The Center Cannot Hold is a memoir about Elyn R. Saks's journey with schizophrenia, detailing her life from the early signs of mental illness in childhood, through her struggles and hospitalizations during her academic years at Oxford and Yale, to her eventual management of the condition. Saks achieves professional success as a professor and legal scholar, marries, and lives a fulfilling life despite her challenges. The book includes discussions of mental health issues, self-harm, and suicide.

The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks is widely praised for its raw and compelling insight into living with schizophrenia. The memoir's clarity and honesty elicit empathy and respect. Some critics feel the narrative occasionally lacks cohesion, but overall, Saks' profound bravery and resilience shine through, making it a powerful read on mental health.

Readers who appreciate powerful memoirs about mental health, particularly those who were moved by Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar or Kay Redfield Jamison's An Unquiet Mind, will be captivated by Elyn R. Saks's The Center Cannot Hold. They are likely interested in psychological struggles, resilience, and the intersection of illness and professional achievement.

Informative / Emotional / Challenging / Inspirational / Contemplative

- The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks offers a poignant exploration of living with schizophrenia from the perspective of someone who not only manages the condition but also thrives as a legal scholar and professor.
- The book has been praised for its contribution to mental health awareness, shedding light on the complexities of mental illness and challenging the stigma associated with schizophrenia. 
- Elyn R. Saks received a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" in 2009, recognizing her extraordinary achievements as both an author and advocate for mental health reform.

**Elyn Saks**  
Author of the memoir, she navigates life with schizophrenia while achieving significant academic and professional success in psychology and law.

**Elyn’s Family**  
Elyn's family includes her parents and two younger brothers, Warren and Kevin, who play influential roles in her life, particularly regarding her upbringing and support throughout her struggles.

**Dr. Anthony Storr**  
An influential psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Oxford, providing crucial support and guidance that allows Elyn to continue her studies despite her mental illness.

**Mrs. Elizabeth Jones**  
A psychoanalyst working with Elyn on Dr. Storr’s recommendation, who effectively helps her manage symptoms with empathy and understanding, developing a close professional relationship.

**Dr. Joseph White**  
A psychiatrist and psychoanalyst from New Haven who supports Elyn through psychoanalysis and medication management without forced hospitalization, contributing to her progress.

**Kaplan**  
An analyst in Los Angeles recommended by Dr. White, who blends psychoanalysis with medication, offering clinical support despite a sometimes challenging therapeutic relationship.

**Steve Behnke**  
A fellow law student and close friend of Elyn’s, providing vital emotional support and collaboration in academic and personal endeavors.

**Will**  
Elyn’s husband, whose gentle understanding and patient support makes him a stable partner as she opens up about her illness.

**Sigmund Freud**  
The founding father of psychoanalysis, whose theories underpin the psychoanalytic method benefitting Elyn throughout her treatment.

Elyn R. Saks

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Nonfiction

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The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

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