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The Collected Schizophrenias
The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays | Esme Weijun Wang
Powerful, affecting essays on mental illness, winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize and a Whiting Award An intimate, moving book written with the immediacy and directness of one who still struggles with the effects of mental and chronic illness, The Collected Schizophrenias cuts right to the core. Schizophrenia is not a single unifying diagnosis, and Esm Weijun Wang writes not just to her fellow members of the collected schizophrenias but to those who wish to understand it as well. Opening with the journey toward her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, Wang discusses the medical communitys own disagreement about labels and procedures for diagnosing those with mental illness, and then follows an arc that examines the manifestations of schizophrenia in her life. In essays that range from using fashion to present as high-functioning to the depths of a rare form of psychosis, and from the failures of the higher education system and the dangers of institutionalization to the complexity of compounding factors such as PTSD and Lyme disease, Wangs analytical eye, honed as a former lab researcher at Stanford, allows her to balance research with personal narrative. An essay collection of undeniable power, The Collected Schizophrenias dispels misconceptions and provides insight into a condition long misunderstood.
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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
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Pickpick

Excellent collection of essays, in which the author recounts her experience with schizophrenia with a candid honesty, sharing her uncertainties about the future, her fears, describing how she sometimes disconnects with reality, and which coping mechanism she uses.
This must-read offers a lot of useful information. It's impossible not to feel for Esmé, and through her, to feel deep empathy for anyone going through what she's going through.

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MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward
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Pickpick

This is an amazing set of essays, and a very unique perspective of journeys. Rethinking care, how we interact and the way we stigmatize mental care and living with mental illness is brought out in all its dirty linens to sit on the examination table.
Love this. I only wish there were more of these essays to read.

#nonfiction #mentalillness #mentalhealth #healthcare #schizophrenia #shortstories #esmeweijunwang

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Mccall0113
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I have a three week break in between semesters for grad school. I can‘t wait to dive into this one!

65 likes4 stack adds
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you‘re looking to better understand schizophrenia and it‘s many iterations, this intimate, honest collection is a good start. As an adult, Wang was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. She describes her spiral, if you will, into mental illness. Some reviewers are put off by Wang‘s self pride. I took those bits as effort to show us to what degree her illness affects her day-to-day life and accomplishments. #coverlove

Cinfhen I own this but haven‘t felt compelled to read it/ your review makes me want to finally pick it up 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen It‘s not the most exciting book ever, but it‘s super interesting. My mom has been a psychiatric RN for most of my life and it fascinates me to learn about some of the illnesses she sees. 3y
Cinfhen I didn‘t notice earlier this morning how lovely your photo is ♥️😍 I do remember trying this book when I first purchased but it wasn‘t grabbing me/ so I‘ll give it another go but keep my expectations in check 3y
Cinfhen I admire your mom/ what a noble profession 💚 3y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Thanks! I listen to so many audiobooks, I rarely get the chance to take a pretty pic. 🤩 And thank you - my mom is pretty amazing. 💚 (edited) 3y
84 likes5 comments
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britt_brooke
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🎧👟 Today‘s smoking hot #audiowalk took me into an neighbor‘s estate sale where I scored this vintage rose-colored West Bend (50s-60s) cake carrier + a retro tree topper. 🤩

kspenmoll Love the cake carrier!! 3y
MaureenMc 😍🙌 Fabulous finds! 3y
britt_brooke @kspenmoll @MaureenMc Thank you! I‘m so thrilled with both. 🤩 3y
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Tera66 Yay! Score! 3y
britt_brooke @Tera66 🤩🤩 3y
Centique I love that tree topper! 3y
britt_brooke @Centique Thank you! 3y
84 likes7 comments
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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

Not exactly a fun read but very interesting. My middle child has a long list of diagnoses (mostly mental health related). He‘s a preteen so we don‘t have definitive answers. Anyhow doctors don‘t really give you lots of answers or advice about young kids with severe mental illness. I read & seek out books to final answers, find some sense of relief. There is no real guide map for what we or our son is going through. Although schizophrenia is not…

