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The Other Side of Me - Memoir of a Bipolar Mind
HARDCOVER - colour edition (alternate cover)
In this unforgettable memoir, first-time author Julie Kraft takes readers on an intimate journey through her struggles and triumphs with bipolar disorder. No stone is left unturned. In baring her skeletons and soul, Julie offers a rare glimpse into a world that affects millions but is often misrepresented, feared, or hidden. It is Julie's greatest hope that in sharing her story she will open minds, shatter stigma, and offer hope to those walking a similar path.
In this unforgettable memoir, first-time author Julie Kraft takes readers on an intimate journey through her struggles and triumphs with bipolar disorder. No stone is left unturned. In baring her skeletons and soul, Julie offers a rare glimpse into a world that affects millions but is often misrepresented, feared, or hidden. It is Julie's greatest hope that in sharing her story she will open minds, shatter stigma, and offer hope to those walking a similar path.
210 pages, Hardcover
Published February 14, 2023
2 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Julie Kraft
2 books7 followersJulie Kraft is a Canadian author, artist, and mental health advocate devoted to spreading awareness and shattering stigma. In the spring of 2010, after decades of living with anxiety and depression, she received an official diagnosis of bipolar II disorder. Since then, Julie has come to a place of fully embracing her bipolar mind- she credits it with allowing her to live a vibrant and full life. Her first book, The Other Side of Me - memoir of a bipolar mind, was published in 2017. She has also contributed to publications for Psych Central, Psycom, and BP Hope magazine. As she continues to pour herself into advocacy work, it is Julie's greatest hope that her voice will open minds, change perceptions, and help others walking a similar path.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 2, 2021
Brilliant!
January 19, 2017
Fantastic! So well written and so funny!! I had a smile on my face most of the time...there were sad parts too but I could totally relate...remember how life was living with my Dad who had bipolar disorder. Thank you so much for writing this book Julie. My favourite page was 145...Painting a New Picture...this book is the start!
March 13, 2021
The formatting is Funny, Strange - I Borrowed this title with Kindle Unlimited .... I'm very GLAD I had NOT purchased this to add to my Kindle Library, Very hard to use as an eBook to Read, will not use a Dark Screen view, I prefer the Dark Background and Lighted Text font Letters/Numbers - Kindle/Amazon is doing Very Strange things with their eBook formatting - found so much effort to read did not finish this title - this Strange Formatting sucks !!!!
Too bad for such an important topic to spoil this Kindle eBook with this PDF/Picture type format, can't use word/text flow for Font style/size Change word wrap not usable - the format used in this eBook Stinks Big Time !!!!
Too bad for such an important topic to spoil this Kindle eBook with this PDF/Picture type format, can't use word/text flow for Font style/size Change word wrap not usable - the format used in this eBook Stinks Big Time !!!!
October 29, 2017
I thought this was an excellent first hand account of living with bipolar 2 disorder told with a level of transparency she likens to " Walking down the freeway naked at rush hour " . It is cleverly written and keeps your interest. I found it very helpful for understanding a family member who battles this disorder. I'd highly recommend it for those who want to understand a bit about this disorder or for someone who battles the disease. The author is a believer in Jesus but that isn't the focus of the book .
December 29, 2020
I could not connect to this book. The narration was annoying & didn’t help the poorly written book. She mentions little details that are suppose to be self deprecating or cleaver & they were just boring & irrelevant. I have read many desperate & impactful memories from mental health issues. I guess each person’s story is the most important in their mind, but this seems a little overly dramatic. She seemed very lucky, privileged & had very minor real tangible repercussions from her illness.
