Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Golden Straitjacket

By: Christopher Joseph
Narrated by: Chris Joseph
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Madness and genius are often said to be close bedfellows, although the link between the two is little understood. Chris Joseph has known both extremes, and in The Golden Straitjacket, he lays bare his struggle with bipolar disorder and the condition's pendulum-like swing between creative dynamism and dark despair.

After walking out of university and briefly dabbling with life as a Benedictine monk and nightclub bouncer, Chris went to work at a dilapidated iron foundry where he lost his right arm in an horrific industrial accident. The accident was the springboard to a new career in the world of advertising - and the trigger for the mental illness that was to blight his life. Having established his own award-winning agency in London's West End - renowned for its off-the-wall creative thinking - Chris also used his considerable creative skills to publicize and settle High Court copyright and banking disputes with major corporations, most notably Barclays Bank.

The Golden Straitjacket is a graphic, moving, and frequently hilarious account of his life as a bipolar sufferer, the highs which drove the creation of multi-million pound advertising campaigns giving way to bouts of deep depression and enforced hospitalization. The 66 stories or "manicdotes" can be enjoyed together or in isolation - they tell the tale of an extraordinary man whose struggle to overcome physical and mental obstacles will be an inspiration to anyone facing the stigma of physical disability and mental illness.

©2019 Christopher Joseph (P)2019 Christopher Joseph
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Misadventure cover art
Jason to Jay: My Story cover art
That's China cover art
Hiding in Plain Sight cover art
Miss World 1970 cover art
Soccer's Sensational Scam cover art
Scotched cover art
The Butler Did It cover art
The Making of Mr Irresistible cover art
Ink in My Blood cover art
The Million Dollar Irishman cover art
Cupboard Boy: A Shockingly True Story of Horrific Child Abuse cover art
The Diary of a Secret Royal cover art
And Away... cover art
The Autobiography of a Thief cover art
Time and Tide cover art

What listeners say about The Golden Straitjacket

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Vivid and realistic description of bipolar,

Chris Joseph’s has written a vivid and poignant description of living with bipolar. As a psychiatrist I recognise his realistic and honest recollections of him maniac episodes. But what is so unusual is the clarity with which he remembers his highs. For anyone wanting to know more about bipolar, this is a very useful book.’

His ability to use his well won insight, to manage stress and therefore remain relapse free for so many years is an incredibly useful pointer for anyone living with this condition. This aspect I believe is often underplayed but Chris highlights its importance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You’d be mad not to read it!

Chris Joseph’s life story told in his own words and with his dry wit takes you on a rollercoaster ride through his varied career - giving an insightful view from life in a monastery , to being on the run in Northern Africa. His retelling of his lifelong battle with manic depression in the high pressure creative world as an Advertising Executive leave you both impressed and horrified by the effects of both ‘conditions’ on one mans life and on his friends and family.
I’m inspired by Chris’ story ,his creative flair, and innovative approach to stand up against the Establishment.
I highly recommend this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!