The Collected Schizophrenias

Essays

De: Esmé Weijun Wang

Narrado por: Esmé Weijun Wang

Powerful, affecting essays on mental illness, winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize and a Whiting Award

An intimate, moving book written with the immediacy and directness of one who still struggles with the effects of mental and chronic illness, The Collected Schizophrenias cuts right to the core. Schizophrenia is not a single unifying diagnosis, and Esmé Weijun Wang writes not just to her fellow members of the “collected schizophrenias” but to those who wish to understand it as well. Opening with the journey toward her diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, Wang discusses the medical community’s own disagreement about labels and procedures for diagnosing those with mental illness, and then follows an arc that examines the manifestations of schizophrenia in her life. In essays that range from using fashion to present as high-functioning to the depths of a rare form of psychosis, and from the failures of the higher education system and the dangers of institutionalization to the complexity of compounding factors such as PTSD and Lyme disease, Wang’s analytical eye, honed as a former lab researcher at Stanford, allows her to balance research with personal narrative. An essay collection of undeniable power, The Collected Schizophrenias dispels misconceptions and provides insight into a condition long misunderstood.

©2019 Esmé Weijun Wang (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Wang invariably describes her [bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder] symptoms and experiences with remarkable candor and clarity, as when she narrates a soul-crushing stay in a Louisiana mental hospital and the alarming onset of a delusion in which ‘the thought settles over me, fine and gray as soot, that I am dead.’ She also tackles societal biases and misconceptions about mental health issues, criticizing involuntary commitment laws as cruel. Throughout these essays, Wang trains a dispassionate eye onto her personal narrative, creating a clinical remove that allows for the neurotypical reader’s greater comprehension of a thorny and oft-misunderstood topic.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Insightful Perspective into the Lives of the very Mentally Ill

Though the writing was heady, scattered, and out of order from time to time, these characteristics aren’t necessarily bad, provided you’re a listener who’s open to such a narration style. That all to say, this is certainly not a passive read.

Regardless of your book preferences, the content of this book is very good. I greatly appreciated the in-depth perspective into the lives of the severely mentally ill that it provided. If you’re aspiring to become a mental health professional, I assure you this is a required read.

And for those suffering from mental illness, or chronic illness, I also recommend reading. Don’t venture into this listen in pursuit of hope— you won’t find it. But if you’re fortunate, you’re likely to find a greater appreciation for the life that you know you’re living.

Okay

I enjoyed the book overall. While this the author's autobiography, there were some points in the book that seemed to last longer than how long the book is.

Poor insight

I listened to this book to help better understand psychiatric patients, but about half way through I started questioning the author’s insight into her own illness.

Very enlightening view

I wish I had access to this years ago it would have helped me better understand the struggles my brother faces. Thank you for allowing me this insight. Your ability to articulate what he has not been able to is extremely helpful.

compelling and thought-provoking

More then your average memoir, visa essays include personal experiences, clinical information, and thoughts about some of the big questions and mental health care. today. A truly powerful read, highly recommend.