Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder Book Review

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Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder Book Review

About the Book: When a person loves someone with bipolar disorder, life can be very stressful. From medication troubles to a partner's mood swings the demands on a partner can be intense. Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder takes a unique and practical approach to these issues. 

Written by an author who has bipolar disorder (and who lived with a partner who also has bipolar disorder) and a coauthor with over ten books on the topic of mental illness, the book offers specific, practical and realistic tips on how a couple can work together as a team to create a treatment plan that teaches them to live with the illness while still maintaining a loving and joyful relationship. (Though this book is written for couples, friends and family members can use the techniques in the book as well.).

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder provides hope and encourages couples to work together to create a plan they can use to help stabilize bipolar disorder so that their relationship can focus on love and companionship instead of the illness. Chapters include ideas on how to create a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates medications and supplements, diet, exercise and behavior and lifestyle changes into one practical approach to this very serious illness. The partner of a person with bipolar disorder learns about communicating with their partner when they're ill, getting real about the situation and how to take on other roles in healing besides caretaking. Other specific topics include work and money, emotions, sexual issues and much more. The goal of the book is to help couples create a relationship that is based on support and prevention instead of constant crisis control.

Our Take: The purpose of this book is to help someone that is partnered or married to someone with bipolar disorder learn to manage and relate to their significant other, not to mention assist them in their times of need.  I am married to someone with bi-polar disorder, so who better to review this title, right? 

Overall this book is good.  Its helpful and understanding, although at times a bit unrealistic.  It tells the reader to advise your loved one that you won't deal with/talk to their bi-polar disorder when they are acting up.  I have to say from personal experience that won't go over well, lol.  If you have someone in a delusional state, then a statement like that isn't going to be useful.  Beyond that, the book is full of nice scenarios and solutions to help you assist in caring for your loved one.  Its certainly a helpful tool and a good read.

How to Buy: Amazon.com

Bipolar Disorder for Dummies Book Review

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Bipolar Disorder for Dummies Book Review

About the Book: Bipolar Disorder affects many more people than just the 2.5 million Americans who suffer from the disease. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder also affects spouses, partners, family members, friends and coworkers. And, according to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, 15% of children diagnosed with ADHD may actually be suffering from early-onset of Bipolar Disorder. 

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies reveals some of the causes and consequences of bipolar disorder, let you in on some crisis survival strategies, and describe ways that friends and family members can support loved ones who have the disease. The book includes an overview of the causes and symptoms of bipolar disorder, explains step-by-step how to obtain an accurate diagnosis, discusses the medications available, and tells what you can and can't do to help someone with the disease. You'll learn:

• The different categories and potential causes of bipolar disorder
• How to select the right mental health specialist
• Managing employment-related issues brought on because of the disorder
• How bipolar disorder affects children
• Advocating for yourself or a loved one
• Planning ahead for manic and depressive episodes
• Selecting the best medications for you—including alternative "natural" treatments
• How to survive an immediate crisis situation
• Identifying triggers and mapping your moods

Complete with fill-in-the-blanks forms and charts, key web site and email addresses, and first-hand accounts from real people, Bipolar Disorder For Dummies gives you the latest information and self-help strategies you and your loved ones need to help everyone affected feel a whole lot better.

Our Take: There are a TON of books out there on bipolar disorder.  Its a very misunderstood illness to say the least.  I have a loved one that experiences the disease and its absolutely life-altering.  Unfortunately, most people don't even have a grip on what it really is or does.  Wiley's "For Dummies" series tackles bipolar disorder and breaks it down into managable and easy categories, so that not only the illness, but many of the treatments and survival techniques, can be easily understood.

This book is great to orient anyone with bipolar disorder or just for light reading on your own.  If you have kids that you need to explain the illness to, then this book would also be invaluable for that.  I highly recommend it.