ncsufoxes a diagnosis for my son, it was still an interesting read. I still found plenty of pages to mark & reference back to. She had an interesting perspective from being a person that works in mental health research as well as a person receiving services. Good, quick read for me but still hard subject matter. One more #bookspin book for the month 3y
mandarchy My son is also preteen and has a potential diagnosis of prodome schizophrenia. It's really hard to wrap my brain around. I read this book as well as many others. I recommend the class family to family through a local NAMI chapter. The best thing we can do is learn how to respond to behaviors so we don't frustrate ourselves. I how you have lots of support and understanding. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Great review!! 3y
14 likes3 comments
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jenniferw88
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ChasingOm This has been on my radar! 3y
mandarchy This little book is very powerful. The author has the good fortune of maintaining her ability to self reflect while suffering from serious illness. She's also incredibly intelligent. 3y
57 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Amandajoy
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I had a list walking into Barnes & Noble today. Normal People & The Nickel Boys weren‘t on it, but they are on @MallenNC ‘s #newyearwhodis list and were buy one get one 50% off... so... 🤷🏼‍♀️

MallenNC I mean, how could you resist a deal like that? 3y
monalyisha I have Elatsoe checked out from the library right now! I don‘t know if I‘ll get to it this time around...but it looks so intriguing! 3y
Amandajoy @monalyisha my step daughter was reading the blurb in the car on the way home from the bookstore and now she wants to read it. So I‘ll see if it‘s good for a 10 year old. I read a review of it yesterday & I‘m very excited for it. 3y
monalyisha @AmandaJoy If it helps, School Library Journal recommends “for Grade 5 & up.” 🤓 3y
Amandajoy @monalyisha that does! Thank you! 3y
47 likes5 comments
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rachelm
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Look what made it back safely! Thank you for reading with me ladies! I can‘t wait to see your notes.

Soubhiville Wow, look at all those post its! 3y
rachelm @Soubhiville I can‘t wait to dig in!! 3y
H_SQUARED Did you send it off to people to read and they sent it back with post its and notes?? Is this a thing?? 😃 3y
rachelm Yes! @H_SQUARED it‘s a postal book club! They sometimes have signups if you watch #lmbc ( I think that‘s a #?) (edited) 3y
51 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Deblovestoread
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Joining #24B4Monday #OctoberReadathon Will try to log my time with a goal of 10 hours. I hope to finish my 3 current books for various events/clubs and have a whole list of maybes, including the ones pictured, to choose from once they are finished

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck. 😊👍 3y
34 likes1 comment
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Emilymdxn
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Hello everybody! I‘m in a bit of a reading slump at the moment so it‘s lovely to have a meaty prompt to think about.

Tagged book by an author with schizophrenia about her life and perceptions of it. More than any other condition, so many people think schizophrenia = dangerously insane and barely human. This book transformed my understanding, made me more empathetic and less prejudiced. This is so essential to read

#integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm

ChasingOm Ooh, I like this take on the prompt. 4y
JamieArc Will you be following the Man Booker this year? I know you have in previous years (if I am remembering correctly), and the Longlist is due out soon. Tomorrow maybe? 4y
Emilymdxn @JamieArc I will be following it but not sure if I‘ll be reading the whole list as I‘ve tried to previously - mental health is more delicate this year than last year but I‘ll be paying attention to it for sure! 4y
JamieArc @Emilymdxn I hear you. I probably won‘t be trying as hard to read them all either - I don‘t have the focus to read as much. But I‘m very curious about what will be listed. 4y
WhatWouldJaneDo I loved this book, I listened to it on audio read by the author and was really captivated by her essays. 4y
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rachelm
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Started the tagged book last night for #lmpbc. Really gorgeously written so far and I‘m learning a lot.

This morning, went blueberry picking with the kiddos. Easy place to social distance and my hubby will make a pie with our efforts for the fourth!

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mdemanatee
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Guys...I am very much someone who likes to keep their books in pristine condition. I don‘t write. I don‘t break spines. I like clean corners. And yet @esmewang has me breaking out a pen to underline within 2 sentences.

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WhatWouldJaneDo
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Audio cleaning. Stoney loves an empty or nearly empty laundry basket and Polly just loves knowing what Stoney is doing. #catsoflitsy

Slajaunie 💙🐾 4y
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

The majority of this book is a solid, eye-opening look at the author‘s reality of living with schizoaffective disorder. While I can‘t quite relate to her experiences, I do feel closer to understanding them, I think. The final 2 chapters weaken the book by veering a bit far (including the “spiritual arts” and I don‘t mean religion) out of the mainstream, but an otherwise excellent book.

