The Chair and the Valley

A Memoir of Trauma, Healing, and the Outdoors

De: Banning Lyon, Jonathan Eig - foreword

Narrado por: Banning Lyon, Jonathan Eig, Maria Shriver

Duración: 10 h y 41 m

Resumen del Editor

"Bracing, brilliant, and fury-inducing.... a survival story like no other. With positively outstanding storytelling, this is a book that cannot be put down."—Booklist, starred review

AN OPEN FIELD PUBLICATION FROM MARIA SHRIVER

One of Booklist’s Best Memoirs of 2024

Banning Lyon was an average 15-year-old, living in Dallas, TX. He enjoyed skateboarding, listening to punk rock, and even had a part-time job. But in January 1987 his life quickly changed after a school guidance counselor falsely believed he was suicidal after giving away his skateboard. Days later he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and what he was told would be a two-week stay turned into 353 days that would change his life forever.

Banning takes listeners through his fraught relationship with his family, the mistreatment he suffered at the hospital, the lawsuit against the owners of the facility, and his desire to make sense of what happened to him. We witness Banning navigate the difficult landscape of trauma and his daily battle to live a normal life. After years of highs and lows that include being adopted by his attorney and mentor, falling in love and grieving the death of his fiancée, and being sued by the same doctors who mistreated him, Banning decides to take control of his life and finds hope in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, where he discovers new purpose in being a backpacking guide. Through friendship, nature, and eventually giving therapy another chance, Banning summons the courage to keep moving forward.

The Chair and The Valley is a raw, gut-wrenching, and amazing story about healing from trauma and starting over. It is an exploration of the importance of chosen family, the restorative power of nature, and the strength it takes to build a new life in the face of fear and doubt.

©2024 Banning Lyon (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Banning Lyon’s story is a testament to the power of found family and the hard-earned resilience that can come over time with love.”—Maria Shriver

“What a beautiful, challenging, difficult, and ultimately empowering book. It's impossible to read The Chair and the Valley without feeling moved."—Chris Guillebeau, author of The Happiness of Pursuit and The Art of Non-Conformity

“Banning Lyon’s deep, dark and beautifully written debut memoir offers a brave expose of a corrupt psychiatric hospital chain, a poignant testament to the power of human resilience and a lyrical depiction of how nature–and love—can heal the wounded heart.”—Susan Shapiro, NYT bestselling author of The Forgiveness Tour and American Shield

Powerful story

I feel like I need to think about the book and reflect more. I really enjoyed listening to Banning's story.

Incredible story of healing

This story moved me deeply. The author himself narrates and that really makes it personal. It’s inspiring but not in a dramatic way…it’s the slow healing and the clock running out on holding the shame and anger that is so profound. I highly recommend reading this book!

The narration brings this incredible story to life

The Chair and the Valley promises the reader an extraordinary story of trauma and healing. It delivers!

Banning’s journey from abandonment and abuse to forgiveness and healing is incredible, and he is a wonderfully relatable storyteller. His narration is spot-on and brings places and people to life with unflinching and beautiful honesty–from the rooms of the corrupt psychiatric hospital all the way to the wild beauty of Yosemite. I cried. I raged. I cheered. I was completely transported. In the end, I came away with a deep sense of gratitude and hope.

Most of us have never stepped foot in a psychiatric hospital nor hiked one mile in Yosemite, but we have had obstacles and needed help to heal. With this book, Banning Lyon shines a bright light on the darkness of despair, and he shows us all a path forward through the healing power of love and friendship. What a gift. I cannot recommend this audiobook strongly enough.

To listen is to be known

While you may not see yourself in every aspect of Banning’s story, any person will find the most human parts of themselves in many pieces. To read this book is to have those vulnerable parts of yourself known — to feel not alone in your own humanity. Gripping and healing, tragic and joyous, ‘The Chair and The Valley’ reminds us what impacts each of us can have on our own, and each other’s lives… if only we choose to make the difference.

Beautiful, Raw, Heartbreaking

Finished this book in only a few sittings. Was completely gripped, flooded with emotion, and so moved

There is raw heartfelt emotion evident in his story.

I loved that Banning is honest about what went on within his family and within the walls of the psychiatric hospital. He Is also honest regarding his feelings when it comes to what happened to him. We need more honesty like this in the world.

Incredible!

I’ve been listening to the book and just finished it. It’s incredible and I’m literally in tears. Oh my, what a story…honestly, one of the best I’ve read (errr, listened to). Highly, highly recommend!!!

Incredibly haunting and Moving

I lived and breathed this book for the past 4 days. I couldn’t stop listening. Everything from the way the author read it to his powerful descriptions and emotions. It was so moving and so good.

Wow! My head is still reeling from it.

Where to begin. Talk about taking you on a rollercoaster ride. You feel every emotion with the author. There were a few times I had to pause because I was crying to much to continue. It brought up a lot of emotions as a person the was abused on every level, and is working on healing from C-PTSD. It was extremely intense, and so freaking wonderful all at once. I can’t even wrap my head around it all right now. This will definitely be a re-listen to at some point in the near future. Highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a good book.

Heartbreaking cruelty, forgiveness, triumph & love. A courageous man's journey through life.

This is the life story of a boy that became a man who never gave up, no matter all the odds against him. It is despicable, the cruelty that human beings are capable of, especially when they are those that should love or care for us the most. After finishing this book in one entire day, I am left with humble sadness and immense admiration. I was so very touched by this life story, that I often wept days after. It has definitely stuck with me. The author reads his book so bravely and sensitively, and in doing so, provides an intimate connection. I found myself yelling out loud, crying and cheering him on. Such strength and endurance, he toils on through the experiences of his life, that I sincerely don't think that I could have done. He is the hero of his own life, finding himself, his purpose and his dream.
It has touched my heart.