December 4, 2019
In a world full of fear, be courageous. In a world full of lies, be honest. In a world where few care, be compassionate. In a world full of phonies, be yourself. Because the world sees you. The world hopes for you. The world is inspired by you. The world can be better because of you. -Doe Zantamata
In a world full of fear, be courageous. In a world full of lies, be honest. In a world where few care, be compassionate. In a world full of phonies, be yourself. Because the world sees you. The world hopes for you. The world is inspired by you. The world can be better because of you. -Doe Zantamata
In a world full of fear, be courageous. In a world full of lies, be honest. In a world where few care, be compassionate. In a world full of phonies, be yourself. Because the world sees you. The world hopes for you. The world is inspired by you. The world can be better because of you. -Doe Zantamata
June 28, 2020
A very honest account of life with bi-polar disorder
This was such an eye opening first person account of what it is like to have bi-polar disorder. Julie is such a likeable, authentic woman and her struggles and honesty in how she dealt, or did not deal, with them was a window into seeing how difficult it is to live with this disorder. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about what it feels like to live with this disorder. I applaud Julie for letting us see how challenging this can be and for sharing her struggles and her triumphs.
This was such an eye opening first person account of what it is like to have bi-polar disorder. Julie is such a likeable, authentic woman and her struggles and honesty in how she dealt, or did not deal, with them was a window into seeing how difficult it is to live with this disorder. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about what it feels like to live with this disorder. I applaud Julie for letting us see how challenging this can be and for sharing her struggles and her triumphs.
November 25, 2022
A quick but fulfilling read
I googled "best bipolar memoirs" and this came up first so I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. It's not a story that made me cry but it did make me chuckle. I loved its presentation with fabulous photos and thought provoking quotes. I found much to relate to with Kraft's experiences. This is a well written book that I would recommend to anyone living with Bipolar or someone who loves them.
I googled "best bipolar memoirs" and this came up first so I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. It's not a story that made me cry but it did make me chuckle. I loved its presentation with fabulous photos and thought provoking quotes. I found much to relate to with Kraft's experiences. This is a well written book that I would recommend to anyone living with Bipolar or someone who loves them.
February 4, 2022
Terrific story!
I enjoyed your book! I hope you will write another depicting your childhood and teen years. Also a little.more in depth regarding the times when you had your children. Did you have highs and lows after their births? I think for a lot of women that would be great information. Thank you for book! You do have a way with words! Good life do on your next book!
I enjoyed your book! I hope you will write another depicting your childhood and teen years. Also a little.more in depth regarding the times when you had your children. Did you have highs and lows after their births? I think for a lot of women that would be great information. Thank you for book! You do have a way with words! Good life do on your next book!
June 20, 2022
Absolutely a quick read. And used a lot of literary ideas to let you see how someone with bipolar thinks and feels. I read this to see a bit into the insight as to how my sons life feels as he lives with bipolar as well and as a loved one you can truly relate to loving someone that lives with this Illness.
November 3, 2024
I could have done without the speech about the benefits of faith in religion, but this is a good testimony to what a bipolar 2 life can be like with its hypomanic and depressive episodes and all the attendant irrational behaviour they entail. I found it easy to identify with this memoir and applaud its efforts to reduce stigma about mental health disorders.
March 18, 2019
Thank you!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!! For the insights of your dealings with bi-polar it helps me understand my wife's bi-polar. I have adhd as well so we make a intresting married couple!
THANK YOU!!! For the insights of your dealings with bi-polar it helps me understand my wife's bi-polar. I have adhd as well so we make a intresting married couple!
March 8, 2020
Truth telling at it's finest
What an open, vulnerable account of a life lived with a misunderstood disease. Julie’s willingness to share her whole story and to avoid the impulse to curate it to avoid the ”ugly” is admirable and brave.
What an open, vulnerable account of a life lived with a misunderstood disease. Julie’s willingness to share her whole story and to avoid the impulse to curate it to avoid the ”ugly” is admirable and brave.
March 4, 2018
A story that resonates
Thank you for your honesty, a great book for showing people what living with bipolar is like. Beautiful to have those feelings into words
Thank you for your honesty, a great book for showing people what living with bipolar is like. Beautiful to have those feelings into words
June 16, 2019
Great read
Great insight, good laughs, good quotes. It was a fast and simple book to get through that offered wonderful perspective.
