Night Falls Fast

Understanding Suicide

By: Kay Redfield Jamison

Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Kay Redfield Jamison

Critical reading for parents, educators, and anyone wanting to understand the tragic epidemic of suicide—”a powerful book [that] will change people's lives—and, doubtless, save a few" (Newsday).

The first major book in a quarter century on suicide—and its terrible pull on the young in particular—Night Falls Fast is tragically timely: suicide has become one of the most common killers of Americans between the ages of fifteen and forty-five.

From the author of the best-selling memoir, An Unquiet Mind—and an internationally acknowledged authority on depression—Dr. Jamison has also known suicide firsthand: after years of struggling with manic-depression, she tried at age twenty-eight to kill herself. Weaving together a historical and scientific exploration of the subject with personal essays on individual suicides, she brings not only her remarkable compassion and literary skill but also all of her knowledge and research to bear on this devastating problem. This is a book that helps us to understand the suicidal mind, to recognize and come to the aid of those at risk, and to comprehend the profound effects on those left behind.

Critic reviews

"Jamison writes with authority, clarity and clinical reserve. Powerful as her medicine is, her poetic accounting of this dark death is more affecting still."—Baltimore Sun

"Jamison brings us face to face with the suicidal mind in a manner so intense and penetrating that, paradoxically, the immersion in despair she offers is a source of great pleasure."—The Washington Post Book World

"This powerful book will change people's lives—and, doubtless, save a few."—Newsday


"A profound and impassioned book—it will stand as the authoritative study of suicide for many years."—William Styron, author of Darkness Visible

"[Jamison] writes not only in fierce opposition to suicide, but also in passionate vindication of life."—The New York Times Book Review

Wow

This a an amazing comprehensive look at suicide the writer has put together an amazing look at suicide that I have never heard of

Haunting

A touching view of the tragedy that is suicide. Easy on statistics with the right amount of personal stories.

THIS BOOK!

Is THE BEST book that I’ve ever heard/read on neuropsychology, that which leads to the most extreme manifestation in those who suffer under Cluster-B disorders, the human condition and workings of the human mind. I’ve have 20-25 titles that are meant to address these subjects. Most are ok but forgettable, some are terrible, a few are very good. But nothing touches Night Falls Fast or the insightful writings of Kay Redfield Jamison. I’ve listened to this book twice and I’ll listen many times, because every paragraph and chapter is full of meaningful detail, a lot of which I hadn’t fully put into context on a previous listen. I do Understand Suicide much more than ever, but I would not say that Night Falls Fast is only about Suicide.

Helped me understand after my experience

nearly 1 month has passed since my child ended their life, I went looking for understanding and information on a topic I knew very little on. The book is a lot of data sometimes leaving it up to the reader to translate into their context which for me and where I am at was fine. It was a bit much to read at times but the information and directness was needed. I recommend unless you are very sensitive and you want a book more on the aura of suicide then facts.

I don’t really know

There are too many stories told but same idea and relations. It feels like the author was scattered everywhere. I don’t really know if this book affected me or not because I also have mental illness.