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Sandra H. (St. Cloud, MN)
We Still Have Much to Learn
I sighed when this book arrived wondering why I had put it down as one of my choices. And then I began to read it. I finished it profoundly affected by the bittersweet life of Dr. Perry Baird.
The first 2/3rds of the book is Perry Baird's manuscript describing his life in various mental institutions written both when he was rational and when he was in a manic state. That Dr. Baird fully understood how manic depression(which we now know as bipolar) affects one, makes this section especially riveting as we enter the mind of this brilliant man both when it is rational and when it is manic. At times I felt as if his
…more experience was happening in the 19th century.
The second part of the book details his daughter's childhood memories of her father and through her research an understanding of his disease and it's effects on him, his family and his colleagues. Mimi Baird's persistence in learning her father's story helps us readers understand how far we have come in diagnosing mental illness and how much we still must do to help those who gave it.
Brilliant and troubled, Perry Baird could not overcome a disease he had researched himself. As a friend of his early days said to his daughter Mimi, "He wanted the moon."
I strongly recommend book groups to select this book. There is much to discuss and ponder about mental disease and how we think of it and treat it today. (less)This is a sad, heartwarming description of manic depression as described by a manic depressive patient, who was himself a renowned doctor. I have never seen so vividly and coherently explained the actual feelings and perceptions of a person while in a manic state. This book goes into the treatments, which were actually a type of torture, of patients in psychiatric hospitals in the 40s. It is also a very sad story of a man isolated from his family and the pain it caused him and his daughter, who grew up wondering about her father all her life. It makes me wish for a cure or at least more help for the poor
…more individuals inflicted with this disease. It could be any one of us. (less)I thank the author of this book for sharing her story. It is told in a wonderfully honest, true, and brave way. I would recommend it to anyone who is touched by any mental disease and especially bipolar disorder. The first part of the book which tells her father's story is remarkable. That her father left such a detailed record of his work and illness is amazing! It gave his daughter a light into her own life.
Kim L. (Park Ridge, IL)
Sad
I enjoyed reading this book, but found the subject matter to be very sad. The book highlights the difficulties the mentally ill have in our society. Sadly, not that much has changed since the author was alive. It was interesting to read from a mentally ill individuals perspective their thoughts on treatment. The part of the book that I enjoyed the most was the daughter's recollection of past events and how her life was effected.
Shirley H.
Interesting & Unusual
This is an interesting book that reveals many details about the treatment of mental health issues in the past. I find it especially fascinating that this was all happening to an accomplished professional. An unusual view, interweaving the father/daughter aspect. It is a good read!
Jan M. (Broken Arrow, OK)
Disturbing Reality
This was a hard book to read, not because of the writing, but because of the subject matter. It was hurtful to visualize the inhuman treatment the good Doctor was subjected to. How could such practices be called "treatment", it seemed more like torture to me.
For the life of me I cannot imagine what good they thought would occur from binding patients with icy sheets. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for the normally brilliant Dr. Baird to have been treated in such a manner. I appreciate his dedication in recording the events and his thoughts, feelings and observations. His daughter did a good job
…more in bringing order to his journals and papers and in sharing both Dr. Baird's and her own journeys in understanding. The way his writings were printed in a type face different than her own observations was especially helpful to this reader. This was not an entertaining book, but certainly an enlightening one. I applaud Ms. Baird's quest to know her father and her willingness to share those findings. The book is too depressing to recommend to my Book Club, although I'm sure it would generate lots of discussion. I will however, be sharing my copy with some of my reader friends who will, as I was, be grateful that our treatment of the mentally ill has improved. (less)
Sylvia G. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Compelling true story
An intense portrait of what it's like to be bipolar in a world before psychiatric medications, the book takes actual accounts from the author's father who suffered from mental illness and was hospitalized 1944. The structure is a little odd,moving between the author's notes and her fathers medical records and his writings sometimes in a rather clunky way. However, I found it to be a compelling story that had an immediacy and I was interested in his experience and was glad to see how far we've come from the rather barbaric treatment of mental illness in just 40 to 50 years. I recommend it to anyone interested in
…more a first hand account of what it is like to be bipolar. (less)He wanted the Moon was both disturbing and intriguing. Dr. Baird endured so much, and that he may have been so close to his own possible treatment was devastating. His own personal account of his ordeal puts the reader right into the mental hospital. A reader couldn't get closer to the experience except by actually being there. The fact that the autobiographical account was also partnered with his daughter's loss and unique commentary strengthened Dr. Baird's story. I found this story sad, but real. It was I story that had to be told and I felt privileged to have been able to be witness to it. I have already
…more passed it on to another reader. It is the kind of story that should be heard. (less)
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