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

( 57 )

Overview

At seventeen 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. Now in this ...

See more details below
Paperback
$10.35
BN.com price
(Save 31%)$15.00 List Price

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (75) from $1.99   
  • New (14) from $5.99   
  • Used (61) from $1.99   
The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • NOOK Devices
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$9.99
BN.com price

Overview

At seventeen 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. Now 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.

In this new edition, Lori Schiller recounts the dramatic years following the original publication — a period involving addiction, relapse, and ultimately, love and recovery.

Moving, harrowing, and ultimately uplifting, THE QUIET ROOM is a classic testimony to the ravages of mental illness and the power of perserverance and courage.

In the bestselling tradition of The Bell Jar and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, this is the electrifying story of one woman's descent into madness--and her courageous, triumphant struggle to rejoin the real world. To re-create Lori's harrowing story, coauthor Bennett drew on Lori's personal diaries as well as intimate interviews with relatives, friends, and doctors.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Schiller, raised in a loving, affluent family in a New York City suburb, was 17 when she first heard the ``voices'' that would take over her life. Willing herself to appear normal, she resisted the brutally disparaging voices that urged her towards violence and suicide, and she succeeded in graduating from college. But early in 1982, at age 23 and after a suicide attempt, she was persuaded by her parents to admit herself to a mental hospital. For the next seven years, Schiller's auditory hallucinations worsened, and she repeatedly attempted suicide. Diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, she underwent shock therapy and was treated with antipsychotic drugs. As the symptoms of her disease waxed and waned, Schiller was in and out of hospitals and treatment programs; her weight soared and she became dependent on cocaine. Entering a program at New York Hospital, she suggested to her therapist that she try a new drug, clozapine, which gradually helped her to cope with her illness. Schiller now works at a halfway house. With Wall Street Journal reporter Bennett, she presents her stunning story of courage, persistence and hope. (July)
Library Journal
Diagnosed as schizophrenic at age 23, Schiller spent the next seven years in and out of mental institutions. This account draws upon her diaries as well as interviews with her family, friends, and doctors. A 100,000-copy first printing.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780446671330
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
  • Publication date: 1/28/1996
  • Pages: 288
  • Sales rank: 81496
  • Product dimensions: 5.25 (w) x 8.00 (h) x 0.87 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 57 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(39)

4 Star

(11)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(3)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 57 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 2003

    great read

    I am a college student studying sociology with a concentration on Human Services. I was just amazed by reading this book. I learned a great deal--Lori took us into her world and it made you feel as if you were in her shoes. The clarity of the book was amazing that even a child can read it. I really enjoyed this book. If you want to know more about this disease read this wonderful book!

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 2012

    One of the best personal memoirs I have ever read.

    This is for the inconsiderate person who doesn't deserve to read this book:

    Step outside the circle. People write reviews of books for the Authors and for fellow book lovers who come to discuss literature - not personal issues they have with UPS. Accidents happen all the time and I am sorry you felt it necessary to give a one star review to a sick woman who wrote a brave account of one of the most horrible illnesses a person can suffer from - all because you were late in getting a copy. Shame on you. Find better ways to spend your time.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2009

    An amazing view inside schizophrenia

    I read this book for a graduate school assignment, but found it very compelling. If you want to know what psychosis feels like Lori Schiller describes it very well. The book gave me a tremendous amount of insight into the inner workings of the schizophrenic mind. I highly recommend it to anyone.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Tue Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Excellent Insight

    I think this book gives great insight into ones struggle with mental illness. However, what I liked about this versus some other books on mental illness is the representation of several different experiences of the same situation, from family members, friends, and doctors.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Tim

    Hi

    2 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    WOW!!!

    This book gave me an inner view of schizophrenia like nothing else has. I felt her pain, frustration, hope, disappointment and joy. Her family, friends and doctors wrote chapters too so you get a sense of how they felt. It was an emotional roller-coaster that helped me understand how this illness is different from depression, which I understand.

    Even better, it was fun to read, fast paced and so interesting.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2000

    A MUST TO READ!

