The Collected Schizophrenias

Essays

By: Esmé Weijun Wang

Narrated by: Esmé Weijun Wang

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

“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)

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.

Thankful to have this book

I cannot recommend this book enough, it is a unique resource entirely its own.

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.

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.

Gave me a new perspective of schizophrenia

Really enjoyed this book. I had many misconceptions on this condition and this books gave me a new perspective from a person living and thriving with schizophrenia. Very well written and interesting essays of varied subjects from growing up, getting diagnosed, suffering psychosis, facing discrimination, decision to not have children etc.

The author is also the narrator. She has very good diction and a soothing voice. At times it felt too slow talking so I upped the speed to 1.25 and problem fixed. I would listen to more books from this author.

Incredible and insightful

Expanded my horizons with reading this wonderful and insightful memoir. Esme writes about her challenges and experiences with such honesty and realness. It’s like talking to your friend. I loved this so much.

Schizophrenia told with Romance

I'm not sure if it was the narrator's voice or her story that I loved. The subject of Schizophrenia is a scary one, but her story had an easy flow of words. It capture the life of a magnificent woman making the best of what has been handed to her and also perhaps in a weird way romantizing her illness. When it ended I could totally see the artist separately from her illness. I look forward to listening or reading more of her books.

You must listen!

I’m just so grateful for the energy that the author put out into the universe. To be able to do this, especially while being impacted by schizoaffective is absolutely incredible. I’m hoping that this will help me understand my husband better and share tools for him to explore and identify his purpose in life.

Loved it!

Brilliant and personal essays that made me feel less alone. My friend recommended this book, and now I can recommend it to you! A balanced mix of intellectual essays and personal insights on the art of living.

Beautifully Written

Intelligent, thoughtful and insightful stories. I especially enjoyed listening to the author on Audible. Very helpful in understanding the schizophrenias.