How to Buy: Amazon.com or the Wiley Publishing website

Baader-Meinhof: The Inside Story of the R.A.F. Book Review

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Baader-Meinhof: The Inside Story of the R.A.F. Book Review

About the Book: The Baader-Meinhof Group--later known as the Red Army Faction (RAF)--was a violent urban guerilla group which terrorized Germany in the 1970s and '80s, killing 47 people, wounding 93, taking 162 hostages, and robbing 35 banks--all in an attempt to bring revolution to the Federal Republic.

Stefan Aust's masterful history of the Group presents the definitive account, capturing a highly complex story both accurately and colorfully. Much new information has surfaced since the mass suicide of the Groups' leaders in the 1980s. Some RAF members have come forward to testify in new investigations and formerly classified Stasi documents have been made public since the fall of the Berlin Wall, all contributing to a fuller picture of the RAF and the events surrounding their demise. Aust presents the complete history of the RAF, from the creation in 1970 to the breakup in 1998, incorporating all of the new information. For instance, there is growing evidence that the German secret service eavesdropped on Baader, Meinhof, and the other RAF members imprisoned in Stammheim and that they knew that the terrorists planned a mass suicide, but did nothing to prevent it. Also, there is new information about the role of the RAF lawyers (among them Otto Schily who later was Minister of the Interior in Gerhard Schroder's cabinet), and the roles of the different RAF members and the rivalry between them. The volume will also contain numerous photos.

Terrorism today is never far from most people's thoughts. Baader-Meinhof offers a gripping account of one of the most violent terrorist groups of the late twentieth century, in a compelling look at what they did, why they did it, and how they were brought to justice.

Our Take: The RAF is an infamous group that formed back in 1970.  The Red Army Faction is associated with Baader and Meinhof, two of the groups organizers.  A recent film, the Baader-Meinhof Complex, brought this legendary revolutionary group to light for many of us in the west that many not be as familiar with it as those in Germany.

There are a great many books on the Baader-Meinhof complex and the Red Army Faction.  In fact, we just reviewed one here on Book Legion back in May.  It was a great book, but what sets this one apart from that and the others out there is most definately the author.  This is truly the INSIDE story of the Red Army Faction.  Stefan Aust was involved with Baader and Meinhof from the days of writing in a subversive underground paper and he was tied to members of the group all through the events that unfolded.   His perspectives and insights into what happened, not to speak of his memories, are invaluable in putting together the picture of this historic and much glamorized series of events.

This book is the absolute end-all when it comes to the Red Army Faction.   Its a must-read!

How to Buy: Oxford University Press website

Toy Story 3: The Essential Guide Hardcover Book Review

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Toy Story 3: The Essential Guide Hardcover Book Review

About the Book: Woody and Buzz are back! And so are all of your Toy Story favorites. Discover the world behind-the-scenes and the lives behind the toys in this ultimate guide of Pixar's first and most classic franchise - Toy Story.

Toy Story 3 introduces new toys, new adventures, and new challenges to Andy's beloved animated friends. Get the inside scoop in this essential guide.

Our Take: We, like so many others, ventured off to the theaters this past weekend to see the new Toy Story 3.  Its been 11 years since a Toy Story film was in the theaters.  My wife and I saw toy Story 2 in the theater when we were newlyweds.  This time we got to bring our 7 year, 6 year and 7 month olds with us!  It was quite the treat.  The film is beyond expectations and manages not only to be funny and charming, but quite the emotionally moving epic, as we see the aftermath of what happens to the toys when Andy grows up. 

In honor of Toy Story 3, DK has released the essential guide to the movie.  This hardcover book is a fantastic look inside the new film and characters.  Beware that it's riddled with spoiler alerts about the plot, so if you haven't seen the film first, you should probably wait to crack this baby open.

The book is filled with full-color images of the new and old characters, along with a ton of data on each one!  Its a great read for kids or adult fans of the franchise.  The price can't be beat, either!  I definately recommend this one.

How to Buy: Amazon.com or DK.com