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A Schizophrenic Will
Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 13: 9781451512243
Many biographies of people with mental illness seem to dwell primarily on the feeling of hopelessness, and they keep expectations for the sufferer's future low. With this autobiography, Mr. Jiang attempts to turn the tables on this litany of sorrow. He shows himself as a result of the miracles that modern medicine can produce. He went from being a basket case to a respected, technologically-savvy medical librarian working at a world-renowned research institution.
Many biographies of people with mental illness seem to dwell primarily on the feeling of hopelessness, and they keep expectations for the sufferer's future low. With this autobiography, Mr. Jiang attempts to turn the tables on this litany of sorrow. He shows himself as a result of the miracles that modern medicine can produce. He went from being a basket case to a respected, technologically-savvy medical librarian working at a world-renowned research institution.
120 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2010
20 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
William Jiang
50 books15 followersWill is the author of 69 books in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French which have gone to #1 in the USA and have sold in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, France, Germany, India, Australia, Italy, and Japan. He is a former Columbia Psychiatry Medical Library Chief, designer, and he is a speaker of English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Mr. Jiang's critically-acclaimed autobiography is "A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of Madness, A Story of Hope". Mr Jiang and his intense 25+ year struggle with schizophrenia is iconoclastic because he challenges us to think differently about stereotypes of mental illness. His peers would be world movers like Philip K. Dick, John Nash, and Elyn Saks. Most movies and media news paint one-dimensional, thinly drawn caricatures of mentally ill people, instilling fear. Refreshingly, words that could describe Mr. Jiang's life and work include: brilliant, passionate, artistic, profound, knowledgeable, inspirational, and even "wise teacher".
William Jiang BA MLS Mental Health Author and Advocate
Mr. Jiang's critically-acclaimed autobiography is "A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of Madness, A Story of Hope". Mr Jiang and his intense 25+ year struggle with schizophrenia is iconoclastic because he challenges us to think differently about stereotypes of mental illness. His peers would be world movers like Philip K. Dick, John Nash, and Elyn Saks. Most movies and media news paint one-dimensional, thinly drawn caricatures of mentally ill people, instilling fear. Refreshingly, words that could describe Mr. Jiang's life and work include: brilliant, passionate, artistic, profound, knowledgeable, inspirational, and even "wise teacher".
William Jiang BA MLS Mental Health Author and Advocate
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 12, 2014
‘The mixture of fire and ice would color the rest of my life’
William Jiang’s extraordinary chronicle of his life is at once arresting, horrifying, challenging and inspiring. Obviously Will Jiang is a brilliant young handsome man born prematurely to an Anglo-Saxon mother and an absentee Russian Jewish father and later adopted by his Chinese stepfather Yu Jiang: the inordinately touching memories of and tributes from his brothers Leaf, Chung, and Justice as well as comments introduced in his preface form an impressive list of people attest to the fact that this is a unique young man.
But the reason this autobiography is so deeply moving is the fact that Will Jiang was diagnosed at age 19 as a paranoid schizophrenic and given the fact that he is well educated (has earned a BA and ad Masters of Library Science, speaks four languages, served as the Columbia University/NYSPI Medical Library Chief, and has written a number of fine books), the manner in which he is able to not report as a bystander the workings of the mind sinking into psychotic depths but instead relating to the reader the feeling of that descent, treatment, horrors, and eventual recovery is nothing short of astonishing.
This book takes us by the hand and walks us through the first suggestions of mental illness, plunges us into the moment by moment nightmares that assault the mind of a schizophrenic patient, makes us feel the effects of the medications and treatments, and then beckons us into the light and his own discovery of natural nutritional techniques that help heal the brain. It is an odyssey, reading this book, but it is also a journey lead by a guide who knows each aspect of it well.
Will Jiang writes so well that it is hoped he will embrace his gift for his literary talent and continue writing major works. He is an extraordinary man who is doing more to educate the public about the world of the mentally ill victims while providing a brilliant beacon of hope. Highly Recommended.
