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Sybil
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
26 posts | 79 read | 45 to read
More amazing than any work of fiction, yet true in every word, it swept to the top of the bestseller lists and riveted the consciousness of the world. As an Emmy Award-winning film starring Sally Field, it captured the home screens of an entire nation and has endured as the most electrifying TV movie ever made. It's the story of a survivor of terrifying childhood abuse, victim of sudden and mystifying blackouts, and the first case of multiple personality ever to be psychoanalyzed. You're about to meet Sybil-and the sixteen selves to whom she played host, both women and men, each with a different personality, speech pattern, and even personal appearance. You'll experience the strangeness and fascination of one woman's rare affliction-and travel with her on her long, ultimately triumphant journey back to wholeness.
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review
keepingupwiththepenguins
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

As a book in and of itself, Sybil is pretty good. Some of the language is Of A Time, there‘s a lot of outdated commentary and applications of psychotherapy, it needs a big time trigger warning for abuse and mental illness, and there's a lot of controversy about its accuracy - but I was gripped by it. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/sybil-flora-rheta-schreiber/

BarbaraBB I read this ages ago but can still remember some horrible abusive parts of it 🥲 13mo
keepingupwiththepenguins @BarbaraBB I think it will take a long time to cleanse them from my brain 🫣 13mo
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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acissej
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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“Isolated, she managed somehow to feel free—albeit with a freedom that made her want to smash a hole in the very center of the universe.”

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TheSpineView
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Crazeedi Oh my, I remember this from many many moons ago 4y
TheSpineView @Crazeedi IK! We are dating ourselves. Didn't it come out in the 70s??🤔 4y
Crazeedi @TheSpineView yes, it was a big deal for that time, omg I am getting ancient, lol😉 4y
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm We watched the movie in my high school Psychology class. I didn‘t realize there was a book! 😍 4y
TheSpineView @Crazeedi I'm right there with you!😊 4y
TheSpineView @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yes. I haven't read it yet. 4y
Klou Wow! Sounds interesting! Perfect choice 4y
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Ruthiella
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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#FallFinds

I read this ages ago after seeing the TV movie with Sally Fields. The book has since been debunked as accurate work of nonfiction and honestly the depiction of child abuse was so horrible, I doubt I could read it again. In any case, it purports to be the true account of a woman with a #fractured personality.

AkashaVampie This is freaky... I was just thinking about this book, that i need to read it. 4y
Ruthiella @AkashaVampie Bookish serendipity! It‘s a page turner for sure. 4y
AkashaVampie @Ruthiella haha. I have seen the movie so I know it is definitely a page turner. 4y
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BarbaraBB I read it a long long time ago too and still remember some of this horrific abuse. Such a sad book. 4y
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I had a stronger heart/head/stomach for that when I was younger I think. 4y
Cathythoughts I too had a stronger constitution for abuse stories when I was younger. I worked with survivors for years ... I know I couldn‘t do that work now... This one sounds a particularly difficult read 4y
BarbaraBB I agree @Ruthiella @Cathythoughts If I think now of what I read then my stomach turns 💔 4y
Centique I was transfixed by this movie as a teen. I see there is an unveiling the truth type book out now 4y
Ruthiella @Centique I think all those involved are dead now so I guess it‘s conjecture as to what really happened and did she really suffer from a dissociative personality.🤔 4y
31 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Kayjoe21
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

A very interesting look into the mind of a shattered woman. It has many slow parts but it is more "biographical".

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HannaPolkadots
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

The first 36 pages were slow, but the next 450 ones flew by. Very interesting, moving, sad and impressive story, both from Schreiber, but also Sybil and her psychiatrist Dr. Wilbur. I recommend 😀😉

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HannaPolkadots
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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The book caught me after about 36 pages, and now at page 108, trying to convince myself that the book will still be here tomorrow, and that I should go to sleep now. Being a "sensible" grownup sucks ? #ireadpastmybedtime

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karajay
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐
So good! Can't wait to watch the movie as many of you have recommended (ignore my bad nails a volunteer project destroyed my manicure)

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karajay
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Sunday morning reading. Loving this book!

Velvetfur Oohh I remember really liking that film 😊 6y
karajay @Velvetfur I haven't seen it! Once I finish the book I want to 6y
Velvetfur @karajay Well I haven't read the book, haha! But I'm sure it's great because the film is, Sally Field is fab in it 😊 6y
13 likes3 comments
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karajay
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Im loving this book. Stew is on the stove, wine in my hand it's the good life.

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Stphnthescriv
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

Even though the book was leaked, it was a disturbing, and interesting read.

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Whimsical.Curiosity
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

True story. One woman. 16 personalities.
Who doesn't need a different personality for all that stuff we hate to do like work and dishes? Except nothing in life is ever that easy.

