted Talk about her success from schizophrenia as a lawyer and professor and all. She is an inspiration from what the illness depicts stigma from society says. I finally bought her book after the 2nd edition that came out. There is so much to take in from reading that it is so powerfully resilient dialogue of empowering words. This helped me get better because I can hear the candidate openness truth that I witness in my life too. What a great read. After "A Beautiful Mind" with John Nash, this is the next best thing coming from schizophrenia world!!

Insightful look into the mind of a schizophrenic

J'ai lu plus de cinquante livres sur la schizophrénie car je suis schizophrène depuis dix ans. Ce livre est le meilleur que j'ai lu sur le sujet.