A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of Madness, A Story of Hope

Many biographies of people with mental illness seem to dwell primarily on the feeling of hopelessness, and they keep expectations for the sufferer's future low. With this autobiography, Mr. Jiang attempts to turn the tables on this litany of sorrow. He shows himself as a result of the miracles that modern medicine can produce. He went from being a basket case to a respected, technologically-savvy medical librarian working at a world-renowned research institution.

People who recommend this book include schizophrenia expert Dr. Lieberman:

A talented ambitious young student is afflicted by the most dread mental illness in the prime of his life. This first person account describes this all to common occurrence but what is unique is how he reacts to this adversity and his courageous and successful journey to recovery. Will Jiang’s impressive and moving story is reminiscent of other similar first person accounts of personal struggle and triumph over mental illness including Elyn Saks’ The Center Cannot Hold and Temple Grandin’s Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism. Will’s story will be similarly informative and inspirational to everyone who has the good fortune to read it.

Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.
President, American Psychiatric Association
Lawrence E. Kolb Professor and Chairman
Department of Psychiatry
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute

In “A Schizophrenic Will,” William Jiang tells a riveting and compelling story about his struggles with schizophrenia and his emergence at the other end with a good and productive and gratifying professional and personal life. He also gives advice to other consumers, e.g. on navigating college, and who knows better than someone who’s lived through it himself? Jiang’s story should help people understand what schizophrenia is like and in the process destigmatize an illness that is badly in need of destigmatization.

Elyn Saks, J.D., Ph.D. USC Gould School of Law, Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences
Award Winning Author, The Center Cannot Hold

With an incredible strength of will William Jiang describes his life dealing with one of the hardest conditions to live with: schizophrenia. Again and again he fights against the disease and despite all odds secures a professional career and fulfilled life. A must read for any person coping with schizophrenia, whether you are a sufferer, relative, friend, physician, or scientist working on mental disorders.
Christoph Kellendonk, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry
Columbia University

Will Jiang's experiences as detailed in his book are a wonder to read and can help you understand schizophrenia better. I highly recommend it.
Dan Frey, BA Editor-in-Chief New York City Voices, a Journal for Mental Health Advocacy

This inspirational story is a great read for anybody, but family and friends of those suffering with schizophrenia will especially find it useful for learning what is like to live with schizophrenia.
Leaf Jiang, PhD