The Book of Whispers: A Father and Son’s Battle with Bipolar Disorder

The Book of Whispers is the story of a young man's courageous battle with bipolar disorder. It was a battle he lost. But not without a fight. Jake McClain Driver was a talented, passionate, brilliant young man with a tortured mind. His creativity and wit were astonishing. He was a gifted writer and played amazing guitar. He wrote songs and poetry, painted, drew and made pieces of art. He had a great sense of humor, an innate ability to connect with others, and as a result, he loved and was loved. Jake also had an illness. One moment he was sweet, loving and engaging. In the next, he was agitated, erratic and disruptive. He worked hard to overcome his problems. He went to doctors who prescribed treatment plans involving medications and therapy. He was hospitalized multiple times. He was shot by a police officer. He served time in jail. Finally, at age 26, he took his own life. Among Jake’s creative work was a series of poems he called The Book of Whispers. No one knows why he gave his book of poetry that name, however, those of us who were close to Jake believe his verses may have been whispers to him that helped silence or quiet the chaos in his head that he experienced with his disease. Through his poetry Jake weaves his own personal experience as he battles demons and pain that might seem unfathomable to others. Some of the verses are whimsical and downright funny. Others are thought provoking. A few are sad. In preparing to publish Jake's book, the goal was simply to share his poetry with others. As the project progressed, we came to understand that his poetry is more meaningful when read within the context of Jake's all-too-short life. We hope that Jake's story makes a difference to others. If even one person who is experiencing the ravages of mental illness - their own or that of a loved one - is helped by hearing about Jake's journey or by reading his poetry, the effort to publish it will have been worth it.