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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Preferably something inspiring about someone who has succeeded despite terrible odds. Conquering depression would be ideal but it doesn't have to be about depression. ("Noonday Demon" is already on my list.) I just want to try to keep a positive attitude these days and reading this kind of book would probably help a lot.
Thanks.
Kara
Posted by partlycloudy on August 30, 2004, at 15:06:49
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
"An Unquiet Mind" is an excellent book. I can also recommend "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, though written in 1953 (I think?), it still tells a vivid and very real story.
I'll go through the rest of my library tonight. I like to read these too, as they make our isolated world a bit bigger with every page.
pc
Posted by Racer on August 31, 2004, at 2:57:33
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
"A Backward Glance" by Edith Wharton. Not directly related to mood disorders, but a very charming memoir by a very powerful woman. When I read it, I was most impressed by how kind she was to everyone she wrote of. (And some funny stories about Henry James, too.)
Fawn Brody's bios of Jefferson and Joseph Smith were awfully good, too, with mentions of bipolar like behavior in Jefferson.
Posted by KaraS on September 1, 2004, at 13:46:49
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by partlycloudy on August 30, 2004, at 15:06:49
> "An Unquiet Mind" is an excellent book. I can also recommend "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, though written in 1953 (I think?), it still tells a vivid and very real story.
>
> I'll go through the rest of my library tonight. I like to read these too, as they make our isolated world a bit bigger with every page.
> pcThanks pc. I was thinking about reading the Kay Jamison book. I'll make it a definite now. I read "The Bell Jar" many, many years ago when I was a teenager. It was excellent but I think a little too depressing for me right now. I should read it again sometime when I'm feeling better though as I'm sure I would get so much more out of it as an older (and wiser?) person.
Kara
Posted by KaraS on September 1, 2004, at 13:51:30
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by Racer on August 31, 2004, at 2:57:33
> "A Backward Glance" by Edith Wharton. Not directly related to mood disorders, but a very charming memoir by a very powerful woman. When I read it, I was most impressed by how kind she was to everyone she wrote of. (And some funny stories about Henry James, too.)
Thanks, Racer. I read something else by Edith Wharton that I really liked but I can't think of it right now. Very powerful woman stories are always inspiring so I'll definitely check this one out.
> Fawn Brody's bios of Jefferson and Joseph Smith were awfully good, too, with mentions of bipolar like behavior in Jefferson.I didn't know that about Jefferson. I had read that Lincoln had a lot of trouble with depression particularly after losing a child. I'd like to read a book about him as well.
-K
Posted by sb417 on September 6, 2004, at 20:09:28
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Hi Kara. I can't recommend any books about people overcoming depression right now, but I know of several other good books that might interest you. What sort of interests do you have outside of psychiatric and medical care? Are you interested in the arts, the sciences, politics?
Posted by KaraS on September 7, 2004, at 0:19:48
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on September 6, 2004, at 20:09:28
> Hi Kara. I can't recommend any books about people overcoming depression right now, but I know of several other good books that might interest you. What sort of interests do you have outside of psychiatric and medical care? Are you interested in the arts, the sciences, politics?
sb,
The background to the book isn't that important. What I'm really looking for is something inspiring. Something where someone rises above adversity or something with a strong female protagonist. I guess it doesn't even have to be a (auto)biography. I just want to feel better and more motivated after having read it.I tend to read a lot of political things and dark things and I think a change would be good for me.
Thanks,
Kara
Posted by partlycloudy on September 8, 2004, at 20:23:03
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Posted by sb417 on September 9, 2004, at 1:00:14
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Hi Kara. Well, there are two that are among my favorites. Unfortunately, I think the first one I'm going to mention might be out of print, but it's worth trying to find. The title is "JOYS AND SORROWS: REFLECTIONS" by Albert E. Kahn. It is a biography of the cellist, Pablo Casals.
The next one, which was recently re-released, is "HOLDING ON TO THE AIR," the autobiography of Suzanne Farrell, one of the greatest ballerinas of the Twentieth Century and George Balanchine's muse during the last twenty years of his life. This book was written by Suzanne Farrell with Toni Bentley, who also danced with the New York City Ballet during Balanchine's reign.
Both books are inspiring and are about people who overcame great obstacles to achieve their success.
Posted by KaraS on September 10, 2004, at 17:49:30
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on September 9, 2004, at 1:00:14
> Hi Kara. Well, there are two that are among my favorites. Unfortunately, I think the first one I'm going to mention might be out of print, but it's worth trying to find. The title is "JOYS AND SORROWS: REFLECTIONS" by Albert E. Kahn. It is a biography of the cellist, Pablo Casals.
>
> The next one, which was recently re-released, is "HOLDING ON TO THE AIR," the autobiography of Suzanne Farrell, one of the greatest ballerinas of the Twentieth Century and George Balanchine's muse during the last twenty years of his life. This book was written by Suzanne Farrell with Toni Bentley, who also danced with the New York City Ballet during Balanchine's reign.
>
> Both books are inspiring and are about people who overcame great obstacles to achieve their success.
