Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
TW: SA
What an interesting read. Really enjoyed the way this way laid out and discussed the family and the science and knowledge regarding schizophrenia that developed throughout the years as well.
What an interesting read. Really enjoyed the way this way laid out and discussed the family and the science and knowledge regarding schizophrenia that developed throughout the years as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about what it was like not only live in a post-WWII society with its values of the military and the American Family but how intricately and clearly Kolker weaves the nuances of a budding field: mainstream psycho-sciences. To have six of a twelve-member family suffer from schizophrenia during a time in which schizophrenia was misunderstood and mislabeled is truly a tragedy. I was hooked from the very beginning of the book and though some of the science was a bit much for me, I assume that is due to my own limited scientific imagination and appreciation. What was not lost on me was just how incredible the story was. At one point I had to make sure this was "nonfiction."
this was an eye opening true story that brought light to the reality of schizophrenia and the lack of resources for the disease. From therapy to medicines to electrical therapy the journey was such a long and often tragic one. We have come so far with treatment of mental illness but I hope we go even father for those with schizophrenia. People who struggle with schizophrenia are people too.
This is easily one of the most fascinating book I've ever read. Completely enthralling. Everyone should read it.
This book likely merits a higher score but it was sometimes tough to get through all the study details about meds and such. The book seemed to be 80% about the family and 20% about the trends in treatment/medications or scientific jargon. The book was interesting but not particularly enjoyable for me
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The writing and pacing of this book are superb, and it’s hugely informative about schizophrenia and the historical medical approaches to and societal attitudes towards mental illness, despite the human / family level on which these topics are first approached. However, the perspective that the story being by the surviving children provides is not very in line with the back blurb of the book. Still a very fascinating read, but not quite what it says on the tin.
The true story of a midcentury American family with twelve children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science’s greatest hope in the quest to understand the disease.
Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the American dream in Colorado Springs with their twelve children. But behind the closed doors of their house on Hidden Valley Road were psychological breakdowns, shocking violence, and hidden sexual abuse. By the mid-1970s, six of the ten Galvin boys, one after the other, were diagnosed with schizophrenia. And the other six children stood by, horrified, with no way of knowing whether they would be next.
The family has a scientifical legacy. They are so statistically unusual that they were one of the first families to be studied by the National Institute of mental Health as part of the search for the genetic origins of schizophrenia.
I picked up a copy of this book to research schizophrenia for a client’s memoir I’m writing. Parts of it were absolutely fascinating – albeit horrifying – as though I was peering into the private confines of the Galvin’s lives without being invited. Except that I was invited. Why, I’m not sure.
First the pluses:
The amount of research that went into writing this book is mind-blowing and the author has my immense respect for the amount of work required to write his book. To me, it is unimaginable that the family members (well, primarily the sisters) had the guts to share such private trauma. How could they even remember details of the events that took place over decades? Thankfully, the medical community has found better ways to treat mental illness.
The minuses:
Mr. Kolker is clearly a very accomplished journalist. In this case, however, I thought the writing was a hot mess. At 400 pages, Hidden Valley Road was too long, too rambling, too dry. The behind-the-scenes research was overly detailed and could have used serious editing. I couldn’t keep the sick brothers straight. They were each hospitalized so many times it became almost like a broken record. I don’t know how I would have organized the content differently, but the redundancies were frustrating. Much of the book was excruciatingly dull, and I found myself fast forwarding through the second half it to reach the conclusion. With all the heartbreak, I expected to feel some emotion, but it read more like a textbook.
The author doesn’t need my accolades, though. In 2020, Hidden Valley Road was an Official selection of Oprah’s Book Club, A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post Top Ten Book of the Year and People’s #1 Best Book of the Year. It was also named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Time, Slate, Smithsonian, Forbes, Audiophile, Parade, Kirkus, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and The New York Post.
Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the American dream in Colorado Springs with their twelve children. But behind the closed doors of their house on Hidden Valley Road were psychological breakdowns, shocking violence, and hidden sexual abuse. By the mid-1970s, six of the ten Galvin boys, one after the other, were diagnosed with schizophrenia. And the other six children stood by, horrified, with no way of knowing whether they would be next.
The family has a scientifical legacy. They are so statistically unusual that they were one of the first families to be studied by the National Institute of mental Health as part of the search for the genetic origins of schizophrenia.
I picked up a copy of this book to research schizophrenia for a client’s memoir I’m writing. Parts of it were absolutely fascinating – albeit horrifying – as though I was peering into the private confines of the Galvin’s lives without being invited. Except that I was invited. Why, I’m not sure.
First the pluses:
The amount of research that went into writing this book is mind-blowing and the author has my immense respect for the amount of work required to write his book. To me, it is unimaginable that the family members (well, primarily the sisters) had the guts to share such private trauma. How could they even remember details of the events that took place over decades? Thankfully, the medical community has found better ways to treat mental illness.
The minuses:
Mr. Kolker is clearly a very accomplished journalist. In this case, however, I thought the writing was a hot mess. At 400 pages, Hidden Valley Road was too long, too rambling, too dry. The behind-the-scenes research was overly detailed and could have used serious editing. I couldn’t keep the sick brothers straight. They were each hospitalized so many times it became almost like a broken record. I don’t know how I would have organized the content differently, but the redundancies were frustrating. Much of the book was excruciatingly dull, and I found myself fast forwarding through the second half it to reach the conclusion. With all the heartbreak, I expected to feel some emotion, but it read more like a textbook.
The author doesn’t need my accolades, though. In 2020, Hidden Valley Road was an Official selection of Oprah’s Book Club, A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post Top Ten Book of the Year and People’s #1 Best Book of the Year. It was also named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Time, Slate, Smithsonian, Forbes, Audiophile, Parade, Kirkus, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and The New York Post.
I learned so much about schitzophrenia and mental illness as a whole. We have a long way left to go, but this book did an excellent job tracing the impact the Galvin family has had on the field.
This is a really compelling, detailed and personal view of a unique family. The way mental health was (and continues to be) handled is devastating and the view of nature vs nurture was fascinating. “Biology is a destiny to a point… We are human because the people around us make us human.”