Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind

Kay is an inspiration to mental health professionals the world over. She exudes empathy

Fires in the Dark is an essential reading for those suffering from mental wounds, and a learning experience for those who intend to heal others. The wounded healers, like Paul Robeson, are more powerful. I have no doubt, the author of this book Kay Redfield Jamison also qualifies the galaxy of wounded healers. One needs immense courage to say that there is grace in death. Jamison narrates that for Robert Falcon Scott the triumph over weaker self paved way to conquer the Antarctic. How terrifying and intense is the pain of the dark recesses of mind! The urge to die is a measure. Death and life lived side by side over a period characterise the life of people whose mind is unquiet, the manic depressives, on which this book focuses. Writing about the journey, or perhaps writing during the journey, of life and death gives solace. It is healing. Curiously, the outcome of writing is creative. Yet the experiencer knows not; why it is so. Besides writing, there may be other aspects of engaging in work for those who have fires in the dark recesses of minds. Some of them, the author narrates, were doctors, nurses and soldiers working under extremely harsh conditions during the World War I, witnessing tremendous loss. Also seeing death in front. Grief may set in from loss of objects we cherish. It is there since the dawn of human life, the rituals of stone age man in caves suggest it. Later cultures engaged in healing rituals more actively and in complex ways. These rituals, the book underlines, are indeed helpful to present day psychotherapy. Jamison's book tells in lively way the evolution of these healing processes, and points out where one needs to focus. Psychotherapy is a long journey from ancient Shanidar Caves to Big Sur. And with Olson, Rivers, Freud, Jung, Frankl and others, who gave primary importance to work for healing mind and body. Another way to heal is to engage mind in imagination. The imagination does not cost one but it pays in various ways. Jamison cautions, competence of healer is not to be compromised with the empathy towards patient. But a competent shaman or psychotherapist along with empathy can do wonders in healing mental wounds. One should be master of his art and show compassion in taking out a person who is burning in fires of dark. He is a wise companion in the journey from death to life. The value of the book, not only lies in the pearls collected from vast stores of knowledge, for each chapter the references in the end of the book, takes one to original sources. Lastly, Jamison builds her counsel carefully: "Suffering is inevitable: Prepare for it."

This is an American copy with uncut page edges. This is unsatisfactory in the UK where we have higher standards of products and extremely disappointing as it is a Christmas present and I have just noticed this as I started wrapping it. It should have been made clear in the description. Dreadful quality. If not acceptable to the recipient it will be returned for a refund.

Interesting history of medical communities recognition of mental illness & ways to treat those afflicted.

With the last page turned, I'm here to share my thoughts. Dr. Kay Jamison knocks it out of the park again. Her famous lyrical style of writing enveloped me, and I'm confident it will do the same for others. Jamison interweaves biographical narratives, intricately set in their time, with our quest to understand how to heal the mind. I enjoyed this book so much I've sent copies to friends and am now listening to the audiobook.