#dogsofLitsy #Bindi

Joanne1 Agree entirely. Truly stereotyping busting but then those last two chapters!! 4y
Megabooks I felt like the Lyme should‘ve been a separate book. I found it to be a weird addition too. 4y
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WellReadCatLady
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#readingbuddy Figgy is just resting his eyes while I read not sleeping yet.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

Wang describes her struggles living with schizoaffective disorder, late-stage Lyme disease. I know many love this but I did not feel connected to her or engaged through these essays. I appreciate her sharing of her experiences with psychosis, but the essays felt impersonal. I learnt a lot, though, great perspective, & important that it‘s written by #ownvoices .Valuable read for anyone who wants to better understand or affected by mental illness.

Cinfhen I recently picked this up as a #KindleDeal but I struggled to connect and put it aside. I‘ll try again but I may end up sharing your views. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm @Cinfhen all those positive reviews, and the subject matter, made me feel bad/harsh not loving it & giving it a so-so. 🤷‍♀️ 4y
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Cinfhen Sometimes as a reader a book just doesn‘t fit right. Or the timing is off. No reason to feel bad 💚 4y
shadowspeak17 I felt the same way. I‘d really hoped to like it, but I just couldn‘t connect. I felt too held at a distance. I took several psychology classes in college and am pretty familiar with the basic clinical stuff that she mentions from hearing it over and over again in class, so I didn‘t really want to read more of that sort of thing. I wanted a more personal look at things, but most of the essays felt so impersonal to me. I was bummed. 😕 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Hmmmm. Not moving to the top of my list, based on your review ... 4y
80 likes1 stack add6 comments
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TK-421
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One of the best books I‘ve ever read #aboutmentalillness: a book by an author who has schizoaffective disorder, the same illness I have. Her experience was different than my own but I often found myself saying, “yes! exactly!” as I read this book. It‘s important for people to share their stories to help reduce stigma & clear up misconceptions. And it helps those of us struggling with mental health issues know we aren‘t alone. #MagnificentMarch

LeahBergen I‘ve heard such good things about this book. 👍🏻 4y
OriginalCyn620 This has been a popular choice today, and I agree...these kinds of books are very important. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I stacked this one 💞💞 4y
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Megabooks This is such a fantastic book!! 4y
DieAReader Stacked! 4y
audraelizabeth Im plan on reading this because as a daughter of a paranoid schizophrenic, sometimes his behavior is all his mental illness and at times its hard to love my dad. 4y
jmofo 💜 thank you for sharing this! 4y
TK-421 @Megabooks It is & I think I may have actually first heard about it from your post about a year ago, so thank you! 4y
TK-421 @audraelizabeth That sounds like a tough situation & I‘m sorry to hear his illness puts such a strain on your relationship (((hugs))) I hope this book will give you some insights that help in some way. 4y
TK-421 @jmofo 💜 4y
Megabooks @TK-421 you‘re welcome! Even though my diagnosis is different the Esme‘s, I still found a lot of similarities in our paths. Being “high functioning” person with mental illness presents its own set of issues. (edited) 4y
TK-421 @Megabooks Yes! I often think being labelled “high functioning” is worse in some ways because no one realizes how much we‘re struggling. We can seem to be ok on the outside but inside, it‘s turmoil. People expect you to act “normal” & sometimes you expect it from yourself. Then things get bad and you‘re struggling & people think you‘re lazy or faking or something. Sorry to ramble! I could go on & on. maybe I‘ll write my own book someday 🤔 4y
TK-421 @Megabooks However, I should clarify that I don‘t mean to make light of anyone‘s experiences with mental illness. Everyone is different & no one experiences their illness in the same way as someone else. One can‘t make sweeping generalizations... (edited) 4y
TK-421 ...I know I‘m lucky to be able to hold down a job and enjoy limited social interaction in a way that makes me seem “normal”. I feel I should be more grateful because some have experiences that are much more difficult. I am grateful, but I feel guilty anyway. I‘m rambling awkwardly again & can‘t seem to express myself clearly but I hope I made some sense. (edited) 4y
Megabooks I get you. I went from “high functioning” holding down a great job to FMLA to being unable to hold a job to now being mostly back together mentally, but sick physically. This is the first time I‘ve had more than a couple of months off full-time working/full-time education in 20 years. It has sucked to have mental illness as well as being in a severe car accident. Now I‘m on the other side of things, and there are a whole different set of issues. 4y
Megabooks I still feel lucky to have things pretty together, even in the worst times. I always take meds. I think a great decision for me was to quit drinking alcohol 14 years ago. I‘d still call myself pretty lucky, but I‘m just still too ill to work. 4y
TK-421 @Megabooks I sincerely appreciate you sharing & I wish you all the best with your mental & physical health 🤗 I‘m always interested to hear about others‘ experiences. Like you, I take my meds & quit drinking alcohol (5 yrs ago when I was diagnosed with diabetes). All things considered, I‘m managing but sometimes it doesn‘t feel like it. I have to remind myself when I‘m depressed I‘ve been through worse & got better so I will find balance again 4y
Megabooks @TK-421 I‘m sorry about your diabetes! Yes, I tend to try to have the same outlook as you when I‘m having an episode. And those around me are good at telling me my life will eventually balance out again. I‘ve had 16 major surgeries trying to correct things from the accident, and my problem now is healing from one I had last year. My dad‘s relentless positive attitude is definitely helpful when I have trouble seeing a way out. I am very lucky! 4y
TK-421 @Megabooks @Megabooks Thanks & I hope the healing goes well for you! Having positive, supportive people in your life certainly makes a difference. I‘m lucky that way too 4y
Desha @tk-421 I commented on another of your posts about this book. I‘m proud of you that you‘re so open about dealing with sza. I have it but I don‘t often talk about it. I‘m glad I could open up to you a little bit about the fact that I have it. Thanks for being there and listening and being an inspiration 😊🥰 (edited) 4y
TK-421 @Desha Aww ☺️ Thank you! 🤗 Thank you for your encouragement & for bravely sharing with me 😊 It‘s so scary to open up & talk about mental illness. I‘ve been trying to be more open about my sza because I know how frustrating & lonely it is to have an illness that most people haven‘t even heard of, let alone experienced. 4y
Desha @TK-421 You‘re welcome! I definitely know how it feels to deal with something so hard that is so uncommon and not talked about. Thank you for being open! It‘s given me the courage to open up a little more too! I hope you have a great evening 💛 4y
TK-421 @Desha You‘re welcome 💛 Thanks, you have a good evening too! 4y
87 likes6 stack adds25 comments
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MallenNC
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I have this book #AboutMentalIllness as an audiobook. I have listened to some of it already and appreciate the author‘s openness with her story. It‘s important to me to read books like this from an own voices perspective. #MagnificentMarch

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚❤️ stacked!! 4y
CaitlinR I was very glad to have read this and agree that it‘s an important topic. 4y
OriginalCyn620 Agreed. I love own voices books too! 4y
42 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Andrea313
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This collection explores both the lived experience and the larger understandings (and misunderstandings) of what Wang calls "the collected schizophrenias". She makes the sobering point that those living with mental illness are more likely to be written about than to write about their own experiences; reading Wang's firsthand perspective is important and illuminating. #magnificentmarch #aboutmentalillness
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👍🏻📚 4y
OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 4y
19 likes2 comments
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Kalalalatja
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I had my last day at work yesterday, and decided to treat myself to some new books, that I can‘t wait to get 📚

I haven‘t read a print book in over two weeks and I haven‘t listened to an audiobook in over a week. I can‘t remember the last time that happened, but I‘m trying to embrace my lack of reading time and energy, and just focus on getting ready for my new job. I‘m busybusy at the moment, but I‘m happy about it! 🙌

Mitch Perfect treat. Enjoy 😻 4y
rockpools Lovely! Congratulations on the new job.❤️ 4y
Tonton Brilliant stack! 4y
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BehindthePages Congrats on the new job! 4y
LazyOwl Congratulations on the new job. 4y
JennyM Congrats on the new job. Hope all goes well 😘 4y
ephemeralwaltz Congrats!! Let us know how it goes. ❤️❤️ 4y
84 likes7 comments
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shadowspeak17
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This could be partially due to my current headspace (I‘m still in a reading “funk”), but I thought this was just okay. It felt pretty disjointed in places and while I really enjoyed when Wang got more personal in her essays, a lot of the time I felt held at a distance which isn‘t what I‘d hoped for in reading this.

#catsoflitsy #Ember

Leftcoastzen 😻❤️ 4y
61 likes1 comment
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readordierachel
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Pickpick

This is really good, and I think everyone should read it. 5⭐

*The audiobook is read beautifully by the author.