William Jiang’s extraordinary chronicle of his life is at once arresting, horrifying, challenging and inspiring. Obviously Will Jiang is a brilliant young handsome man born prematurely to an Anglo-Saxon mother and an absentee Russian Jewish father and later adopted by his Chinese stepfather Yu Jiang: the inordinately touching memories of and tributes from his brothers Leaf, Chung, and Justice as well as comments introduced in his preface form an impressive list of people attest to the fact that this is a unique young man.
But the reason this autobiography is so deeply moving is the fact that Will Jiang was diagnosed at age 19 as a paranoid schizophrenic and given the fact that he is well educated (has earned a BA and ad Masters of Library Science, speaks four languages, served as the Columbia University/NYSPI Medical Library Chief, and has written a number of fine books), the manner in which he is able to not report as a bystander the workings of the mind sinking into psychotic depths but instead relating to the reader the feeling of that descent, treatment, horrors, and eventual recovery is nothing short of astonishing.
This book takes us by the hand and walks us through the first suggestions of mental illness, plunges us into the moment by moment nightmares that assault the mind of a schizophrenic patient, makes us feel the effects of the medications and treatments, and then beckons us into the light and his own discovery of natural nutritional techniques that help heal the brain. It is an odyssey, reading this book, but it is also a journey lead by a guide who knows each aspect of it well.
Will Jiang writes so well that it is hoped he will embrace his gift for his literary talent and continue writing major works. He is an extraordinary man who is doing more to educate the public about the world of the mentally ill victims while providing a brilliant beacon of hope. Highly Recommended.
January 19, 2015
Inspirational. Gives the reader a good picture of what it is like having schizophrenia and how it can be dealt with when having phenomenal determination. This young man is extraordinary to say the least. It goes to show what the human spirit can do.
May 22, 2019
Este libro ha resultado ser una gran decepción. Estudio psicología y la esquizofrenia es uno de los trastornos mentales que más me llaman la atención, por lo que tenía muchas esperanzas depositadas en esta lectura.
Ya en la primera página comencé a mascar la tragedia. Más de 5 errores gramaticales en una sola página... Pese a eso decidí seguir con la lectura, con esperanzas de que mejorase... Pero, tal y como imaginaba, todo seguía igual. Incesantes errores (algunos de ellos realmente sangrantes) a lo largo del libro que hacen que la lectura sea tediosa y lenta.
Respecto al contenido también esperaba mucho más. Buscaba una versión personal dónde se explicase cómo se vive la esquizofrenia en primera persona, un relato descorazonador que me transportase a las tinieblas por las que pasan estos individuos cuando padecen algún brote. Sin embargo, he encontrado una historia normal, de una vida normal, con algunos altibajos (causados por la enfermedad). Entre sus páginas se pueden encontrar más capítulos dedicados a la publicidad de fármacos que a la propia vivencia de este trastorno.
Un autor que, al menos en la nefasta traducción al español, parece tener un impresionante ego. 2 capítulos enteros dedicados, exclusivamente, a reunir artículos que ha publicado en algunas revistas... En definitiva, una gran decepción.
Ya en la primera página comencé a mascar la tragedia. Más de 5 errores gramaticales en una sola página... Pese a eso decidí seguir con la lectura, con esperanzas de que mejorase... Pero, tal y como imaginaba, todo seguía igual. Incesantes errores (algunos de ellos realmente sangrantes) a lo largo del libro que hacen que la lectura sea tediosa y lenta.
Respecto al contenido también esperaba mucho más. Buscaba una versión personal dónde se explicase cómo se vive la esquizofrenia en primera persona, un relato descorazonador que me transportase a las tinieblas por las que pasan estos individuos cuando padecen algún brote. Sin embargo, he encontrado una historia normal, de una vida normal, con algunos altibajos (causados por la enfermedad). Entre sus páginas se pueden encontrar más capítulos dedicados a la publicidad de fármacos que a la propia vivencia de este trastorno.
