The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness Audiobook By Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett cover art

The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness

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The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness

By: Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Gregory Abbey, Cheryl Smith
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Moving, harrowing, and ultimately uplifting, Lori Schiller's memoir is a classic testimony to the ravages of mental illness and the power of perseverance and courage.

At 17, Lori Schiller was the perfect child - the only daughter of an affluent, close-knit family. Six years later she made her first suicide attempt, then wandered the streets of New York City dressed in ragged clothes, tormenting voices crying out in her mind. Lori Schiller had entered the horrifying world of full-blown schizophrenia. She began an ordeal of hospitalizations, halfway houses, relapses, more suicide attempts, and constant, withering despair. But against all odds, she survived.

In this personal account, she tells how she did it, taking us not only into her own shattered world, but drawing on the words of the doctors who treated her and family members who suffered with her.

©2008 Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett (P)2018 Hachette Audio Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Women Inspiring Heartfelt Feel-Good Thought-Provoking
Multiple Perspectives • Personal Insights • Fabulous Narrators • Inspiring Story • Honest Portrayal
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I really appreciated the insight this book gave me on multiple people's perspectives on a schizophrenia diagnosis and experience. I really liked it and am rating it highly. It was particularly unique to hear the examples of her voices/"visitors" as audio rather than text.

I don't wish to critique the story in terms of content because it is a personal experience and was a very compelling listen. However, I do think a warning may benefit some readers regarding the way weight is spoken about in this book:

Repeatedly there are comments regarding how weight ties to Lori's personal experience with mental illness and how her weight increase and weightloss is a reflection of her care and view of herself as well as a side effect of the medicine. Though I am not someone who has this struggle, I could see her perspective on weight and the derogatory comments about her own size (like referring to herself as a whale, only being pretty when she's considered skinny, etc) being very painful and unexpected with regards to other people's struggles. I thought maybe that would be covered later and some self-reflection on fatphobia, but it was never acknowledged other than losing weight being a good part of recovery. This may be unexpected to some readers who aren't prepared for that, so I hope a warning may useful here and as a consideration when recommending it.

Excellent but with one note

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Loved the layout of this book, what an inspiration. Great vulnerability and hope in life.

Absolutely resilient

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I read THE QUIET ROOM book, years ago, when it first came out. Listening to the audiobook, which had fabulous male and female narrators. What makes this memoir so much better than the average mental health memoir because perspectives from Lori’s friends, parents, brothers and doctors are also included which eliminate questions of an unreliable narrator.
Schizoaffective Disorder is considered the most difficult mental illness to treat because it involves both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder making the condition difficult to successfully find the right medication more challenging. Schizoaffective Disorder has no cure, but can be managed with medication compliance, continuous treatment and hard work from the patient.

Spectacular

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This was an interesting listen and very thought provoking - I enjoyed listening to it, and appreciate the insight and realistic representation of struggle and honest reflection.

Interesting and thought provoking

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One of my favorite books. I already read it and now listened to the audiobook because I'm obsessed!

Wonderful

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You helped me so much to learn about mental illness. Thank you for sharing, you are amazing.

Amazing book!

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Anyone who is interested in mental health must read this. Such a touching account of how mental illness influences everyone. The point of view changes is so impactful to the accurate telling of this difficulty but ultimately triumphant journey.

Incrdible multi POV

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As a therapist, this book was very helpful and insightful. I highly recommend this book. It was incredibly beneficial to hear about the author from many different viewpoints.

Fantastic Read!

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I loved this book. It was fascinating and moving to hear a personal account of the experience of a psychotic disorder. Very eye opening, well written, and well narrated.

Absolutely brilliant

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I’ve read many memoirs on peoples struggles in life with mental health and personal struggles they worked to overcome, this was one of the best. The courage, honesty, resilience of Lori’s fight for her life was so inspiring. Also, the dedication, love and commitment of her family along with their honesty of the struggle to have a daughter so ill was so moving. Along with the doctors, therapists, nurses and health care workers that didn’t give up on her showed amazing commitment.

My maternal grandfather had a mental breakdown in the 1940s. He was a WW 1 vet which provided him life long support. His diagnosis (to me) seemed uncertain. However the medical records though brief indicate paranoia & psychosis. The field of understanding mental health at that time was limited as was care. It was determined he would never leave the Veterans hospital. My mom was a teen in high school. Reading this book makes me wonder if his breakdown happen today would his life had been different. Perhaps he would not have been institutionalized? Iim so happy for Lori and her family. I know this story moved me, I don’t often write reviews, especially this long.

Brilliant, brave and beautiful

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