This book cemented my educational choices. It created such an intrigue and fascination with the human mind and soul that I consumed every book like it I could find.

#sociology #psychology #classic #sybil #booktomovie

Snape_Nerd The movie was pretty interesting as well! 6y
Whimsical.Curiosity @Snape_Nerd Sally Field did a pretty good job. 6y
amb I was fascinated by this book when I first read it. 6y
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emilyhaldi
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Sometimes the most frightening #monsters are in our own head...

Thinking about reading one of these for #booked2018 #MCwithInvisibleIllness - thoughts?

#marchintooz

tpixie Loved Sybil as a teen!!! Amazingly crazy story 7y
Cathythoughts I don‘t know the books. But I couldn‘t agree more with your comment. 💕😢 ( I always remember someone saying : terrorists wouldn‘t do to us what we do to ourselves, in our minds ). Kindness & compassion ..... bring them in ❤️ (edited) 7y
RowReads1 Both are worth reading. Sybil is down right more entertaining. kay Jamison‘s book is more recent and about her own experience. She‘s written a lot of books on the subject. 7y
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Cinfhen I‘ve always meant to read 7y
britt_brooke I bought Sybil recently, but haven‘t read it yet. Her case is briefly discussed in We Believe the Children. 7y
Reviewsbylola I think I‘ve read An Unquiet Mind. 7y
BarbaraBB I read Sybil ages ago. Got it from my first boyfriend and I have been cherishing it because he wrote in it: ‘a book about a crazy girl for a girl I‘m crazy about. I wish there were sixteen of you!‘ 😂😍 However, I was very much impressed by the description of this sixteen personalities. Ages ago, I know, but I would choose that one! 7y
readordierachel I did a book report on Sybil in high school! I remember really liking it. There's a made for TV adaptation with Sally Field that I remember being good as well. 7y
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GidgetsTreasures75
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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11-16-17: #novemberbythenumbers I loved this book. And recently I heard it was faked, but I don't care because the book is a great read regardless, fact or fiction! And if you search on YouTube you can find the movie with Sally Field. It's pretty great too, everything Sally does is great! 👍🏼📖#️⃣1️⃣6️⃣ @JoeStalksBeck @Tiffy_Reads

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Ash.on.the.line
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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I don‘t own this book but we discussed it in my psych class. A woman suffering from #16 personalities and something I can barely wrap my head around.
#NovemberBytheNumbers

Ms_T Great pick 👍🏻 7y
tpixie I read it ages ago it was a great book! 7y
Ash.on.the.line @tpixie my class skimmed a lot but you‘re right it was great! 7y
41 likes3 comments
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Kaylamburson
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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I bought this one a few years ago, and I still need to read it, but I think it's perfect for #TuneintoNovember #Overpowered. Sybil is one of the most famous cases of multiple personalities disorder. She is overpowered by blackouts when one of her 16 other personalities take over.

Cinfhen Excellent! 7y
IamIamIam I read this many years ago but I'm thinking it may be due for a reread! Enjoy! 7y
Kaylamburson You liked it @IamIamIam?? I need to move it up my TBR. 7y
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IamIamIam I remember liking it and the film with Sally Field is incredible! 7y
Lidia The film was great! I didn't know about the book but it sounds really interesting. 7y
Centique I loved the film too. Stacked! 7y
Kaylamburson I had no idea there was a film! I'll have to find that and watch it! @IamIamIam @lidia @Centique 7y
52 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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10-16-17: Day 16: Black Books! #bookriot #riotgram #blackbooks

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Mdargusch
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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I read this book years ago but bought a new copy along with another book about Sybil because I have a niece that I suspect might have multiple personalities. When the books came in the mail, I discovered the original story was something of a hoax?!?! I missed that memo. Therefore, I didn't bother reading either book. Is anyone else old enough to remember this? #twofacedTuesday #spookyoctober