They both sound great. I've added them to the list. THANK YOU!!!
Posted by KaraS on September 10, 2004, at 17:50:35
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 21:53:08
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » sb417, posted by KaraS on September 10, 2004, at 17:49:30
Hi Kara,
In addition to the autobiography of Suzanne Farrell, there is a beautiful documentary about her that PBS aired several years ago. That film is available on video. The title is "ELUSIVE MUSE." Suzanne Farrell and other dancers are interviewed throughout the film, and most important of all, the film contains a lot of archival footage and stills of Suzanne Farrell and the New York City Ballet dancing in the company's heyday. I highly recommend the video, perhaps even more than I recommend the book I mentioned yesterday, because on the video, you can see her dancing. Some of the dance sequences are so achingly beautiful and moving that there have been times when I couldn't bear to watch them. I mean, there have been times in the last few years, after great loss, when I felt so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn't tolerate any more. Nevertheless, the film and the book are most inspiring. As one of the other dancers said, "Suzanne is a goddess."
Posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 22:01:17
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 21:53:08
I'll try it again. I just checked the Amazon site, and I see that I didn't have the full title. Let's see if this works: "SUZANNE FARRELL - ELUSIVE MUSE"
Posted by KaraS on September 11, 2004, at 3:08:06
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 21:53:08
Were you ever a dancer or in the arts at all? I was just wondering because of your strong interest in it.
Also, did Suzanne Ferrell ever suffer from an eating disorder? I'm thinking I may have seen or read some information on her life.
Posted by sb417 on September 11, 2004, at 17:04:44
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » sb417, posted by KaraS on September 11, 2004, at 3:08:06
Hi Kara,
No, Suzanne Farrell did not have an eating disorder. She is quite tall, and when she was younger (when she was in her teens and first joined the New York City Ballet), she appeared to be rather large-boned and solid. She did go on a few diets, which she mentioned in the book, but I don't think her dieting ever became pathological. Dancers have to be light for many reasons, one of which is so that the male dancers can lift them!Perhaps you are thinking of Gelsey Kirkland, who danced with both the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theater. In addition to having an eating disorder, I think she also took a lot of drugs and burned out quickly. I'm pretty sure that she went for help and is now recovered. Gelsey Kirkland wrote a book called "DANCING ON MY GRAVE."
I am not currently working in the arts, but I used to.
Posted by sb417 on September 11, 2004, at 17:17:01
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 21:53:08
The title of the documentary I was referring to above is "SUZANNE FARRELL - ELUSIVE MUSE" which is available on both VHS and DVD, but I have to make a choice for Amazon, so I'll check VHS.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 11, 2004, at 18:46:48
In reply to Hmmm. . . why isn't that Amazon link working?, posted by sb417 on September 10, 2004, at 22:01:17
> I'll try it again. I just checked the Amazon site, and I see that I didn't have the full title.
It may also have been me working on the update, thanks for suggesting it again, and for using it right away! :-)
Bob
Posted by raybakes on September 13, 2004, at 7:19:34
In reply to Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography?, posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:51:25
Hi Kara,
Although not a biography, I've just finished reading a warm and uplifting book called 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' by Mark Haddon. It's been a best seller over here in England - all my friends have read it and highly recommend it too! Also found 'the power of myth' interviews with joseph campbell on audio tape uplifting and inspiring - find talking books by John O'donohue inspiring as well - love his warm irish accent!
Ray
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2004, at 17:08:50
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by raybakes on September 13, 2004, at 7:19:34
> Although not a biography, I've just finished reading a warm and uplifting book called 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' by Mark Haddon...
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by Noa on September 13, 2004, at 18:39:20
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by raybakes on September 13, 2004, at 7:19:34
I agree! I read "Curious Incident" in August and adored it. I came to really like the main character and was sad when the book ended because I felt I would miss him.
Posted by karaS on September 14, 2004, at 0:09:13
In reply to Re: Can anyone recommend a good (auto)biography? » KaraS, posted by raybakes on September 13, 2004, at 7:19:34
> Hi Kara,
>
> Although not a biography, I've just finished reading a warm and uplifting book called 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' by Mark Haddon. It's been a best seller over here in England - all my friends have read it and highly recommend it too! Also found 'the power of myth' interviews with joseph campbell on audio tape uplifting and inspiring - find talking books by John O'donohue inspiring as well - love his warm irish accent!
>
> Ray
Thanks, Ray. The Mark Haddon book is now on my list too.Funny that you should mention the "Power of Myth" interviews with Joseph Campbell as a good friend of mine has been telling me about those for years.
Also, funny that as a Brit you like the Irish accent. When I was in England many years ago, people there were making fun of a couple of Spanish girls I wads with who were going over to Ireland to live with a family to learn to speak English. The Brits thought it hysterical that anyone would go to Ireland to learn English, because of course, the Irish don't know who to speak English properly in their opinion.
Personally, I've never gotten into talking books but I've never really tried to. Might be a good thing to try the next time I take a long car trip.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Kara
P.S. I never got back to you on the alternative board because Larry did and he knows 10 times what I know.
This is the end of the thread.
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