The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

Interesting and well written enlightened view of psychosis

I am close to someone with schizophrenia, and this book has helped me to see it more clearly from the inside, as well as the outside. This personal story gives understanding, as well as the knowledge that is to be found in technical books. I think people like me who are close to someone would find the book very valuable. People with schizophrenia might also find that it's enlightening and encouraging, while being starkly realistic. For people who have never come across schizophrenia, it will be an eye-opener.

From my experience, books written on the subject of Schizophrenia are well worth reading. I have suffered for ten years with the illness and so was on the search for a book that could be helpful to me. Elyn R. Saks manages to cover the beginnings and ongoing suffering in such a professional manner that this book crosses into the arena of the best seller. It is insightful, simply told and at times totally shocking. I consider this to be the best and most useful books on the subject and would recommend it to anyone who would be interested in a seriously good read.

Elyn Saks has written a beautiful , moving and astonishing account of living with a mental illness. I was blown away by her immense courage, versatility and spirit. At times, I felt so angry on her behalf about the way she was treated by mental health professionals, especially with regard to the cruel and repressive treatment that was employed during her two admissions to American psychiatric hospitals. I was absolutely appalled by her description. I wasn't very impressed by the treatment she received in the UK system either, but at least it was not brutal. And yet, despite all this, and also three life threatening physical illnesses, Elyn has not just survived, but thrived. Her achievements are phenomenal and I was impressed by the way she has used her intelligence and legal abilities to improve the American mental health system for others. Elyn also describes some of the many friends she has made, and she is clearly a wonderful person who inspires others. I was so glad the book ended with an account of happiness and fulfilment on all levels. I would recommend this book to anyone, and particularly to psychiatrists and therapists. The act of writing this inspiring book was one of enormous courage. Towards the end a psychiatrist asks: Elyn, do you want to become known as the schizophrenic with a job? I would say this is the wrong question. To me, Elyn Saks is an amazing person and law professor who also happens to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, who has still achieved a phenomenal amount and made the world a better place through her work and through her presence.

Can’t believe I just read this book in 2 days and it’s been in my Kindle e-reader unread for years.

Cracking book, really amazing. Taught me a lot about schizophrenia that I wasn’t finding in accounts from third parties. Only reservation would be the absence of any serious meditation on the family and childhood context. It seems like she had a particularly frightening encounter with authority apparatuses and it isn’t really addressed as a potential animus in the struggle. Apart from that, I really did get a lot out of this book, and I am very grateful to the author for it. Brave and fascinating, consistently sensitive and open. Would absolutely recommend to anyone

As a psychiatrist I found this book fantastic. It's very well written and has allowed me a deeper and fresh understanding of what it is like to have this illness. It's given me a new sense of hope that this illness can be survived and the sufferer can live a for filling academically challenging life. I really never thought this was possible, let alone on 600mg of clozapine. I am so impressed and mightily inspired. I hope that I will be able to convey more hope to other sufferers and not the bleak message that gets often unwittingly transmitted that 'all is lost'

I think the writer has been able to write amazingly honestly and matter-of-factly about her own ordeal. Anyone who wants to have some idea of what it's like to be diagnosed schizofrenic, will find this a very valuable book.

統合失調症の米人女性が書いた自伝です。 著者のエリン・サクスさんがTEDでスピーチしているのを見て、興味が出てKindleでダウンロード購入しました。 英語版も素晴らしいですが、邦訳版も出て欲しいです。

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.

By far the best book. I‘ve ever read. A very touching and relatable story about living with an mental illness. A must read for any schizophrenic out there.

Please translate for more langages. Im Brazilian! I hope my loved one can read it some day. Mais estudantes de psicologia, profissionais da saude, pessoas com essa doença mental e familiares poderia ter acesso. We can mourn and than acept our limits while reading. I were looking for some good reference. There it is! Hehe im very thankfull.

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'.