Reviews of Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding

What people with bipolar said

One of the first books I read after my diagnosis, & still one of the most valuable! It was a great help to, not just myself, but to my family members also struggling to come to terms with the situation. Living on a Roller Coaster offers many valuable ideas & insights for those on both sides of the fence. I could not recommend it highly enough -
visitor to DepressioNet

I just finished reading the book and am so impressed! It took me longer than I'd normally take to read a book of this length but had to re-read so much of it (to make sure I was reading it right) and to also take breaks to completely absorb the information.

I have started practicing some of the suggested techniques along with continuing to see my psychologist for cognitive therapy and taking my medicine. I think the most important message I got out of this wonderful book is to "stop reading self-help books" and get out and enjoy life! I think with all the right things in place of late I have been well for the longest time (approx. 3 and a half months). I totally recommend this book to anyone well enough to cope with some in depth reading and a serious look at their lifestyle.

I would really like to convey my thanks to Madeleine Kelly for her generosity and insight.-
visitor to DepressioNet

Short reviews

A guide to the ride from someone who knows! I can think of no more valuable and practical resource. -
Sophie Delaney, Solicitor/Coordinator, Mental Health Legal Centre, Victoria

Discrimination and lack of understanding of mental illness contributes to victimhood and chronic incapacity. This is one cycle that can and must be broken. I commend Madeleine Kelly's brilliantly evocative, funny and practical book highly -
Moira Rayner, writer and human rights lawyer.

I am so impressed with Life on a Roller-coaster! It is a comprehensive, detailed, practical and immensely readable book...that will help readers get through the maze of manic depression. Madeleine Kelly has 'been there and done that'. Not only do her personal reflections add enormous interest and depth, but she also injects some notes of controversy. Unashamedly written for and from the perspective of people who have manic depression, the mental health system, mental health professionals, and the legal system are (quite rightly) held to account. This book is a 'must read' for anyone who has manic depression or who cares for or works with someone with the illness -
Barbara Hocking, Executive Director, SANE Australia

Psychiatrist review

Life on a Roller-coaster (the first edition) is the most comprehensive book for sufferers and carers of Bipolar Disorder that I have read.

As well as knowledge gained from experiencing manic depressive illness, Madeleine Kelly's insights and research into all corners of the disorder and its management make the book invaluable.

Orthodox and complementary treatments from lithium to the spiritual aspects are all covered, as well as how to cope with day to day life with your partner, as a parent, at work and in relationships.

The free-flowing writing and optimistic message help to make it not just a first class instruction manual, but also a good read.

It should be read by all those with Bipolar Disorder, and their carers, but it would benefit all those who are free of the disorder, just trying to make their lives as healthy, happy and productive as possible.
Dr David Grounds, consultant psychiatrist.

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General Practitioner review

This is a wonderful book. It is to be strongly recommended to doctor and patient alike, particularly where manic depressive illness is a common area of interest to them both. It is particularly insightful.

It is written by Madeleine Kelly, from Melbourne, Australia. She is writing from a personal, patient perspective, having grappled with the thrills and spills of manic depressive illness for several years. In addition to its many insights, it is chock full of Australian blunt common sense, and quite properly does not spare our sensitivities. It contains many personal accounts illustrating aspects of good and bad illness management.

This personalised account is balanced by frequent references to the literature. We doctors are all of us fond of exploring the doctor-patient relationship, implicitly from the doctor perspective.

This pithy oeuvre explores the patient-doctor relationship from many patients' perspectives. This makes it a particularly good read for us doctors.

There is some practical trenchant criticism of orthodox psychiatry, coupled with equally practical and constructive advice on how to get the best out of a sometimes imperfect system.

Chapters deal with managing relationships, dealing with children's concerns and issues, all of which are explored in a direct and thorough manner.

If I was an individual with bipolar affective disorder, I think I would find this book hugely refreshing, original, practical and really useful.

As a doctor treating individuals with this condition, I know I did!
Dr Brendan O'Shea, Ireland

Two Trees Media — the Bipolar Experts

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