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The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness
The Center Cannot Hold My Journey Through Madness
Author: Elyn R. Saks
Elyn R. Saks is an esteemed professor, lawyer, and psychiatrist and is the Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Law School, yet she has suffered from schizophrenia for most of her life, and still has ongoing major episodes of the illness. The Cent...  more » is the eloquent, moving story of Elyn's life, from the first time that she heard voices speaking to her as a young teenager, to attempted suicides in college, through learning to live on her own as an adult in an often terrifying world. Saks discusses frankly the paranoia, the inability to tell imaginary fears from real ones, the voices in her head telling her to kill herself (and to harm others); as well the incredibly difficult obstacles she overcame to become a highly respected professional. This beautifully written memoir is destined to become a classic in its genre.

The title is a line from "The Second Coming," a poem by William Butler Yeats, which is alluded to in the book.
ISBN-13: 9781401301385
ISBN-10: 140130138X
Publication Date: 8/14/2007
Pages: 352
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 9

4.4 stars, based on 9 ratings
Publisher: Hyperion
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 3
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

portabellopig avatar reviewed The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
First - I'm impressed that anyone with disease is able to write so clearly and frankly about the journey to mental stability.
Second - I hope Saks decides to write more about her time in Operation Re-Entry later on. Another reviewer pointed out the devastating effects this program had on it's subjects, and it would be very interesting to hear her perspective on it
Read All 1 Book Reviews of "The Center Cannot Hold My Journey Through Madness"


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