The Chair and the Valley

A Memoir of Trauma, Healing, and the Outdoors

De: Banning Lyon, Jonathan Eig - foreword

Narrado por: Banning Lyon, Jonathan Eig, Maria Shriver

Duración: 10 h y 41 m

Resumen del Editor

"Bracing, brilliant, and fury-inducing.... a survival story like no other. With positively outstanding storytelling, this is a book that cannot be put down."—Booklist, starred review

AN OPEN FIELD PUBLICATION FROM MARIA SHRIVER

Banning Lyon was an average 15-year-old, living in Dallas, TX. He enjoyed skateboarding, listening to punk rock, and even had a part-time job. But in January 1987 his life quickly changed after a school guidance counselor falsely believed he was suicidal after giving away his skateboard. Days later he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and what he was told would be a two-week stay turned into 353 days that would change his life forever.

Banning takes listeners through his fraught relationship with his family, the mistreatment he suffered at the hospital, the lawsuit against the owners of the facility, and his desire to make sense of what happened to him. We witness Banning navigate the difficult landscape of trauma and his daily battle to live a normal life. After years of highs and lows that include being adopted by his attorney and mentor, falling in love and grieving the death of his fiancée, and being sued by the same doctors who mistreated him, Banning decides to take control of his life and finds hope in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, where he discovers new purpose in being a backpacking guide. Through friendship, nature, and eventually giving therapy another chance, Banning summons the courage to keep moving forward.

The Chair and The Valley is a raw, gut-wrenching, and amazing story about healing from trauma and starting over. It is an exploration of the importance of chosen family, the restorative power of nature, and the strength it takes to build a new life in the face of fear and doubt.

©2024 Banning Lyon (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Banning Lyon’s story is a testament to the power of found family and the hard-earned resilience that can come over time with love.”—Maria Shriver

“What a beautiful, challenging, difficult, and ultimately empowering book. It's impossible to read The Chair and the Valley without feeling moved."—Chris Guillebeau, author of The Happiness of Pursuit and The Art of Non-Conformity

“Banning Lyon’s deep, dark and beautifully written debut memoir offers a brave expose of a corrupt psychiatric hospital chain, a poignant testament to the power of human resilience and a lyrical depiction of how nature–and love—can heal the wounded heart.”—Susan Shapiro, NYT bestselling author of The Forgiveness Tour and American Shield

There is raw heartfelt emotion evident in his story.

I loved that Banning is honest about what went on within his family and within the walls of the psychiatric hospital. He Is also honest regarding his feelings when it comes to what happened to him. We need more honesty like this in the world.

Beautiful, Raw, Heartbreaking

Finished this book in only a few sittings. Was completely gripped, flooded with emotion, and so moved

Incredibly haunting and Moving

I lived and breathed this book for the past 4 days. I couldn’t stop listening. Everything from the way the author read it to his powerful descriptions and emotions. It was so moving and so good.