OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pleading Insanity" by Andrew James Archer.]

At its most basic, Pleading Insanity is Andrew James Archer’s story of learning to live with bipolar disorder. It is a memoir that recounts his diagnosis and the ways it impacted his life as he adjusted and learned to live with this condition. Mr. Archer’s story is one of struggling against adversity, falling down, and rising to face the challenge again and again. In this respect alone, it is a book worth reading, but I haven’t even mentioned the best part yet.

As the book will explain, bipolar disorder is when the mind shifts from manic states (high energy, racing thoughts, uncharacteristic over-confidence, etc.) to depressive states (pessimism, negative self-talk, etc.). More than just mood swings, Mr. Archer explains that episodes can last months and make a person nearly unrecognizable to himself in retrospect. Mr. Archer tells his story of learning to live with this condition, relating how he came to be diagnosed and how he initially adjusted. He takes the reader with him as he struggles through notable episodes when his condition seemed to get the better of him, culminating in an eye-opening, undeniable loss of control. Then he winds down with how he re-adjusted and finally became the master of his mental health.

Not only is he the author of a memoir, Mr. Archer is also a psychotherapist, and, as a mental health professional, he is amply equipped to discourse on the topic of bipolar disorder. Throughout his memoir, Mr. Archer draws attention to how symptoms of his disorder manifested in his own behaviors, effectively providing a true-to-life example of what bipolar disorder can look like, as opposed to textbook descriptions. To make it even better, he does this without breaking his voice or causing the narration to dry out. (And in case anything is unclear or difficult to remember, he does include an appendix at the end of the book which contains, in brief form, the information discussed throughout the memoir.)

In my opinion, the quality that makes this book especially valuable is that it allows people who do not experience mental illness themselves or do not have close friends or family who experience mental illness (or do so openly) a chance to learn from someone else’s experience. Pleading Insanity offers readers insight in the forms of both objective information about bipolar disorder and a subjective account to humanize it and make it relatable. How else can someone fortunate enough to be healthy learn to empathize with those who walk a harder road? At several points in the book, Mr. Archer comments on how the support (or lack thereof) of his friends and family impacted his ability to cope with his illness, thus emphasizing how important it can be for even those not immediately affected by bipolar disorder to become informed.

I decided to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I was really impressed by the blend of story and information, and I think this is the kind of book that everyone should consider reading. It is accessible, intriguing, and informative. If there is a way to promote understanding and compassion, especially in the mental health field, this book is exemplary.

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Pleading Insanity
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This sounds like an interesting book and deals with a relevant issue. Nice, thorough review.

I like this review, and I am impressed enough to want to read the book. Thank you!

Thanks for the great review. It's interesting that the author is a psychotherapist and also bipolar. I have always had this view of people with bipolar disorder as having extreme behavior, either too happy or too depressed. This book seems to dig through the stereotypes and gives a first-hand view of what it really like to live with this disorder. Very intriguing subject.

After reading this review I am very much interested in reading this book. We have two family friends who have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and I think it would be very beneficial to be able to read about what someone who has this disorder is going through. It's hard to understand when you haven't been through anything like this, but I'm hoping that reading this book will help me to understand.

I recently accompanied a person with bi-polar disorder as a friend and caretaker through the last seven years of her life. The profound ways in which she was impacted, emotionally and physically, were hard to watch... the fact that she had alienated most of her family and any other friends made her suffering even more acute. I will read this book. For her and for myself. Thank you for your wonderful review.

Thank you for this excellent review! I come from a family with a varied history of mental disorders, Bipolar being one of them. Although I have studied mental illness (I have a B.S. in psychology), I will be the first to say that a textbook cannot adequately portray what individuals with mental disorders go through--to understand a disorder, you have to talk with people who actually live with it. This sounds like an amazing book and I am very interested in reading it. Again, thanks!

-- 17 Mar 2015, 16:01 --

bookowlie wrote:Thanks for the great review. It's interesting that the author is a psychotherapist and also bipolar. I have always had this view of people with bipolar disorder as having extreme behavior, either too happy or too depressed. This book seems to dig through the stereotypes and gives a first-hand view of what it really like to live with this disorder. Very intriguing subject.

Actually, Bookowlie, lots of people with mental disorders major in psychology. It's a great way for an individual to better understand his/her illness and help others in similar circumstances. I have Asperger's Syndrome and a history of depression, and I am so grateful for my psych classes and professors. I learned so much about myself, as well as some of my family members (which has led to forgiveness and improved relationships).

Great review. I appreciate this author, since I too plead insanity, when I'm not pleading the fifth.

Excellent review! From what I understand bipolar is a personality disorder whose symptoms comes and goes. So the individual can definitely lead a perfectly normal life, until he/she has an episode. I applaud any type of literature that breaks down the walls of stereotypes. I enjoyed how L Therese points this out in the review. I enjoy reading 'detailed' reviews such as this. What's the purpose of a vague review? It defeats the purpose. I also noticed the picture on the cover of the book, one being a profile, as if there are two different people. After all, this is essentially what the book is about, two people in one. What a very enthralling review and book subject!

Bipolar isn't a personality disorder--it's a major mental illness. (Major mental illnesses generally involve brain chemistry. Personality disorders involve maladaptations of the personality.) Of course, there's often a lot of overlap among people with mental health issues. On the five axes of diagnosis, Major mental illnesses go on Axis 1, and personality disorders go on Axis 2.

(Humor me! I majored in psychology and don't get many opportunities to show it off!!)

zeldas_lullaby wrote:
(Humor me! I majored in psychology and don't get many opportunities to show it off!!)

Lol, I can totally relate. I majored in psychology, but have been working in education since I graduated! Great explanations, too, by the way!

Hey, thanks!

I've worked in education too, and trust me on this--if you're working in education, then you're using that psych degree!!

Thanks for all of the comments regarding "Pleading Insanity". I think this is a great forum for these kinds of discussions. My hope is some light can be shed on the many misconceptions of what a manic episode entails. -Andrew James Archer

You're welcome!

I really enjoyed this review, I will have to look at getting this book now