The Day the Voices Stopped: A Schizophrenic's Journey from Madness to Hope

Book Description

A nationally known spokesperson for the mentally ill offers hope and inspiration in this moving story of his decades-long struggle with schizophrenia and his remarkable recovery.

For thirty-two years Ken Steele lived with the devastating symptoms of schizophrenia, tortured by inner voices commanding him to kill himself, ravaged by the delusions of paranoia, barely surviving on the ragged edges of society. In this inspiring story, Steele tells the story of his hard-won recovery from schizophrenia and how activism and advocacy helped him regain his sanity and go on to give hope and support to so many others like him.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-09-24

This book presents an incredibly honest insight into the experience of a paranoid schizophrenic. Ken Steele invites his readers into the most personal spaces of his mind and walks us through his life experiences. The book left me in tears. A must read for anyone who works as a mental health provider or seeks to understand what a friend or loved one is going through.

schizophrenia.......2007-06-08

The book writtten in a simple style, is nonetheless extremely moving. It was very interesting to read how a schizophrenic views the world around him, and how we appear to him. An excellent read.

Just Wonderful.......2007-04-10

I recommend this book to all people who want to understand mental illness better or to anyone who just needs to be inspired. Ken Steele gives you such a gripping and vivid picture of his extremely difficult life as a mentally ill person, I felt like I was experiencing it with him. Never before have I been brought to tears from reading a book, nor have I ever felt so much hope that I can overcome adversity in my own life.

Resonate and Inspiring.......2007-03-24

I chose to read `The Day The Voices Stopped: A Memoir of Madness of Hope' by Ken Steele and Claire Berman because I was interested in reading a book on the subject of mental illness. `The Day The Voices Stopped' is about Ken Steele's battle with schizophrenia; along with all the work he's done to better the care and treatment of mental health consumers. Before I read the book, I thought that the book would depress me, and that I would want to stop reading when some of the really bad parts came. But as I read, I got pulled into Ken's life. The bad parts still depressed me, but I kept on reading, desperately wanting to see Ken's happy ending. The book starts with the sudden arrival of Ken's voices; Voices that are constantly harassing and abusing him. Ken jumps from place to place, institution to institution, experiencing tragedy and joy. There are moments in the book when everything in Ken's life seems absolutely dismal, which makes his recovery and triumph over his illness all the more inspiring. The book doesn't stop on the day that Ken's voices stopped; it goes on to chronicle his advocacy for the rights of mental patients, and his struggle without the voices.

I found `The Day The Voices Stopped' to be very enjoyable. Ken bears all, not sugar-coating anything in his struggles. It's a hard, truthful look into the life of someone with schizophrenia], and someone who has been constantly abused both by his voices and people around him. Ken's story is moving and inspirational. It makes one stop and look around at the world with new eyes. The story is written for Ken's point of view, sharing both his thoughts and what his voices said. He retells his story in a detached sort of view, distancing the view from his emotions he's feeling while looking back on his life.

I highly recommended this book, but not to everyone. It is definitely not for younger kids, someone should be at least 15 if they are going to read this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone with a mental illness and anyone who has a mental illness themselves. It really shows the thought process and emotions of someone with a mental illness, and helps us to relate to them better. I think it would be a good idea for a parent to read along with the book if their child is reading it, to help explain some things that the child might not understand.
The book is not meant to depress someone. It is meant to give people a window into the mind of someone who is mentally ill, to help them better relate to them, to offer hope. It's meant to move people without mental illness, and to inspire those who do have a mental illness, telling them that they can find their way out of the confusing fog in their minds. In sharing his experiences, Ken has given a voice to those who have been silenced.

