First Person Plural: My Life as a Multiple
by Cameron West
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Description
"What the hell is happening to me? I feel possessed. I'm talking gibberish in the mirror and somebody else's voice is coming out of my mouth."Cameron West was in his thirties, a successful businessman, happily married and the father of a young son when he spoke these words. The "voice" he heard belonged to Davy, the first of twenty-four distinct alter personalities to emerge over a period of several months as West began to recall memories of horrific abuse he'd repressed since childhood. show more Along with Davy, there was eight-year-old Clay, tense and stuttering, twelve-year-old Dusty, gentle and kind, but disappointed to find herself in a man's body, Bart, lighthearted with a sense of humor, Lief, focused and driven, who got things done, but often overwhelmed West with his intensity, and nineteen other personalities, all with distinct characteristics, mannerisms, and memories, created by West to protect his psyche from the trauma of repeated sexual abuse at the hands of family members.
In the classic New York Times Bestseller, First Person Plural, West offers a poignant account of his efforts to understand the workings of his fragmented mind and to heal his damage spirit as he desperately hangs on to the slender thread that connects him to his wife, Rikki, his son Kyle, and some semblance of a regular life.
In addition to a spellbinding story, West provides rare and unprecedented insight into the fascinating condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, the working of the mind of a multiple, and his alters' coexistence with one another and with the world "outside." Heartwrenching, humorous, and ultimately hopeful, First Person Plural is a story that will make you stand in awe of the power of the mind to protect itself and cheer for West as he struggles to gain control of his life.
Accolades for First Person Plural:
New York Times Bestseller
Publishers Weekly Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
#1 Amazon.com
#1 Barnesandnoble.com
Published in twenty-two foreign countries
Personal appearances by Cameron and Rikki West:
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Today Show
Extra
20/20
Entertainment Tonight
Leeza
Maurio Costanza (Italy)
Featured in USA Today, TIME, and People
"A page-turning journey through hell." Entertainment Weekly
"For those who found Sybil or The Three Faces of Eve believable and engrossing, this account will be even more so." Kirkus Reviews
"First Person Plural is an honest, courageous account that demystifies the lives of those who struggle with Dissociative Identity Disorder." Ellen Bass author of The Courage to Heal
"First Person Plural is an incredibly important book. It is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit." Marlene E. Hunter, MD, FCFP, President International Society for the Study of Dissociation
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Member Reviews
I first read First Person Plural years ago for a paper I had to write in high school; I remember staying up long after my bedtime just so I could finish reading it. Adult me recognizes that West's style leaves something to be desired—he seems never to have met an adjective he doesn't like—but I still find it an engrossing read.
I was pleased to read in the epilogue of the twenty-fifth anniversary edition that West and his family while facing hardships, have remained together and loving.
Received via NetGalley.
I was pleased to read in the epilogue of the twenty-fifth anniversary edition that West and his family while facing hardships, have remained together and loving.
Received via NetGalley.
A gripping, raw first-person account of life with multiple personalities. It's not going to win prizes for literary style but it should change the way you think about consciousness and what it means to be.
This book is a fascinating read, from the perspective of one who has DID, formerly called multiple personality disorder. The author is honest and tells an interesting story. It is very touching at times, also contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. Not for everyone.
I read this book a while ago and it is still one of my favorites. This is a story of a man who discovers he has dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities) after having surgery. Through these identities that emerge he is flooded with repressed memories of past abuse. While this book is not for the squeamish it truly illuminates the condition through one man’s struggle.
A fascinating account of one man's journey to recovery from the abuse sustained at the hands of his family.
Check out more of my reviews at BookSnakeReviews
Check out more of my reviews at BookSnakeReviews
This book is FANTASTIC! Quick read and crazy interesting!
Loved this book
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Author Information
2 Works 562 Members
Cameron West author of the "New York Times" bestselling memoir "First Person Plural", has a doctorate in psychology. (Bowker Author Biography)
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- First person plural (my life as a multiple) (my life as a multiple)
- People/Characters
- Cameron West; Rikki West; Kyle West
- Important places
- Leona, California, USA
- Dedication
- For my wonderful son...so you'll know.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 920 — History & geography Biographies, Genealogy, Heraldry Biographies
- LCC
- RC569.5 .M8 .W44 — Medicine Internal medicine Internal medicine Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry Psychiatry Psychopathology Personality disorders. Behavior problems
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 399
- Popularity
- 78,465
- Reviews
- 8
- Rating
- (3.72)
- Languages
- 6 — Dutch, English, German, Italian, Slovenian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 12
- ASINs
- 7
