This is a very good book, particularly for those who have newly encountered the illness in a loved one. It covers all aspects of bipolar disorder -- diagnosis, treatment, support, hospitalization, self-care, etc. -- using a question and answer format that makes it very easy to find information relevant to any issue that might be on one's mind at the moment. The answers are frequently enlivened by quotations from people who have personal experience with and insight into the topic.

The book will be especially useful -- I would call it required reading -- for those living in the United Kingdom. It is full of advice on getting the most out of the UK health care system, and refers to many resources and organizations that will be most helpful to those living there. It does not neglect the U.S. and other countries, but the UK system gets the best coverage.

The sections on relationships and caring for someone with bipolar disorder are quite good. They are so well-written and insightful that one wishes they were longer, but this is a general treatment of the illness, so one must look elsewhere for fuller treatment. The introduction, where the authors refer to their own personal experience with bipolar disorder in their loved ones, is particularly moving.

Three questions in the Support chapter are recommended reading for anyone who is in a close relationship with someone who has bipolar disorder. They are "What role do family and friends play in the recovery of someone with bipolar disorder?", "On a practical level, how can family and friends help someone with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?", and "On an emotional level, how can family and friends help someone with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder?" These three questions receive only 10 pages, but for those new to the illness, taken with the other material in the book related to coping with particular situations, they are worth its price.