CocoReads I remember. I also remember being horribly disappointed that it wasn't totally true. 7y
3CatsAndABook I remember Sally Field played Sybil in the movie and her acting was brilliant! This is the first I've heard it was a hoax 😯 7y
Kaye Yep I read it back in the day....I heard it might‘ve a bit of a hoax, but haven‘t looked into it any more since reading it. I didn‘t know there was a second book about it. 7y
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Bklover I remember reading the book and really liking it. I also remember being quite irritated that it wasn‘t true. 7y
emilyhaldi What! I thought it was a true story. It's been on my tbr for a while... Obviously I'm very curious to see how the story compares with MA 😕 7y
Cinsai There is compelling evidence that both support and debunk the story. My thought is, she was indeed troubled and her diagnosis was true. However, I think her therapist exaggerated or falsified some of the story for a multitude if reasons that served her purposes. And @Seascape28 , I loved Sally Field in the original! (And everything else😉) 7y
3CatsAndABook Ikr lol I don't think I've ever disliked anything role she's ever played 7y
AmyG I remember reading the book and seeing the movie...yes, Sally Fields was amazing. I didn't know this was a hoax. Wow. 7y
Mdargusch So disappointing @CocoReads @Bklover @emilyhaldi and @AmyG , but I'm inclined to think it might be like what @Cinsai said - parts of it are true and parts are exaggerated. 7y
Mdargusch I need to see that movie @Seascape28! 7y
3CatsAndABook @Mdargusch It's a long movie but a very good one, sally fields acting for each personality was incredible 7y
CocoReads I agree with @Cinsai 7y
Reviewsbylola Lol her regular personality is more than I can handle. Let's pray she doesn't have multiple. 7y
Cinfhen OMG! @Reviewsbylola I'm dying 😂😂I think @Cinsai got it right regarding the therapist 7y
83 likes4 stack adds14 comments
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WarpedSweetness
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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My first thought for #DrJekyllandMrHyde

The book was actually found to be a fraud much later, but it was so interesting. And the movie with Sally Field was good.

#MonsterMadness2017 @LibrarianRyan

BarbaraBB This brings back memories from a long time ago... I read it in the 80s 👵🏻😉 7y
WarpedSweetness @BarbaraBB I read it when I was in middle school, which was the 90s for me. We can be old together! Lol 7y
BarbaraBB 😅 7y
LibrarianRyan 👍🏻👻🤓 7y
39 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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CherylDeFranceschi
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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I read this book in 1973 when it came out. (Another one I stole from my parents' headboard! 🙄) This book totally traumatized me. The mother was an extremely #evilwoman I realize that she was mentally ill, but that poor child! I cried and cried. And then when I saw the movie, I was traumatized all over again! #rockinmay

BethFishReads I never read it, but the movie 😳 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I think I read it too, but I have no recollection of the story. 8y
HippieChickHomeschool Did you know that Sybil never actually had multiple personalities? Basically she was a fragile person manipulated by her therapist. 8y
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CherylDeFranceschi @HippieChickHomeschool I had heard that, but wasn't sure it was true. I'm going to go down an internet rabbit hole now! 8y
Sarah1960 Whether the story was totally based in fact or not. It totally helped me to relate to my horribly dysfunctional childhood. . 8y
lynneamch I didn't know that @HippieChickHomeschool . Thanks. I always appreciate knowing the real truth. 8y
Dragon Isn't this the book with the enema as torture ? 8y
HippieChickHomeschool Here's an NPR link for anyone interested. I've always been fascinated by DID (multiple personalities) so I've read everything I could find. http://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141514464/real-sybil-admits-multiple-personalities... 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @HippieChickHomeschool Thanks! Another book for the TBR. 8y
Cinfhen This book traumatized me!!!! Legit, nightmares 😩😩😩 8y
LeahBergen I read this book in grade six. 😬 8y
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HaleyG14
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

This book is so hard to read due to the detailed abuse of Sybil. But I found it so fascinating how a person can try to defend themselves from abuse by breaking apart inside into separate personalities. Whether you believe in Dissociative Identity Disorder or not this is an interesting analysis of child abuse and it's correlation with mental illness.

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ShansMousey
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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Pickpick

Finished Sybil, the book we are reading for my sister's book club. I remember seeing the TV movie based off of this book when I was younger. The book obviously does a better job of exploring Sybil and her multiple personalities. The author also clearly worked very closely with Sybil and her doctor to ensure accuracy. I recommend giving it a read although beware the subject matter deals with child abuse and sexual abuse.

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GoneFishing
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber

The neurologist had dismissed her case after a single visit, handing out an easy nostrum by telling her father that if she continued to write poetry, she would be all right.

MaleficentBookDragon That movie scared me as I kid. My parents really did not supervise my watching and reading habits very well. (edited) 8y
41 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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respekt1111
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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#readjanuary

This is my late #bookface. Look at those ears! #dogsoflitsy

Ruri_kaichou 😂 8y
Faibka 😁👍 8y
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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TNbooklover66
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
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#funfridayphoto I don't honestly remember my first adult book but this was one of them. I stole it off my grandmother's bookshelf and read it under the covers. I think I was 8 😝

[DELETED] 2232195534 I had forgotten about this one. Wow. First time I had ever read anything like it. Maybe read it in college? 8y
Gulfsidemusing Oh, yes!!! I loved this way back when... 8y
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Justis
Sybil | Flora Rheta Schreiber
Mehso-so

Too slow for me