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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
A well-researched non-fiction about a large family with 12 kids, 6 of whom developed schizophrenia. There was a lot of time devoted to describing the family member's experiences, but the author also included a lot of context about scientific research around schizophrenia and the evolving views around treatment for the disease. It's disappointing that more progress hasn't been made in the last 70 or so years since antipsychotics were developed.
Because the author did so much research, some areas where there was less material (I assume because family members had died or weren't as available) stood out. For example, a lot of time was spent on Mimi, the mom, but much less detail provided around the dad, Don sr. Additionally, I think more time could have been spent describing what it's like to develop schizophrenia, since that was the experience of six of the brothers. The book was more focused on the impact they had on the rest of the family.
Because the author did so much research, some areas where there was less material (I assume because family members had died or weren't as available) stood out. For example, a lot of time was spent on Mimi, the mom, but much less detail provided around the dad, Don sr. Additionally, I think more time could have been spent describing what it's like to develop schizophrenia, since that was the experience of six of the brothers. The book was more focused on the impact they had on the rest of the family.
Part biography, part history of schizophrenia and its treatments, the author does a great job of combining science with a gripping narrative. This was a fascinating and heartbreaking read all in one. It took me a little bit to get through this one because it’s so dense and deals with heavy topics. I liked this one and learned a lot, but it’s not necessarily one I’d recommend to everyone.
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
“But there is another model for progress—the opposite of the polio model—one in which solutions are not the same as breakthroughs. Progress comes gradually, often painfully, in fits and starts, and only after many people spend their entire careers failing and quarreling and, finally, reconciling. Sooner or later, some ideas fall away as others take hold. And, perhaps only in hindsight, we can see how far we’ve come, and decide on a path forward.”
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
beautifully written, respectful, makes an effort to tell the story just as it was in real life. it was a fantastic read to learn more about the history of mental health and how, despite a families hardships, they were able to contribute to so much research and ultimately make life better for all. highly recommended.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I was impressed by the author's ability to both share the family's history as they told it and gently pushback on some of the inaccuracies