Tanisha_A I like how to the point your review is. This is on my list. ❤️ 4y
Megabooks Totally agree! 4y
Cinfhen On my Kindle!!! 4y
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Reggie You are one of the few that would get me to stack a book based on that one sentence. Lol (edited) 4y
readordierachel @Megabooks I saw that you loved it too! 4y
readordierachel @Cinfhen Awesome! 👍🏼 4y
readordierachel @Reggie Aw, thanks!! It's one of those books that I think can spark compassion and new ways of thinking. 4y
Tanisha_A @Reggie Seconded! 😀 4y
RaimeyGallant Does she have Lyme? 4y
readordierachel @RaimeyGallant In addition to schizoaffective disorder 4y
RaimeyGallant Does she talk at all about how she manages/managed Lyme? Antibiotics, physio, alternative therapy/treatments? 4y
readordierachel @RaimeyGallant She talks more about getting the diagnosis and balancing it with her other diagnosis. She talks about some of the effects. I don't remember her going into great detail about treatments though. It's only mentioned in a couple of the later essays in the book. Are you looking for books in that vein? 4y
RaimeyGallant I would say that I am. 4y
readordierachel @RaimeyGallant I haven't read this one, but I believe it's about the author's experience with Lyme. 4y
RaimeyGallant Thanks! 4y
89 likes6 stack adds17 comments
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LibrarianRyan
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Pickpick

I know small presses and indie publishers do not get the recognition they deserve, so we built a category for that. The first ever Small/Indie Press #LitsyAward goes to the tagged book.

It was such a runaway success from our voters it only needed one round to be crowned.

#LitsyAwards #Winner

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overtheedge
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Pickpick



The essays, overall, show how deep and desperate her search for answers and understanding of her condition affected her life. Maybe more so than the actual diagnosis. 4🌟
Full review goodreads.com/overtheedge

Great memoir and essays and an excellent resource for those who work with the mentally ill. Recommended.

Emilymdxn I agree this was an amazing book! 4y
readordierachel This is high on my tbr. Even higher after reading your review. 4y
54 likes2 comments
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BookladyOnTheMove

Recommended by #bookriot Best Books of 2019.

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Lindy
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I couldn‘t quite narrow it down to 10: these are my top dozen nonfiction favourites of the past decade. #top10ofthedecade #nonfictionedition

Centique I‘ve only read H is for Hawk of these. I‘ve screen shot it so I can add some more to my TBR! I really need to up my non fiction in future years. 4y
Lindy @Centique I sorted Goodreads by rating and still managed to miss some top contenders like Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Behind the Beautiful Forevers. 🤷‍♀️ 4y
rethier1 Atul Gawande 😍😍 4y
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Cinfhen I haven‘t read quite a few of these either and I‘ve also taken the beloved screenshot!!! So excited to see your list!!! I‘m awaiting your fiction 🤗🤗🤗🤗 4y
batsy In taking screenshots of all your recs 👌🏽 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy me too 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Graywacke Terrific list! 4y
Lindy @rethier1 😊👍 4y
Lindy @Cinfhen Your enthusiasm has inspired me to put in the effort. Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Fiction, and In Translation are now complete. Currently I am working on an audiobook list and a picture book list. 4y
Lindy @batsy Are you considering compiling some best of the decade lists too? I‘d love to see yours. 4y
Lindy @Cathythoughts ha! Thanks! 4y
Cinfhen Yay!!! That‘s fantastic 🙌🏻💜📚 4y
batsy @Lindy Yes would love to join in the fun but I'm trying to narrow mine down. For nonfic I've gotten it down to 20 😂 4y
Lindy @batsy Then post your top 20. Why not? The more the merrier. 😁 4y
batsy @Lindy Hmm yes, good point 😁 4y
54 likes16 comments
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Naominats
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I can dress and daub when psychotic. I do it with zeal when manic. If I‘m depressed, I skip everything but the lipstick. If I skip the lipstick that means I haven‘t even made it to the bathroom mirror.
After all, it is easy to forget that psychiatric diagnoses are human constructs, not handed down from an all-knowing God on stone tablets; to “have schizophrenia” is to fit an assemblage of symptoms, which are listed in a purple book made by humans.

