Book Details
Title: Talking About BPD
Author: Rosie Cappuccino
Publisher / Year: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021
Author background: Rosie has lived experience of BPD and writes the award-winning blog Talking About BPD.
1. Why I Chose This Book
I was delighted to find a book about BPD that was written by someone with lived experience of the condition. I was equally pleased to discover that there was an audiobook version, as I tend to listen to books far more often than I read them these days. Rosie narrates the book herself, which adds a personal and authentic touch.
2. What the Author Sets Out to Do
Talking About BPD is a positive, stigma-free guide to life with Borderline Personality Disorder. It covers a broad range of topics, including:
- What is BPD?
- How does BPD develop?
- Being diagnosed with BPD
- The stigma surrounding BPD
- Talking about BPD
- Treatments for BPD
- DBT-based coping techniques
- Self-harm and suicide
- Calmer and happier relationships
- Finding identity and meaning
Rosie has undertaken a deep dive into the academic literature on BPD, citing numerous papers and books as she discusses these topics. She also uses her personal experiences to illustrate how these issues can play out in real life.
3. Key Ideas and Takeaways
A key idea in the book is that a person with BPD may continue to experience strong emotions throughout their life, but effective treatments can lead to a calmer, more fulfilling existence. Rosie uses examples from her own journey to show the difference that treatment can make.
4. Strengths
Rosie has a gift for explaining complex and sensitive subjects clearly. The book is meticulously researched and highlights the diversity of people with BPD, strongly challenging the harmful stereotype of them being “mad, bad and dangerous to know.”
It provides an excellent overview of BPD — what it is, the available treatments, and self-help techniques that may be useful.
5. Limitations
At times, I found that hearing Rosie read out full citations — naming the author, page number, and publication — made me lose the thread of what she was saying. On the page, the eye can easily skim over such details, but my ears seem less able to do that. I did wonder whether the audiobook might have been easier to follow if the citations were omitted.
6. Tone and Sensitivity
Rosie doesn’t shy away from describing traumatic experiences or addressing difficult topics such as self-harm, but she does so with great sensitivity and compassion, always guided by a desire to help and advocate for others.
7. Personal Reflection
I found it both interesting and helpful to read in such depth about another person’s experience of BPD. I couldn’t help comparing and contrasting her symptoms and challenges with those of my daughter, which offered me new insights and understanding.
8. Who It’s For
I imagine the primary audience for this book to be people with BPD, or those who suspect they might have it. However, as someone who loves and supports a person with BPD and wants to understand more, I found it extremely valuable. I also think professionals who work with people with BPD would benefit from reading it.
9. A Standout Quote
“I am Rosie. I have BPD. I am not an attention seeker, manipulative, dangerous, hopeless, unloveable, broken, difficult to reach or unwilling to engage. I am caring, creative, courageous, determined, and full of life and love.”
10. Final Thoughts
I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand BPD — what it is, what it’s like to live with the condition, and what treatments are available for those seeking help.
📚 Buy the book:
👉 Talking About BPD