    This book is an amazing account of a woman struggling with schizophrenia. I work in psychiatric hospital on a unit with mostly schizophrenic patients, and this book helped me so much in understanding my patients and truly empathizing with them.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Very intriguing

    Informative, eye opening, inspiring. Everything from her experiences to all the love her friends and family have for her is truly touching to read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008

    Read it!

    Anyone who is in the human services field should read this book. You will learn so much about the disease and will definetely benefit from Lori's story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 EDT 2003

    Great

    I stole this book from my big sister, who is a phycology major, while we were on our vacation in Europe. I have always been intersted in the mind and metal illness so I thought i would enjoy it. I read it whenever I could since my mom, sister, and I were all reading it at the same time. I read it in recored time it was so good. I recomend it to anyone who is up for reading a page turner.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jul 29 00:00:00 EDT 2003

    AMAZING!

    I could not belive the feeling I received as I read this book to myself. It was absolutely amazing. I literally felt myself in her shoes as she took me into her life. As the others spoke about her illness, I felt myself in their shoes as well. Having read this book has made me want to meet LORI and hug her. I am so proud of her and I don't even know her. Well, I guess I do know her now. I hope everyone gets to read this book at least once.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2003

    Unbelievable

    I found this book to be extremely emotional. I learned so much about Lori's case from the book... it was so informative, and she actually took you through her highs and lows of her battle with schizophrenia. I read this book in 2 days and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject, has a family member or friend suffering from the illness...and just anyone who is looking to find hope in the deepest shadows.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Apr 02 00:00:00 EST 2003

    Perhaps the best direct account of schizophrenia

    This book, along with 'The Eden Express', is one of the best accounts of schizophrenia. The quality of writing is extremely high, the story is told with good pace, and the ending is hopeful. Lori's description of schizophrenia itself- the disorienting and downright frightening aspects of the disease- is one of the best accounts of the disease that I have read. It's comforting to think that the treatment of this disease has improved substantially since the 1980s due to the advent of the atypical antipsychotics, but I have my doubts as to whether these newer medications are really all that effective. Overall, this book is excellent and should be read by anyone interested in schizophrenia or mental illness in general.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2003

    A Must Read!

    Whether you suffer from this disease, know someone who does or are just interested in learning about 'Schizophrenia' this book is a must have. This is one of those books that you can't put down.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2003

    Interesting Book!

    I am currently going to IUP and had to read 'The Quiet Room' for my psychology class. I am a Psychology major and I have enjoyed this book, it is very interesting and descriptive with everything that she goes through throughout her life...Great Book! Colin

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2002

    A good read that teaches without preaching

    This book was on my health list, but I read it for entertainment. It is a great book that taught me a lot about mental illness and life in general. It especially meant a lot to me because I live in the town where she grew up and I've been to the store she works at. I liked how it was written from the views of many people involved.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 EDT 2001

    Spellbinding

    A unique and fascinating story. Lori Schiller brought the disease of schizophrenia to light. This was a spellbinding account that I could not put down.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2001

    EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THIS BOOK

    I'm 15 years old and I have been studying psychology for about 2 years. I have found that people with mental illnesses are misunderstood a great deal. This book gives you a jouney through the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic, which is, perhaps one of the most misunderstood and most made-fun-of illnesses. It shows that Lori is a normal person who developes schizophrenia and fails to deal with it on her own. She lives through several suicide attempts. She denies that anything is wrong with her. She also goes through several psychward admissions and has a bout with drugs. Unlike a lot of stories like this, it has a happy ending. It is a great book, I'm reading it for the second time. I think that everyone who has ever really misunderstood a person with a mental illness should read this.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 EDT 2001

    A great read.

    The book helped me to understand the extreme emotional and physical torture a schizophrenic endures. Part of it being an artifact of the disease and part from the mental health system. It also provides insight to the dark recesses of the human mind where, if unchecked, is allowed to obsess, twist and exagerrate every emotion into it's most hideous form. I found the Voices most horrifying. The thought of not being able to control a loud audience of voices in your head that commands your every move is tough to imagine.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Amazing!! Related to Schizophrenia in ways I could have never be

    Amazing!! Related to Schizophrenia in ways I could have never before. So completely touching.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 57 Customer Reviews

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)