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

I so appreciate the first person perspective of this widely-explored, but not often understood, illness. I felt for the author as she described the deep despair she feels in her chronic suffering with no end in sight. My eyes were opened to the factors that go into the diagnosis process and the ways the this effects those who suffer. An excellent work of nonfiction that enlightened and fascinated me in equal measure. #nfnov #nonfiction

Joanne1 This book really opens my eyes. 4y
95 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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Snatched a few moments here and there between taking care of the kids at my cousin's house to read. With WINE 🍷🙃#nvnov

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Chelsea.Poole
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Reading in the waiting room while my husband has a small, outpatient procedure. Really savoring this essay collection from Esme Wang.
#nonfictionnovember #nfnov

DaveGreen7777 Hope everything goes well for your hubby! 4y
Chelsea.Poole @DaveGreen7777 thank you! He was in and out quickly and things went well 😊 4y
73 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TK-421
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“Place me in a high #stress environment with no ability to control my surroundings or schedule, and I will rapidly begin to decompensate.” #QuotsyNov19

I‘ve never come across ‘decompensate‘ till now. Dictionary.com definition: “to lose the ability to maintain normal or appropriate psychological defenses, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, or delusions.”
The part that really got me is where she talks about being high-funcioning ⬇️

TK-421 “I‘m a high-functioning person with an unpredictable and low-functioning illness. I may not be the ‘appropriate‘ type of crazy.” It‘s terrible to feel that way. 💔 Sometimes, being high-functioning really sucks because people can‘t see the inner turmoil. 4y
TK-421 @hermyknee Thanks for sharing this info 4y
See All 9 Comments
Desha @TK-421 I have this book and need to read it hopefully soon. It‘s on my bookspin list so I should get to it soon! I have sza and am high functioning I don‘t know if that‘s what you‘re dealing with but I understand. I hope you are doing well! (edited) 4y
TK-421 @Desha Thanks, I hope you‘re doing well too! Yes, I also have sza-bp & am high functioning. I was really excited when I first heard about this book because it‘s so rare to find books about sza. Some of it was difficult to read as it reminded me of my own struggles, but at the same time, I was so grateful that she shared her experiences. I couldn‘t put this book down when I was reading it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 😊 4y
Desha @TK-421 Thank you for commenting back to me! Yes I am looking forward to reading it! Mine is also sza-bp as yours is. I am doing well currently but I‘ve definitely had my ups and downs! My family really helps me a lot with hanging in there. 😊 4y
Desha @TK-421 thank you also for giving me an acronym lol...I like sza a lot better than saying the whole thing! 🤪 4y
TK-421 @Desha Having supportive family & friends helps a lot! As for the acronym, you‘re very welcome 😊 I can‘t claim to have coined it, but it‘s very handy, isn‘t it? Schizoaffective disorder is such a mouthful! 4y
Desha @TK-421 lol it really is! 😂 and then it‘s the question...what the heck is that?! 🤪 4y
46 likes9 comments
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Joanne1
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Pickpick

The incredible collection of essays pulled me out of a reading slump in such an unexpected way. This book blows the stereotypes around schizophrenia out of the water and I hope it destroys some of the stigma along with it. Every now and again you come across a book everyone should read. This is one of them. Now to read everything else Wang has written!

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Joanne1
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It seems non-fiction is the solution to my current reading drought. I can‘t follow a complex storyline and I don‘t really cate about characters. But fact, real life experience and something I can pick up and put down is working for me.

Julsmarshall Same! I‘m loving non fiction right now! 4y
Mogoeg I read an essay of hers years ago published on The Toast and thought it was amazing. I'm glad to see this book get some attention - I think she is a really talented writer. 4y
Joanne1 @Julsmarshall so much good non-fiction around. Have you got any favourites? @Mogoeg I heard about this on a podcast and immediately put a hold on it at the library. It‘s amazing, and hopefully stigma-busting!! And beautifully written to boot. 4y
Julsmarshall My fave no fiction right now are She Said, Catch and Kill, Dopesick and Bad Blood. 4y
42 likes4 comments
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TK-421
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“...employment remains the primary marker of someone who is high-functioning, as having a job is the most reliable sign that you can pass in the world as normal. Most critically, a capitalist society values productivity in its citizens above all else, and those with severe mental illness are much less likely to be productive in ways considered valuable...” #highfunctioning #mentalillness

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TK-421
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Pickpick

I was sure this would be an interesting read but didn‘t expect to tear through it in less than a day! I‘m grateful that such a book exists. It‘s rare to find books about sza-bp & even rarer to read one written by a person who‘s experienced it firsthand. Although her experience may be different than my own, there are similarities which made it difficult to read at times. Still, I anticipate reading it many times before it‘s due for return. #szabp

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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

One of the most valuable books I‘ve read in ages. It‘s so easy to forget about people with schizophrenia having voices and understanding to share about themselves rather than just be discussed by others, and I was astonished by how much there was to consider that I‘d never interacted with before. Such a rare, insightful voice sharing her life with psychosis.

