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

"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

One of Booklist Editors' Choice Adult Books for Young Adults, 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

"It’s hard not to become overcome with fury by the injustice Banning experienced when he was a teen… That Lyon found the courage to grab happiness after decades of darkness transforms this devastating memoir into an inspiring read."—People

“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

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!

Emotional Memoir and Thought-provoking

Lyon's story had my attention. Life was put on hold till end of book and made me think for days after. Recommended

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.

The tragic tale of unfettered capitalism

This is a beautifully written story of a young man who was abused by the culture of capitalism. He was a victim of one of the biggest medical scams in our country. It has a happy ending because he was finally able to rise above his tragic youth.

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.

The best explanation of the power of forgiveness

This book was one of the most impactful pieces I have ever read. It struck me on so many levels, from the descriptions of what it felt like as a teenager, the pain of being abandoned by his family, and the peaks and valleys that came throughout the story. I have been struggling to forgive people my entire life, and this book showed me that forgiveness can be one of the most freeing experiences in trauma. I would urge anyone that holds onto the past to listen or read this book. The author truly suffered at the hands of many, but found the path to inner peace and growth.

like looking in a mirror

I have never related to someone more. this book didn't change my life, but supported the changes I am already going through. I hope to meet this man one day so I can shake his hand and thank him for sharing his story. This book has filled me courage and validation that I am moving forward to better days always. Thank you Banning Lyon just thank you.

Incredibly Moving

Banning Lyon writes his life story so beautifully. I’m in awe at all that he overcame, and continues to overcome. What a gift that he chose to write this book, offering his perspective to the world.

Beautiful, Raw, Heartbreaking

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

Wow

It's not often that I enjoy a book this much that was, at times, difficult to get through and infuriating. I'm also very picky about narrators and the author did an amazing job!