What do You think about Electroboy: A Memoir Of Mania (2003)?
I can't rate this book because it triggered so many things in me. It reminded me of when I was first diagnosed bipolar and support groups told me I wasn't bipolar enough even though the docs and psychiatrists that saw me were 100% in agreement. There are people with bipolar disorder who hate mania and will do just about anything to avoid it. I'm one of those people. I can't really rate it fairly because it's hard for me to read and I'm definitely not the audience it was written for.The other thing about this book is that it felt like things were missing. Behrman is clearly someone who helps people in need, but no sign of that comes into the book until people write letters for him for his trial. I can't tell what motivates him and I feel like pieces of some of the stories are missing - some details that would have told me more about him or his experiences. Maybe that's on purpose, I don't know. I believe what he wrote. He's credible, and it is definitely a memoir of mania, but I think Behrman is probably much more than what he did when he was manic or psychotic or depressed. I hope he comes out with another book in a few years that's a memoir of Andy Behrman, not just mania. The experience of bipolar is different for different people, but this book is talked about like what bipolar IS. I found this quote from the book on Goodreads where Behrman describes what Bipolar disorder is - it's definitely not my story:“Bipolar disorder is about buying a dozen bottles of Heinz ketchup and all eight bottles of Windex in stock at the Food Emporium on Broadway at 4:00 a.m., flying from Zurich to the Bahamas and back to Zurich in three days to balance the hot and cold weather (my sweet and sour theory of bipolar disorder), carrying $20,000 in $100 bills in your shoes into the country on your way back from Tokyo, and picking out the person sitting six seats away at the bar to have sex with only because he or she happens to be sitting there. It's about blips and burps of madness, moments of absolute delusion, bliss, and irrational and dangerous choices made in order to heighten pleasure and excitement and to ensure a sense of control. The symptoms of bipolar disorder come in different strengths and sizes. Most days I need to be as manic as possible to come as close as I can to destruction, to get a real good high -- a $25,000 shopping spree, a four-day drug binge, or a trip around the world.”
—Beth
This is a weird book. It claims to be a memoir about living with manic depression/mania, but it's not very memoir-like at all, and the day-to-day life described doesn't sound a whole lot like bipolar depression either. The weirdest thing is the way it's written. Even though the guy is doing some really high-stakes and sometimes outrageous stuff and staying up for days at a time, the events are told in a sort of monotone, and the excitement of what's going on isn't really captured at all. It's sort of like a long list of zany and irresponsible stuff that happened. But despite the stylistic oddity, I can't put it down, and I can't put a finger on why. Some of what the guy's doing is interesting - the stuff about being an art dealer is what I find most interesting. The adventures in the porn and prostitution industries are kind of interesting as well, in that train-wreck kind of way. The guy is flying back and forth to different areas of the U.S., Europe, Asia, all over the place every few days, but the travel doesn't sound glamorous at all - you get no sense of scenery or time or anything, really. It comes across more like a record than a glimpse into the guy's soul.
—Dani
Mania is exhausting for all involved, even if you are just reading about it. This book wiped me out totally. It's a great book for truly showing what life can be like for someone who is battling maniac depression. I can't say I loved reading it, or that it was enjoyable. But I also don't think that's the point. If you know anyone who is dealing with this diagnosis, or suspect someone that you love may have some maniac traits, this book will help you walk in that person's shoes. I really appreciate that Andy Behrman didn't end on a happily ever after note, which isn't likely in this situation. But he does make great strides towards living a "normal" life and he shows that there is relief to be found.
—Badly Drawn Girl