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Emilymdxn
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Who is this alleged “person” who is a “person living with psychosis,” once the psychosis has set in to the point that there is nothing on the table save acceptance? When the self has been swallowed by illness, isn‘t it cruel to insist on a self that is not illness? Is this why so many people insist on believing in souls?

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Lindy
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I've tagged my favourite book of September. I also decided to retitle my “By a woman author“ category because two of the books this month are by genderqueer folks. #SeptemberWrapUp

KarenUK Love your ‘not written by a man‘ category! 👍😊 4y
Lindy @KarenUK 😘 4y
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Lindy
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Pickpick

So good that I just bought a copy to give as a gift.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TheLudicReader They interviewed the author on CBC a few weeks back and the book sounds intriguing. 5y
saresmoore Oh, good! I‘m looking forward to this one. 5y
Megabooks One of my favorites of the year 5y
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Lindy @TheLudicReader She writes so well about an important topic. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore 😊👍 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve already gifted myself a copy after seeing the quotes and blurbs you‘ve been posting. 😊 5y
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Bindrosbookshelf
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The two books I ordered from Thriftbooks arrived and then I went and had some retail therapy on Friday night after work at Dymocks.

With Death Grip, I‘m collecting a childhood favourite series. I needed a new edition of Gone With the Wind because my previous copy was falling apart and I had loaned To Kill a Mockingbird out and never got it back.

The others are just books I‘ve had my eye on for awhile. Have you read any in this stack?
#bookhaul

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Lindy
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As Bly‘s anecdotes, and my own, indicate, a primary feature of the experience of staying in a psychiatric hospital is that you will not be believed about anything. A corollary to this feature: things will be believed about you that are not at all true.

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Lindy
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As I grew older and my symptoms worsened, my mother at times expressed deep remorse and guilt at the fact that she had passed this “suffering” on to me, and presently tells me that I would be better off not having children. There are two issues here: one being the act of passing on a genetic burden, and the other being my ability, as a woman living with severe mental illness, to be a good mother.

Aimeesue Excellent book, though a tough read at times. A lot of insight into a painful situation. 5y
Lindy @Aimeesue Agreed. 5y
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Lindy
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“I went to Yale” is shorthand for “I have schizoaffective disorder, but I‘m not worthless.”

(author photo from internet)

Megabooks Loved this book so much! 5y
Lindy @Megabooks 👍I think you might have been the person who recommended it to me. 5y
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review
alisonrose
Pickpick

Even going into this having seen absolute rave reviews from people whose opinions I value highly, I‘m still amazed and profoundly moved by this book. Brave, honest, searing, poignant, informative, singular, and like 500 other things. I learned a lot, and while my chronic illnesses are different from the author‘s, I still also felt a kinship. I think this is a phenomenal work, and should be required reading for everyone, sick or not. 5/5 ⭐️

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alisonrose

However my life unfolds, goes my thinking, is how I am meant to live it; however my life unspools itself, I was created to bear it.

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alisonrose

“Let‘s go and look around. We can see how we feel,” she said, which was a common refrain during that trip, and is a common attitude among the chronically ill.

[And one healthy people don‘t/refuse to understand, unfortunately.]

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alisonrose

Would it have been better if I‘d never been born? Even though I‘ve made my parents proud, I can‘t help but wonder if that outweighs watching me break down over the years. Perhaps if my mother had been able to choose my genetics, she would‘ve rearranged some things. I would be someone else entirely.

[Something I‘ve wondered myself many times in recent years 😞]

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alisonrose

Among psychiatric researchers, having a job is considered one of the major characteristics of being a high-functioning person. [...] Most critically, a capitalist society values productivity in its citizens above all else, and those with severe mental illness are much less likely to be productive in ways considered valuable: by adding to the cycle of production and profit.

IamIamIam That's a really interesting statement. 5y
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