Rock Steady: The Best Book I Recommend for Bipolar Disorder—and Mental Health in General

When it comes to finding the perfect book about living with Bipolar Disorder, few titles capture the experience with the honesty, wisdom, and creativity that Ellen Forney’s Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice From My Bipolar Life does.

In fact, it's not just my favorite book on Bipolar Disorder—it's my favorite book on mental health, period.

Why? Because Rock Steady is more than just a book—it's a survival guide, a companion, and a beautifully illustrated comic book that makes learning about mental health approachable, relatable, and, yes, even enjoyable.

Written and illustrated by Ellen Forney, who herself lives with Bipolar Disorder, Rock Steady is packed with real-life advice, tools, and reflections on how to manage mood swings, stay on track with treatment, and navigate the complex and often overwhelming journey of living with a mood disorder.

Forney doesn’t write in dense, intimidating chapters. Instead, she speaks directly to the reader with empathy and humor—through comics, doodles, and easy-to-digest visuals that feel more like a conversation than a textbook. I often say, I wish Ms. Forney would write more comic books on mental health—her approach is that impactful.

This book is a must-read not just for those with Bipolar Disorder, but also for anyone who loves someone with Bipolar Disorder. It opens doors to understanding, connection, and compassion in a way that few books can.

I recommend Rock Steady to all my patients, friends, and family members who want a deeper, yet accessible, understanding of Bipolar Disorder. It includes everything I want my patients to know—and more.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by medical jargon or struggled to find a book that makes sense of the rollercoaster of moods, Rock Steady is the one I’d put in your hands.

It’s personal, powerful, and profoundly helpful.