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Cascade Resident's "The Autobiography of Rob Love, Ups and Down of Bipolar Disorder"

Book review of an autobiography by Mays High Alum Rob Love (Robert White).

“The Autobiography of Rob Love, Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder” is a very touching, heartfelt story.  It is about a man, whose idyllic childhood in Cascade Heights changes for the worse after he suffers a mental breakdown in college that results in bipolar disorder.   

In his youth, Mr. Love has many close neighborhood friends (many of them continue to be friends today), a loving family, and nurturing schools.  He is an honor student, attends a private high school and is accepted to the prestigious United States Naval Academy. 

In his freshman year at the academy, however, Mr. Love has a mental breakdown while dealing with the pressures of his new life. This breakdown is the beginning of the continued bipolar disorder that Mr. Love will deal with for the rest of his life.

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Mr. Love honestly assesses himself and his surroundings. He makes a point of going back to his childhood and describing his “Beaver Cleaver” life. Because I grew up in the same neighborhood, I know exactly what he is describing. 

In many movies and books, African-American communities are described as the “hood.” This is not the case in this autobiography. There are many two-parent households and the vast majority of the families value education. In this neighborhood, a child's biggest worry, according to Mr. Love, was getting a boyfriend or girlfriend.  He describes a very wholesome childhood. 

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Mr. Love then attends the Naval Academy. The pressures of this new environment are immense. The author starts having his breakdown and eventually must withdraw from school and the armed services. He receives an honorable medical discharge.  Mr. Love goes back to college in Atlanta—at Georgia Tech—and it takes him 11 years to graduate.

Throughout the autobiography, Mr. Love quotes Bible scripture, so the reader can tell that his religion and spirituality is very important to him. Also, Rob Love is the author’s pen name.  His birth name is Robert White. In order to understand the meaning of Rob Love, you will have to read the autobiography. 

The writing style of Mr. Love changes. He begins by using a fairly complex sentence structure. As the book progresses into his bipolar years, he talks about his disorder and various events. At this point, his writing style digresses into a more childlike prose. At times, I could not tell if this was intentional or not. 

In his writing, he speaks about societal ills in a normal voice. For example, he talks about meeting “Rachel.” She offers him $5 to have sex with her. He agrees and within a week they begin having a relationship that lasts three years. Rachel is a crack cocaine addict and requires the author to pay her to have sex so she can purchase drugs. At one point they are engaged to be married.

Mr. Love’s book is also heartbreaking because it speaks of his potential as a child. He was athletic, popular and very intelligent. However, because of his illness and not taking his medication, he is unable to reach the potential that he envisions for himself. 

This is clearly tortuous for the author. Mr. Love has challenges in keeping a job and in finding love; he is in and out of mental institutions and moves from place to place. At one point in his life, he is homeless.

I recommend this book.

While it has its flaws (the editing of the book leaves much to be desired), it is very heartfelt. You, as the reader, may be able to identify with some of the good and bad parts of Mr. Love’s life. Also, if you know of someone who either suffers from mental illness or has a family member who does, this is a must read.

It will help understand the person with the illness. Also, it may cause you to view a homeless person differently. Instead of thinking that person “is lazy, he just needs a job” you may think of Mr. Love and, hopefully, have a little compassion and empathy.

Mr. Love, thank you for such an honest autobiography.

I wish you the very best.

I give “The Autobiography of Rob Love, Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder” a B.

Carla Stern-Mannings grew up in Cascade Heights and currently lives in the Cliftondale community of South Fulton. Author Robert White is a former Cascade area resident, writer and musician.

“The Autobiography of Rob Love, Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder” is available on Amazon.com or through author Robert White at RobertLewisWhite@gmail.com and 404-287-5728.

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