Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life

Memoir of discovering and coming to terms with her bipolar disorder, by an Iranian American Muslim. The subtitle, A Bipolar Life refers not only to her medical diagnosis, but to her Iranian American Muslim identity.

The tone of the book gives you a strong sense of the author's personality: colorful, exuberant, full of energy and ideas. Amid the entertaining storytelling, it was easy for me to gloss over some of the subtleties of what she was saying, particularly about being Iranian American and Muslim at this time in our history and how that is related to being bipolar medically.

It's also eye opening to think about how difficult it was for her to get a diagnosis and accept it, when as readers we already know the outcome so it seems obvious to us.

This was a very worthwhile read.