I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
My Bipolar Backpack is an eye-opening memoir by Susan Ralphe about her experiences and life with bipolar disorder. The author combines her mental health battles and journey with bipolar disorder along with her relationship to her husband and children and her career as a newspaper reporter within this memoir told with brutal honesty. This book would be very helpful and insightful to anyone who has bipolar, knows, and supports someone with it or believes they may have it themselves or someone just wanting to learn more about it in general. My heart ached for Susan with the lack of support she received from her husband during some of the darkest points in her life. I also found the author to be a source of inspiration to all with her constant persuit for help and recovery in her persuit for mental wellness.

The title of this one is somewhat over-limited - while the author focuses quite a bit on her bipolar diagnosis at age 40 and its effect on her life, she also details her many experiences and achievements as a reporter, politician, volunteer, wife of an alcoholic, mother of two boys, and more. She makes the valid point that her mental health is a constant consideration in all of those roles, and that we as a society are not great at recognizing and meeting the needs of those living with mental illness.

The author’s writing experience shows in the way that events are documented and presented, but some of the time jumps in the first part of the book are a bit abrupt. Other than that, it’s an interesting story and well told.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This audiobook unfortunately did not meet my expectations. Any memoir about mental illness can be a difficult one to critique because of the author's personal story, but content aside the writing style wasn't enough to keep my attention. There was a lot of repetition and the narration was kind of flat. I got bored easily and didn't really enjoy listening to it, but I am glad that the author was able to share their story especially for people who are living with this illness and could benefit from hearing her story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to and review this book.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I always appreciate authors who write memoirs, sharing parts of their lives, being honest with readers and opening themselves up to comments, ratings and reactions. I couldn't do that. Those who share experiences with mental health - either a personal account or a family member or loved one - I am amazed by. Not only are they tapping into personal experiences and emotions, but describing symptoms, explaining conditions.

In my experiences with and life with mental heath issues - and the various stigmas that go along with them - I have read about bipolar disorder, and have witnessed it in others close to me. Reading this account was very insightful. I felt brought into her life and experiences and at the end, I felt like I had more of an understanding of the condition.

I would recommend this to others who are interested in mental health, memoirs or those who have experiences with bipolar disorder.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Despite the author's background and decent writing, I gave up on this memoir at 44%. It felt repetitive, focusing more on career shifts and her husband's struggles than the complexities of bipolar disorder. Religious aspects, while important to her, overshadowed the role of medication. The narration, though competent, lacked nuance. It's a story of resilience, but for deeper insight into bipolar illness, look elsewhere. Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook.

This was a decent book. I really enjoyed the descriptions of what it is like to experience mania and related to the descriptions of depression. It was a fairly quick read, but I don't know what to say about it, other than that it was a memoir. I felt like it kind of ran on at the end, as the author talked about her accomplishments.

It would be a good book for someone who is curious about bipolar disorder, but I feel there are more insightful and intriguing memoirs out there.

Trigger warnings: hospitalization, aggression, paranoia, stigma, internalized ableism, medication.

This book was provided to me by net galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My BiPolar Backpack, written by Susan Ralphe, is a memoir of the author’s experience with bipolar disease and a reflection on her life and mental health experiences. While it was fairly well written, as the author had been a journalist, I did not find it very insightful. She does discuss some of her struggles, such as brain freeze. However, the book seemed to be mostly about her accomplishments and her transition to a new career as a politician. She also spent quite a bit of time discussing her husband’s alcoholism, to which she attributed some of her mental health struggles. In the book, which was not totally religious in nature, the author states that God and Jesus helped her with her struggles, and she wished she could have been closer to both. While I appreciate that her religion was important in her recovery, the lithium she took certainly did more for her recovery than prayer alone.

The audiobook version was competently narrated by Janice McNally. Unfortunately, she used the same tone and inflections throughout the book, even when there were conflicts and Ralphe was experiencing mania.

This autobiography is more about perseverance in the face of adversity, which can instill hope. If you truly want to learn more about bipolar disease and other mental health issues, there are more informative books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. The opinions offered are my own.

A brutally honest autobiography from Susan Ralphe: politician, mother, activist, wife & friend who reflects on her life and mental health. Narrated excellently by Janice McNally. Biographies in general are not my thing but I am interested in learning more about people with a bipolar diagnosis. I appreciated that the book wasn’t in full chronological order but flowed through her reflections in a more natural way, so we don’t hear about Susan’s childhood until she discusses it in therapy. Not being diagnosed at an early age and society’s negative reaction to mental health at that time must have been brutal to cope with, as we hear in the text. I felt that I understood so much more by listening to this audiobook, and I'm delighted that with the right drugs, moving towns and the support of her doctor, she feels able to share her story. I hope that this supports people with a similar diagnosis, their friends and family.