Great insight, good laughs, good quotes. It was a fast and simple book to get through that offered wonderful perspective.
February 23, 2020
Well written, funny, honest, and enlightening
A great book for anyone with bipolar disorder as well as family and friends of a loved one with this disorder.
A great book for anyone with bipolar disorder as well as family and friends of a loved one with this disorder.
April 13, 2020
It is interesting to read different individuals descriptions of their highs and lows. An odd format impedes reading. Also some major issues at downplayed.
April 23, 2020
Interesting, I am not as severe but some of her antics I have done and her reason for it opened my eyes as to why I do certain things and better to do contain it
September 29, 2020
Good, quick read. Felt authentic and since it is a memoir this is a good thing. I honestly would have liked more.
July 25, 2021
Wow!
An excellent, honest, funny, emotional account of a challenging condition. It's harder to relate as a man but I certainly felt the experience, given how well it was written
An excellent, honest, funny, emotional account of a challenging condition. It's harder to relate as a man but I certainly felt the experience, given how well it was written
September 20, 2022
Loved this book as a memoir about having bipolar. I had a lot of similar experiences as Julie and I just felt heard.
January 11, 2023
This is an attempted memoir about bipolar disorder by someone with undiagnosed narcissistic personality disorder.
February 28, 2025
It was good but it was missing what triggered her bipolar, unless it was the incident with the vehicle when she was little that triggered everything. Overall good read.
March 15, 2017
Thank you, Julie Kraft, for opening another door to mental health awareness.
What is often a taboo subject has been cracked wide open as Julie shares openly about what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. She will have you laughing and crying as she shares stories from her life as a teen, young woman, and then wife and mother. You will read about how she grew in her self awareness and learned to accept her diagnosis for what it is, and about her incredible family and friends who stood by her and encouraged her during her self discovery. Julie has shown that although the journey is hard and often frustrating, there is hope for those struggling, both for those living with the disorder, and for those who support them.
What is often a taboo subject has been cracked wide open as Julie shares openly about what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. She will have you laughing and crying as she shares stories from her life as a teen, young woman, and then wife and mother. You will read about how she grew in her self awareness and learned to accept her diagnosis for what it is, and about her incredible family and friends who stood by her and encouraged her during her self discovery. Julie has shown that although the journey is hard and often frustrating, there is hope for those struggling, both for those living with the disorder, and for those who support them.
Read
March 1, 2017Good memoir showing some of the behavior a bipolar person may experience. Not very specific in her treatment or even mention of her drug regimen. I would have appreciated a bit more of her diagnosis and treatment info and a better timeline. But some good info. Need a bibliography in books like this or a section on where do you go from here to learn more or get help.
March 15, 2017
Thank you, Julie Kraft, for opening another door to mental health awareness.
What is often a taboo subject has been cracked wide open as Julie shares openly about what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. She will have you laughing and crying as she shares stories from her life as a teen, young woman, and then wife and mother. You will read about how she grew in her self awareness and learned to accept her diagnosis for what it is, and about her incredible family and friends who stood by her and encouraged her during her self discovery. Julie has shown that although the journey is hard and often frustrating, there is hope for those struggling, both for those living with the disorder, and for those who support them.
What is often a taboo subject has been cracked wide open as Julie shares openly about what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. She will have you laughing and crying as she shares stories from her life as a teen, young woman, and then wife and mother. You will read about how she grew in her self awareness and learned to accept her diagnosis for what it is, and about her incredible family and friends who stood by her and encouraged her during her self discovery. Julie has shown that although the journey is hard and often frustrating, there is hope for those struggling, both for those living with the disorder, and for those who support them.
January 2, 2020
Awesome book about life with Bipolar
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews