Gorilla and the Bird

Gorilla and the Bird is a memoir chronicling the onset of bipolar disorder in a young public defender from Kansas. The "Gorilla" is author Zack McDermott, while "the Bird" is his mother - nicknames that capture their intense bond as they navigate his mental health crisis. McDermott recounts his experience of psychotic breaks while working as a public defender in New York City's criminal courts. The narrative moves between his manic episodes, hospitalizations, and childhood memories of growing up with his resilient single mother in Wichita. The story traces McDermott's path through the mental health system and his gradual steps toward stability. His mother remains a constant force throughout, advocating for her son while helping him maintain his sense of humor during recovery. This memoir examines the intersection of family love, mental illness, and the American healthcare system. Through raw honesty and moments of unexpected humor, it challenges perceptions about what it means to live with bipolar disorder.

Readers describe this memoir as raw and honest in depicting bipolar disorder, psychosis, and mental health treatment. Many note the book's balance of heavy subject matter with humor and warmth. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of mania/psychosis from firsthand perspective - Mother-son relationship and family dynamics - Conversational writing style - Integration of legal career experiences - Hopeful tone without sugarcoating reality Common criticisms: - Scattered narrative structure - Too much focus on childhood/background - Some found humor inappropriate for subject matter - Wanted more detail about recovery process Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) "Manages to be both brutally honest and funny at the same time" - Goodreads reviewer "The basketball metaphors got tiresome" - Amazon reviewer "Would have liked more insight into how he maintains stability now" - Goodreads reviewer

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🦍 The book's unique title comes from the author's nicknames: "Gorilla" due to his chest hair and size, and his mother is "Bird" because of her constant loving vigilance over him. 🧠 McDermott wrote this memoir while working as a public defender in New York City, documenting his experience with bipolar disorder and his first psychotic break at age 26. 💪 During his manic episodes, McDermott believed he was being filmed for a TV show about his life and ran through the streets of New York City shirtless for hours. 📺 The memoir has been optioned for television by HBO, with Jean-Marc Vallée (director of "Big Little Lies" and "Sharp Objects") attached to direct. 💌 The author's mother, "Bird," saved every letter and card he ever gave her, which helped him piece together his story and mental health journey while writing the memoir.