My Bipolar Backpack, written by Susan Ralphe, is a memoir written based on the authors own experiences with Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health. In the book, the author discusses her experiences with mental health issues, having a family member with alcoholism, and things that she discovers about herself looking back on her life.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and the way the author looks at her life, and recognizes the parts that Bipolar Disorder and her mental health struggles have manifested, from an early age. I think she did a wonderful job describing her time growing up, going to college, and her married life with her two boys. I also feel that she did a beautiful job describing the way she came back to religion. She recognized that although she wishes she were closer to God during the times she was really struggling with Bipolar Disorder, she still knew that she needed medication to cope with the hand she has been given. I feel that when it comes to religion it can be very easy to "give it up to God" and think he wouldn't give us anything we couldn't handle, but the author was very careful to not fall into this trap.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Narration: C
Content: B+
Best Aspect: Good mental health memoir. Great for anyone who need a personal account of someone living with bipolar disorder.
Worst Aspect: The narration was robotic.
Recommend: Yes.

“My Bipolar Backpack” is a well written, unwaveringly honest and insightful memoir highlighting the extreme difficulties when living with bipolar disorder. The author details her own personal journey navigating the highs and lows that are part and parcel of the condition and offers readers true insight into the challenges the condition poses.
Ralphe shares the coping strategies she has used to manage her condition and offers her thoughts on medication, therapy and other sources of support in order to help others understand how they might help themselves or others living with bipolar.
I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

As someone who suffered with undiagnosed bipolar disorder until I was 35 and worked in print and broadcast journalism, I found many parallels to the author's story with my life, albeit 15 years later. Ralphe writes with honesty (sometimes too honestly, but to each their own), and I believe books like this are important to help break the stigma that mental illness still brings in the United States. It was well-written and thought-provoking, and I also commend the bravery it took to write about one's struggles.

Thanks to NetGalley and Author's Republic for the digital audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My Bipolar Backpack was an eyeopener for me. I'm not familiar with with bipolar disorder so everything Susan Ralphe described was a new door opening. She is very resilient in her quest for healing. I appreciated her frankness and honesty. I think putting thoughts and feelings to paper is a form of therapy and clarity. I wanted to throttle her husband for his selfish behavior and contributing to her spiral out of control.

The narrator's voice was calming and soothing. A very easy listen. At first I didn't think she captured the frantic sense of the narrative, but after finishing, her voice was the perfect elixir to the chaos.

I would recommend this book if you or someone you know is suffering from bipolar disorder and if, like me, you have no connection. It's an honest recollection of Susan Ralphe's experiences.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary audio.

Susan Ralphe’s “My Bipolar Backpack” is an insightful and deeply moving memoir that offers an intimate look into the lived experience of bipolar disorder. With honesty and courage, Ralphe opens up about her journey, providing readers with a raw and authentic account that is both enlightening and inspiring.

Ralphe’s writing is poignant and engaging, drawing readers into her world with vivid descriptions and heartfelt reflections. She skillfully balances the narrative with moments of struggle and triumph, capturing the complexities of living with bipolar disorder. Her ability to articulate the emotional and psychological challenges she faces makes this memoir an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the condition more deeply.

One of the standout aspects of “My Bipolar Backpack” is Ralphe’s unwavering honesty. She doesn’t shy away from discussing the difficult aspects of her journey, from the dark periods of depression to the overwhelming highs of mania. Her transparency fosters a sense of connection and empathy, allowing readers to truly appreciate the resilience and strength required to navigate life with bipolar disorder.

Ralphe also offers practical insights and coping strategies that have helped her along the way, providing hope and guidance to others who may be facing similar challenges. Her reflections on therapy, medication, and the importance of a supportive network are both informative and encouraging.

“My Bipolar Backpack” is more than just a memoir; it is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Susan Ralphe has crafted a powerful and uplifting narrative that will resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand bipolar disorder, offering a compassionate and compelling perspective that is both educational and profoundly moving.

Living with bipolar disorder can be incredibly challenging, especially when trying to manage overwhelming emotions and anxiety. It's important to try not to let these struggles consume every aspect of your life.pect of your life.pect of your life.pect of your life.pect of your life.pect of your life.ur self worth is my priority so that my emotions can not control. Even though there are times. I lost control of my emotion. I still do my best to control it. I am willing to learn to control my emotions. I am not a perfect person. It's challenging to live with bipolar disorder and handle overwhelming emotions and anxiety. I try not to dwell on these issues in my daily life. For now this is my story and my review for the story.