A True Hero's Story.......2007-03-24

I chose to read this book as part of a group project at school. I was slightly apprehensive about the choice at first, but I finally decided to go for it and I'm glad that I did. "The Day The Voices Stopped: A Memoir of Madness and Hope" is the life of Ken Steele, told through his own words, about his struggles with schizophrenia. It details his journey from place to place, hospital to hospital and along the very edge of suicide. It describes the abuses he suffers in mental wards and how people took advantage of his position. It also describes his recovery and his life afterwards as a mental health advocate.
The book begins with the day the voices came to Ken. "The voices arrived without warning on an October night in 1962, when I was fourteen years old. Kill yourself.... set yourself afire, they said." I found this a very gripping way to begin his story. We get to see what happened from day one and what things the voices say to him from the start. I think that, by letting us in on all 32 years of his struggle, he lets us into a new way of thinking about mental illness.
I thought that the book and its content would disturb me, but it didn't disturb me at all. The only thing it did was make me think and question my own views on the issue, which I find to be a great quality in a book. The book is slightly depressing, but Steele does offer the reader rays of hope throughout the text to keep it from being one large pit of spirit lowering material.
The book helped me to develop my position involving the care and treatment of those with mental illness and helped me to understand mental illness better. He takes his current feelings out of the picture (most of the time) so that we focus on the moment and what he was going through at the time he's telling about and can understand the hardship mental illness brings to those who suffer from it and their families. I think that everyone should read this book, whether they have a direct connection with mentally ill patients or not, for this reason. "The Day the Voices Stopped" is a very eye opening book and lets us into the minds of the mentally ill so that we can have a better understanding of them. There is, however, some very adult content within the text so the book is not appropriate for children, and parents should also be there to discuss it if their teenager is reading this book. As a teenager, I felt that it was important to be exposed to this so that I don't form the wrong conclusions about the mentally ill and their care, and my parents agreed with me.
This is definitely a book that I would buy, if not for the educational value of it, but for the story itself. Ken's fight for sanity and his miraculous recovery thanks to a new line of anti-psychotics, and his later fight for rights for the mentally ill is an amazing story. I was constantly wondering where he would go, what he would have to deal with, and what the voices were going to tell him to do next. In exposing his story and sending out his voice, he has become a real hero for many people who have been silent for too long.

Amazon.com

Miniature houses have an undeniable appeal, especially when they're made out of food. But the architectural achievements in this guide are so charming and sometimes so elaborate that it's hard to imagine actually eating them; they're meant to be admired, not devoured. From rustic to royal, humble to ornate, this eclectic assortment ranges from cooking-school complex to child-simple. Some were even designed by kids and could certainly be constructed by them. (Just be sure to buy extra trimmings, since the budding architects are bound to do some nibbling!)

The authors lay solid groundwork in the introductory section, explaining the key points of gingerbread building, pattern making, and utilizing various types of trimmings, and offer basic recipes for gingerbread dough, royal icing, marzipan, pastillage, and fondant. Then it's on to the structures themselves, contributed by more than four dozen designers. Houses, cabins, inns, chapels, castles, lighthouses, even whole little villages drip with snowy icing, as candies, cookies, and other goodies mimic stone, brick, shingle, stucco, logs, and landscaping. This is not a step-by-step guide but rather a gallery of wonderful ideas, with photos of each creation and some very general suggestions about making them. The photography is not high quality but is adequate enough to show detail, and templates are included for many of the structures. One designer even found an ingenious solution to the edibility dilemma, turning the flat roof of her elaborate Victorian concoction into a serving surface for Christmas cookies. --Amy Handy

Customer Reviews:

I'll keep it but only as a supplement to better books.......2004-12-18

This book has pictures of some really cool ideas, and pictures of some less-cool ideas. It also has several basic recipes and some general building information, but it isn't very detailed. Most frustrating are the pictures of houses that have only one or two pictures and little or no information about some of the most interesting design details!
If I hadn't purchased this book from an independent bookseller, I'd probably return it. It is useful to a beginner like me, but only marginally.

Really disappointing.......2003-12-28

If you are seeking the inside secrets to gingerbread artistry, don't expect much from this book. This book doesn't even begin to cover the many gingerbread/food techniques currently available -- and that home builders can use -- which mimic real-life or fantasy -- building structures and contents. I thought that many of the instructions shown were too simple and general -- the reader deserved to read more details, more inside information on how to work with food items to create effects -- especially since the author is a pastry chef! The book's description also promises photos of the Grove Park Inn's gingerbread competition entries. But if you expect to see the competition's top of the line entries featuring incredible details, don't. I looked forward to receiving this book. I'm sorry I bought it.

Artistic, Excellent Photography, Good Variety!.......2003-08-20

Highly recommend for your baking library! Lots of great ideas, good instructions, basic templates but lots of room for your own personal taste.

Worth the buy!

Wonderful Baking Must Have.......2003-08-20

This is an excellent book with simple, clear and easy to follow instructions with plenty of room for individuality.

Photography is crisp, clear and uncluttered.

Highly recommend just for viewing pleasure if not for anything else!

I love this book!.......2002-10-06

I always loved making gingerbread houses, but I wasn't all that good at it, and someone else always assembled the house. This book inspired me to try building my first house on my own. I can't wait to try out all the decorating ideas. I think this book is really good for beginners, like myself. I love how it gives you instructions, tips, and pictures to help you make your own. If you have any interest in gigerbread houses whatsoever, I strongly advise you to read it. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are clear, and it will have you hooked on gingerbread houses.

Gingerbread House Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books)

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Gingerbread House Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books)
Cathy Beylon
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Accessory

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ASIN: 0486297942

Book Description

Decorate your own appetizing gingerbread house with 42 reusable sticker illustrations of gumdrops, candied fruit slices, peppermint sticks, and other sweets.

Gingerbread Houses, Animals and Decorations

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Gingerbread Houses, Animals and Decorations
Joanna Farrow
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0754816923

Book Description

Explore the delicious versatility of gingerbread in 24 delightful projects. How to make delectable cottages, castles, a christmas tree, a noah's ark, a rocking horse, festive decorations and classic cookies, all shown step by step in 150 colour photograph

Easy Gingerbread House Sticker Picture Puzzle (Dover Little Activity Books)

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Easy Gingerbread House Sticker Picture Puzzle (Dover Little Activity Books)
Larry Daste
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486438953

Book Description

Lollipop trees, peppermint cane window frames, and a graham cracker roof are pictured in 16 numbered stickers that make it easy to build this yummy little house.

Average customer rating:

Thumbs Up!
Gingerbread Houses
You can't judge a book by its pictures
All Fun No Worries
Good ideas but could use photos

Gingerbread Houses
Christa Currie
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0385472676
Release Date: 1994-09-01

Book Description

Gingerbread houses are the architectural wonder of the baking world, and every year around the holidays, constructions of all shapes and sizes spring up everywhere. Some have Tootsie Roll mailboxes, shredded-wheat roofs, and gumdrop bells, while others are covered with snow and icicles and have balconies, garlands, and brightly glowing candy glass. But no matter how elaborate a house is, one doesn't have to be an expert baker (or architect) to build one. Gingerbread Houses: A Complete Guide To Baking And Decorating is for ginger-bread bakers who want to build their first or their fiftieth house. With easy-to-follow instructions, it shows beginners all the basic techniques, including how to assemble the walls and roof without breaking the gingerbread. But it also shows more advanced bakers how to illuminate their house, use a glue gun, and even give last year's house a face-lift. The whimsical, two-color drawings and patterns are a wealth of new ideas for doors, windows, wreaths, bells, mailboxes, lampposts, fences, and trees. And for those who feel the entrepreneurial urge, there's even a section on marketing, packaging, pricing, and selling gingerbread houses. With wit and humor, Christa Currie, champion gingerbread baker, makes building gingerbread houses fun for the entire family. Gingerbread Houses is the perfect stocking stuffer for the baker or architect on your Christmas list.

Customer Reviews:

Thumbs Up!.......2007-01-15

Filled with tips and ideas. It's informative and written with light humor, not like reading a dry instruction manual. It has everything from basic to advanced ginger breading. Discusses recipes, constructing and decorating, preserving/storing, lighting, etc. Sketches are very detailed. Includes tree and fence ideas to `landscape' your gingerbread house. Would highly recommend!

Gingerbread Houses.......2007-01-15

Very thorough and informative information for a first time gingerbread house maker. It will probably become a family tradition!

You can't judge a book by its pictures.......2005-12-06

My first reaction after receiving and flipping through the pages was, "What!". "No color photographs?" Well shame on me because this book is so well written, I never missed the absence of color photos. The decorating idea sketches are great and, again, the author did a great job of writing this book for beginners and intermediate as well. You won't find yourself scratching your head saying, "Huh??". I wonder what she means by that?" I'm hooked on gingerbread houses now and have made 6 in the last 3 weeks. The chapter on making your own patterns was also put to the test. My patterns came out perfect following the directions in this book. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This is the start of a new Christmas tradition at my house. R. Schaaf

All Fun No Worries.......2005-11-21

Among the pages of chimney tips is the line "If it's a little crooked, that's okay, it only adds to the charm of the house." (p.44) Among the ideas for fences she mentions "Gates are useful if you're making a pattern in your fence and don't have quite enough room for that last pattern. That's a good place for a gate!" (p.86) And her favorite place to practice piping icing? Her kids hands. This is an author who knows how to take a potentially stressful, overwhelming project and make it what it's supposed to be: pure enjoyment.

I think the use of drawings instead of photographs reflect that. Instead of a picture of perfection to be copied, she gives you loads of enchanting illustrations that get your own ideas churning. Five stars for spectacular inspiration and clear, thorough instructions.

Good ideas but could use photos.......2004-10-07

Even though this book did not have any photos it was still helpful and gave some good ideas. The author includes drawings of different ideas such as doors, windows, and a mailbox (made out of a tootsie roll). I wanted to make some houses and sell them during the holidays and the author gives some tips on doing this at the end of her book. I borrowed this from the library but now plan to buy it!

It's a Gingerbread House: Bake It, Build It, Eat It! (Mulberry Read-Alones)

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It's a Gingerbread House: Bake It, Build It, Eat It! (Mulberry Read-Alones)
Vera B. Williams
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0688149804

Book Description

Let Grandpa Ben teach all you need to know about making, baking, and building a gingerbread house. His clear instructions unlock the secrets of a delicious holiday tradition for young and old alike. Ages 5 up.

The Weekend Crafter: Making Gingerbread Houses: Dozens of Delectable Designs & Ideas (Weekend Crafter)

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The Weekend Crafter: Making Gingerbread Houses: Dozens of Delectable Designs & Ideas (Weekend Crafter)
Veronika Gunter
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1579905064

Book Description

These delectable and delightful gingerbread houses look elaborate, but thanks to a team of talented chefs and designers, every one is simple enough for a beginner to make. Develop the skills on a standard house; the instructions explain all the basics: recipes, creating patterns, assembling the pieces, and decorating it beautifully. Then get creative with 17 exceptional designs, including traditional Christmas fare to fulfill every crafter’s dream of making a holiday-themed gingerbread house, plus other surprises. Among the most unique: Dorothy’s House Lands in Oz, complete with a yellow brick road. A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.

Raven Hill Mysteries #3: Beware The Gingerbread House (Raven Hill Mysteries)

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Raven Hill Mysteries #3: Beware The Gingerbread House (Raven Hill Mysteries)
Emily Rodda
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439782481

Book Description

Sunny has always been terrified of the Gingerbread House, a peculiar pastry shop with a giant cage for trapping naughty children. Now she's been asked to lend the place a helping hand!The rest of the Help-for-Hire crew quickly agrees with Sunny, as soon as they discover a not-so-sweet surprise: Somebody's putting dead things in the tasty treats. And the team's fractured fairy tale is only just beginning. . . .Sunny and her friends have to act fast. Nobody wants the Gingerbread House to crumble - not if Help-for-Hire will take the blame.

Average customer rating:

Interesting but a bit dated

Mystery of the Gingerbread House
Wylly Folk St. John
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380017318

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but a bit dated.......2002-05-15

I found this book at a garage sale and thought the title seemed interesting. The storyline is surprisingly good and the novel deals with modern day problems such as wife beating, preoccupied parents and handicapped children (one of the main characters wears leg braces and suffered through polio). The book makes many interesting references to Atlanta and even discusses April 26th which is the Confederate Memorial Day. One note of caution is that some of the minor African-American characters are depicted speaking in the stereotypical Black dialect and are shown to be believers in voodoo or maids. However, since this book was written in 1969, the reader should expect some dated ideas and caricatures.

Gingerbread Houses: Baking and Building Memories

Average customer rating:

Create Christmas Magic!
Fantastic!
"Tis the Season
Lovely!
The Perfect Gingerbread Book!

Gingerbread Houses: Baking and Building Memories
Nonnie Cargas
Manufacturer: kp books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0873417119

Customer Reviews:

Create Christmas Magic!.......2005-10-29

Want to create Christmas Magic? Want magical memories your family will treasure for a lifetime? Then remind yourself of what it felt like to be a child - to believe in your heart in the wonder and magic of Santa Claus! Nothing can rekindle that spirit like creating a fun, festive and yummy-licious Gingerbread House with the whole family pitching in! You'll have so much fun and so many laughs it's sure to become a great Christmas tradition in your home - just like it is in ours! And this great little book has everything you need to have a ginger-iffic time! Pick up a copy - you'll be happy you did!

Fantastic!.......2002-01-06

Words can't describe how helpful I have found this book. It is both full of tips and tricks that really work, and has lots of pictures for ideas. Its a great book for someone who doesn't know alot about gingerbread houses, it gives clear information, and its one of the best values I've seen as well.

"Tis the Season.......2001-12-11

Special baking is high on my list at this time of year as it is for many others. Just discovered a wonderful find in Cargas' "Gingerbread Houses"book. May others be so fortunate to obtain or be given this delightful, easy-to-follow, friendly "how to bake and build memories" as the sub-title so warmly suggests.

Lovely!.......2000-11-17

This is an excellent book for beginners and experienced alike. It has a colorful layout with great photos. There are many original houses which I have not seen elsewhere. Cargas includes many wonderful tips and shortcuts and has a fun children's section including advice on how to throw a gingerbread making party which proved a huge success with my children. It makes a great gift!

The Perfect Gingerbread Book!.......2000-11-08

This Gingerbread book is the best I've seen. If you are a beginner you will have no problems succeeding with your first gingerbread houses. If you are a master, you will find that the detail and suggestions for expanding your craft are all in one book. As an "experienced gingerbread" architect, I am pleased to have all the photos of good ideas. That way I can take someone else's idea and add my own personal touch. As a family, we are at the point now where it doesn't feel like Christmas until we've built our houses. The new ideas are a must! One night last year when my house was all constructed, I got so in to it that I stayed up until 2:00am to finish it. You need a book like this which is long on ideas...have fun!

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