Un autor que, al menos en la nefasta traducción al español, parece tener un impresionante ego. 2 capítulos enteros dedicados, exclusivamente, a reunir artículos que ha publicado en algunas revistas... En definitiva, una gran decepción.
June 5, 2015
Certainly I liked this book because I authored it. The newest edition of my autobiography A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of Madness, A Story of Hope is available on Amazon.com in print as well as on the Kindle for a significant discount. I was shocked to see the old edition's cover on B&N. That was the cover to my book more than 2 years ago!
About myself and my book: many biographies of people with mental illness seem to dwell primarily on the feeling of hopelessness, and they keep expectations for the sufferer's future low. I attempt to turn the tables on this litany of sorrow. I show myself as a result of the miracles that modern medicine can produce. I went from being a basket case to a respected, technologically-savvy medical librarian working at a world-renowned research medical institution. I am a published author in the mental health journal New York City Voices, responsible for 21 articles, in English and Spanish.
The review of my book that I'm most proud of is by arguably the most powerful man in psychiatry today, schizophrenia expert Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman:
A talented ambitious young student is afflicted by the most dread mental illness in the prime of his life. This first person account describes this all to common occurrence but what is unique is how he reacts to this adversity and his courageous and successful journey to recovery. Will Jiang’s impressive and moving story is reminiscent of other similar first person accounts of personal struggle and triumph over mental illness including Elyn Saks’ The Center Cannot Hold and Temple Grandin’s Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism. Will’s story will be similarly informative and inspirational to everyone who has the good fortune to read it.
Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.
Lawrence E. Kolb Professor and Chairman
Department of Psychiatry
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute
About myself and my book: many biographies of people with mental illness seem to dwell primarily on the feeling of hopelessness, and they keep expectations for the sufferer's future low. I attempt to turn the tables on this litany of sorrow. I show myself as a result of the miracles that modern medicine can produce. I went from being a basket case to a respected, technologically-savvy medical librarian working at a world-renowned research medical institution. I am a published author in the mental health journal New York City Voices, responsible for 21 articles, in English and Spanish.
The review of my book that I'm most proud of is by arguably the most powerful man in psychiatry today, schizophrenia expert Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman:
A talented ambitious young student is afflicted by the most dread mental illness in the prime of his life. This first person account describes this all to common occurrence but what is unique is how he reacts to this adversity and his courageous and successful journey to recovery. Will Jiang’s impressive and moving story is reminiscent of other similar first person accounts of personal struggle and triumph over mental illness including Elyn Saks’ The Center Cannot Hold and Temple Grandin’s Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism. Will’s story will be similarly informative and inspirational to everyone who has the good fortune to read it.
Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.
Lawrence E. Kolb Professor and Chairman
Department of Psychiatry
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute
June 29, 2024
A Schizophrenic Will goes over William Jiang’s story of dealing with Schizophrenia while trying to establish his place in the world. He goes over various hurdles, such as being in a mental institution, finishing college while taking powerful medications that make him very tired, and dealing with economic struggles. His story is very motivational and inspirational. Living with Schizophrenia is very difficult, and after reading Will Jiang’s story, I have seen the lengths that are possible to reach while being under the sickness. He handles things with determination, not looking at the negatives but focusing on the positives and what can be done about a situation over what cannot be done. This is a great book for anyone who has been through Schizophrenia.
March 25, 2016
Informative article about dealing with mental illness.
I found this book to be very informative about the mental illness schizophrenia. It also had quite a bit of information on enrolling in college, financial support that's available and what to and not to expect when enrolled at the college level.
I found this book to be very informative about the mental illness schizophrenia. It also had quite a bit of information on enrolling in college, financial support that's available and what to and not to expect when enrolled at the college level.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews