All parents want their children to be happy and healthy. However, it seems with each passing day more parents find themselves the mothers and fathers of special needs kids. It used to be that the words Autism, ADHD, ADD, Bipolar, and Schizophrenia where nearly unheard of years ago, but now they are often spoken of on the mouths of PTA mothers’. I myself have a child that was just diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 8 years. She also has ADHD. To be honest I am not totally surprised, but have a positive outlook with the amount of support that is out there today versus twenty years ago. Like any parent the adult years is what terrifies me the most and this author has brought comfort to one mother.

This book is about a man that walked the first years of his life undiagnosed with bipolar disorder and somehow managed to rise above and become a success. He struggled with alcoholism, self-induced homelessness, and emotional instability that led to both physical and spiritual torment. In the midst of his crisis he lost many friends and opportunities, but somehow found his way to a doctor. From there he was diagnosed with bipolar and hence fought to reclaim his life back. This was an amazing read as a parent to a bipolar child. It allowed me to look through the mind of a person suffering from this illness. However, it reminded me that a person who is diagnosed with bipolar is just that; a person with bipolar. He or she should be treated with both love and respect. Bipolar is a disease of the brain, but it is like any other ailment that can be treated. Why should one person be treated differently if they have heart failure rather than bipolar? Both are treatable and both most often have people leading normal lives with the direction of their doctors and medications. I highly recommend this book for both parent, patient, doctor, etc. It is a great reminder that those that suffer from a unique illness can move beyond their sickness and redefine their experiences into something positive for the community. I have much respect for this author! You are amazing!!!!!!! ( )

This is the best book I have read dealing with the subject of bipolar disorder. The author shares his personal experiences with honesty, but also manages to do so with humor. He describes what it is like to live with bipolar disorder and gives recommendations on coping, both for people who have the disorder themselves and for their loved ones. The advice is practical; he acknowledges the challenges of living with bipolar disorder while at the same time discouraging people from using it as a justification for failure in their life. His message is positive. He truly believes that if people understand what they are dealing with and are determined to meet the challenges head-on they can live stable, succesful lives. The book is directed primarily to the individual with the disorder, but as a close family member of someone who is bipolar I found a wealth of insight that will help me to be a better support person. ( )