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The Up and Down Life: The Truth about Bipolar Disorder--The Good, the Bad, and the Funny
A fresh, honest, and practical guide to living with bipolar disorder.
Paul Jones, a stand-up comedian and workshop leader who suffers from bipolar disorder, uses humor, honesty, and hard-won practical advice to dispel the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and shed light on the challenges of living with bipolar disorder.
Offering an intimate view of life with bipolar disorder—including the most common mistakes bipolar individuals make and how to avoid them— and covering every aspect from diagnosis, social life, home life, and career, this is an accessible and engaging guide from someone who’s been there and can help readers cope and thrive.
Paul Jones, a stand-up comedian and workshop leader who suffers from bipolar disorder, uses humor, honesty, and hard-won practical advice to dispel the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and shed light on the challenges of living with bipolar disorder.
Offering an intimate view of life with bipolar disorder—including the most common mistakes bipolar individuals make and how to avoid them— and covering every aspect from diagnosis, social life, home life, and career, this is an accessible and engaging guide from someone who’s been there and can help readers cope and thrive.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2008
18 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 1, 2009
I waffled between three and four stars on this. On the one hand, Jones is a straightforward, funny guy, not afraid to share his own mistakes and struggles. He's honest about things like, how long until the medication starts working? and, will I ever be able to stop taking it?
On the other hand, he pooh-poohs individual therapy, supports groups, and Internet communities, leaving you with an uncomfortable combination of pulling yourself up by your cranial bootstraps and leaning hard on your family members/friends (turning them into essentially your therapists).
So, a well-written, thoughtful book, but I'm glad it's not the first book on bipolar I read.
On the other hand, he pooh-poohs individual therapy, supports groups, and Internet communities, leaving you with an uncomfortable combination of pulling yourself up by your cranial bootstraps and leaning hard on your family members/friends (turning them into essentially your therapists).
So, a well-written, thoughtful book, but I'm glad it's not the first book on bipolar I read.
August 2, 2015
I found this book to be more of an excuse for selfish behavior than a guide for coping with bipolar disorder. I do understand that this is one man's story of his experience with bipolar disorder. As I read the book, all I could think was, "what a rude man!" I'm so glad this wasn't my first book about bipolar disorder. If I had read this right after I was diagnosed, I would have thought all hope was lost and that I could not build a blessed and happy life.
November 2, 2009
The books is great - but DO NOT go to the website recommended on the cover - unless of course that you want your computer to be wiped out with virus'! I lost a computer and had to wipe it and start all over again due to the virus' on this site. I suspect that it's been hijacked... but regardless - DO NOT GO TO THE SITE RECOMMENDED ON THE FRONT COVER!
July 21, 2008
Kept My Attention - 5
Well-Written - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 3
Accessible - 5
Well-Written - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 3
Accessible - 5
November 9, 2017
After reading this book, I had all my answers I wanted to know how anyone who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder will think, react and behave in everyday situations and around friends, family or colleagues.
October 18, 2025
I enjoyed the insight into other people's experiences because it helped me feel less alone. I don't think this book presented much information that I didn't already have, but it was written in an accessible way and provided accurate information as well as valuable perspective.
September 11, 2019
Good look in to bipolar life.
November 10, 2014
All parents want their children to be happy and healthy. However, it seems with each passing day more parents find themselves the mothers and fathers of special needs kids. It used to be that the words Autism, ADHD, ADD, Bipolar, and Schizophrenia where nearly unheard of years ago, but now they are often spoken of on the mouths of PTA mothers’. I myself have a child that was just diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 8 years. She also has ADHD. To be honest I am not totally surprised, but have a positive outlook with the amount of support that is out there today versus twenty years ago. Like any parent the adult years is what terrifies me the most and this author has brought comfort to one mother.
This book is about a man that walked the first years of his life undiagnosed with bipolar disorder and somehow managed to rise above and become a success. He struggled with alcoholism, self-induced homelessness, and emotional instability that led to both physical and spiritual torment. In the midst of his crisis he lost many friends and opportunities, but somehow found his way to a doctor. From there he was diagnosed with bipolar and hence fought to reclaim his life back. This was an amazing read as a parent to a bipolar child. It allowed me to look through the mind of a person suffering from this illness. However, it reminded me that a person who is diagnosed with bipolar is just that; a person with bipolar. He or she should be treated with both love and respect. Bipolar is a disease of the brain, but it is like any other ailment that can be treated. Why should one person be treated differently if they have heart failure rather than bipolar? Both are treatable and both most often have people leading normal lives with the direction of their doctors and medications. I highly recommend this book for both parent, patient, doctor, etc. It is a great reminder that those that suffer from a unique illness can move beyond their sickness and redefine their experiences into something positive for the community. I have much respect for this author! You are amazing!!!!!!!
This book is about a man that walked the first years of his life undiagnosed with bipolar disorder and somehow managed to rise above and become a success. He struggled with alcoholism, self-induced homelessness, and emotional instability that led to both physical and spiritual torment. In the midst of his crisis he lost many friends and opportunities, but somehow found his way to a doctor. From there he was diagnosed with bipolar and hence fought to reclaim his life back. This was an amazing read as a parent to a bipolar child. It allowed me to look through the mind of a person suffering from this illness. However, it reminded me that a person who is diagnosed with bipolar is just that; a person with bipolar. He or she should be treated with both love and respect. Bipolar is a disease of the brain, but it is like any other ailment that can be treated. Why should one person be treated differently if they have heart failure rather than bipolar? Both are treatable and both most often have people leading normal lives with the direction of their doctors and medications. I highly recommend this book for both parent, patient, doctor, etc. It is a great reminder that those that suffer from a unique illness can move beyond their sickness and redefine their experiences into something positive for the community. I have much respect for this author! You are amazing!!!!!!!
October 11, 2013
This book felt like a straightforward and honest account of what one person's experience living with bipolar disorder. Paul Jones discusses what has been helpful to him and others, but doesn't preach.
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November 23, 2008Feeding my lifelong education on this subject...insightful and actually humorous at times, I'd go see the author speak if he ever came locally.
April 9, 2010
Not finished yet, but definitely worth a read if you're bipolar or a supporter! I understand so much more about this disease already and I'm only halfway through it.
March 13, 2011
Very informative. I don't know anyone with this disorder, so I'm not sure what this says about me. :/
August 6, 2014
Really enjoyed the humour and statistical views of the author on such a hard subject. Light hearted and enjoyable but also touches on very sensitive areas of an illness not known to many.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews