EARLY RAVES:
“Compelling, personal, and often very funny.”
—the New York Times
“Beautiful, raw, and deeply felt, Jolt is a riveting account of depression, memory, and the last resort of ECT, handled here with uncommon elegance. Ted Scheinman has given us a gift with this slyly gorgeous meditation on the sacrifices necessary to being well—one that embraces the mystery of what makes us human.”
—Susannah Cahalan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire
“A marvelous read….What a beautiful writer.”
—Emma Thompson
“How [Scheinman] manages to show a sense of humor in his diary entries is astounding….Jolt is a wonder, harrowing, hopeful, and ultimately a cri de coeur that turns joyous.”
—Air Mail (editors’ pick)
“Vivid, often funny prose…Scheinman is an extremely likeable guide into the exclusive realm of those facing the most profound psychiatric challenges. Witty, candid, and an important contribution to our collective understanding of a controversial therapy.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“By turns sardonic, sincere, and unsentimental, Scheinman’s account is blunt about the ravages of depression but offers hope… It adds up to a fascinating firsthand look at the intricacies of mental illness.” —Publishers Weekly
“I was deeply moved by this brilliant book. Jolt isn’t just a rich and fulfilling report on the brain and the ways it can sometimes betray us, but a beautiful and heart-wrenching portrait of family, parentage, and what it is to crawl out from beneath the weight of expectation and attempt to remake yourself.”
—Hanif Abdurraqib, National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author
“Brilliant. Like some cockeyed modern version of Dante’s Virgil, Ted Scheinman takes the reader on a vivid journey through his descent into a depressive inferno and his ascent back out. Only Scheinman’s a lot funnier—imagine Virgil with the self-lacerating wit of Carrie Fisher or Augusten Burroughs.”
—Scott Stossel, National Editor of The Atlantic and bestselling author of My Age of Anxiety
“It’s about the delight of loving great books, and it is itself a delight.” — the Paris Review
“Delightful … glows with affection and insight.” — the Christian Science Monitor
“Charming … rendered with an observational wit that pays homage to Austen herself.” — Jezebel
“A candid and immensely pleasing romp.” — the Los Angeles Review of Books
“A treat for any Jane Austen fan … insightful and often quite funny. Scheinman is a wonderful guide to the world of Austen.” — Booklist