These books are about mental health issues.

First Person Plural: My Life As a Multiple by Cameron West, Ph.D., 1999. A book like this is mind candy for me. I read it in a single sitting. The author describes how a serious illness triggered something like a storm in his psyche. Investigating, he found out that his childhood, which he'd regarded as mostly forgotten, was full of intense sexual abuse. Reactions from family members confirmed that the family was very strange, even bizarre. He had repressed memories of the abuse by dissociating into a number of different personalities. The story is of his progress through the first several years after this discovery. Interesting new information to me: multiple personality disorder (MPD) us now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). A caveat: this disorder has become rather trendy in recent years, and there is some evidence (which I believe) that some therapists less-than-consciously "coach" patients to exhibit these multiple personalities, making for dramatic and flashy case studies. I am wary of this kind of story for this reason. This one, however, seems to be genuine. Well written and interesting too. Reviewed 6/6/01.

Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Marc Summers, 1999. This book details the struggles of the author (apparently a well-known TV game and talk show host) with OCD. It includes a lot of information on this disorder, which is now generally believed to have a biological rather than a psychological basis. Good reading for anyone with an interest in this subject. Reviewed 6/17/01.

Invisible Masters: Compulsions and the Fear That Drives Them by George Weinberg, 1993. Six years earlier than the Summers book and from the opposite viewpoint. The author, a psychotherapist, attributes compulsions to strictly psychological causes. I wonder if he still has this viewpoint in the light of the newer information. Actually, this book, which details several case studies form the author's practice, is good reading, and most of the cases are a different type of compulsion from OCD. He appears to be a sensible and compassionate therapist. Still, it makes me feel bad for all the people with OCD who had no option to believe that their compulsions were caused by deep-seated fears, early childhood trauma, etc. Reviewed 6/17/01.

Understanding Depression by Patricia Ainsworth, M.D., 2000. I had a hard time getting a handle on this book. Maybe it was how I was reading it, but it seemed scattered and uncohesive. It contains plenty of good information. It is apparently addressed to the layperson, but is dry and full of (not unwelcome) technical details such as diagrams of the chemical structure of medications. The few example story fragments are also dry and seem impersonal. The book includes many statistics, some of which seem open to different interpretations or of questionable value. The author outlines a full range of ideas on the causes, physical changes, and treatment. Her overall viewpoint is more mechanistic and conventional than mine, but I found a lot of value. One section I liked (maybe the most human-feeling part of the book) was "Myths Regarding Depression and Its Treatment," with discussions an severl items, including Myth #1: You can talk yourself into or out of depression and Myth #4: Depression is a sign of weakness of character. Reviewed 6/17/01.

Final Analysis: The Making and Unmaking of a Psychotherapist by Jeffrey Masson, 1991. An inside look at a boys' club that is even more screwed up than I'd imagined. Enjoyable reading. Reviewed 1996.

How Therapists Diagnose: Professional Secrets You Deserve to Know and How They Affect You and Your Family by Dr. Bruce Hamstra, 1995. Just what the title says, including how diagnosis is affected by how much insurance companies will pay. Reviewed 1996.

Schizophrenia: Straight Talk for Families and Friends by Maryellen Walsh, 1985. Well-done, informational book. Reviewed 1996.

Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Providers by E. Fuller Torrey, 1995. Gives the now prevalent viewpoint that schizophrenia is purely a brain disease, with no blame for the "consumer" or the family—but he favors forced hospitalization and medication. A lot of information. Reviewed 1997.

Fighting for Tony by Mary Callahan, RN, 1987. Her autistic child turned out to have a "cerebral allergy" to milk and mostly recovered. Very interesting. Reviewed 1997.

Welcome, Silence: My Triumph over Schizophrenia by Carol North, MD, 1987. She heard voices and saw patterns all her life and was floridly psychotic in college and medical school. She tried kidney dialysis as an experimental treatment and was totally cured. Well written and a good story of what goes on in schizophrenia from the inside. Reviewed 1997.

Out of Our Minds: How to Cope with Everyday Problems of the Mentally Ill—A Guide for Patients and Their Families by Sascha Garson, 1986. Just what the title says, and well done, with lots of people's/families stories. Quirky in a very nice way. The emphasis is on families managing the case using all support resources—she is associated with NAMI and started the San Diego chapter. Reviewed 1997.

9 Highland Road by Michael Winerip, 1994. Sane living for the mentally ill. An in-depth look at a group home and some of its residents, with enough overview to make the reader familiar with the place and status of group homes in treatment of the mentally ill. Excellent book. Reviewed 1997.

An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks, 1995. In-depth case studies, with scientific and historical background, of seven people with neurological disorders. Classic. Reviewed 1997.

Conquering Schizophrenia: A Father, His Son, and a Medical Breakthrough by Peter Wyden, 1997. A reasonable viewpoint and personal story on the subject. It includes a lot of background on the history of dealing with schizophrenia and current difficulties working within the medical system. The newest and most promising drugs have only been widely used for a few years, so this book is more up to date than any other I've seen. More background than I wanted on how the new drugs progress through the pharmaceutical companies, and a more uncritical view of those companies than I have. Also, something about his writing style and/or personality annoys me. But overall, very good and informative. Reviewed 1997.

For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence by Alice Miller, 1983, rev. 1990. Translated from the German. The cruelty the book deals with is some very nasty stuff. She regards it as being common, but it is based mostly in Germany. I don't think such extreme cruelty is as common nowadays or in the U.S. Still, I was very affected by her references to older child-raising and teaching texts, which basically outlined how to break a child's spirit to control the child--very chilling stuff. The book goes through several case histories, including that of Adolf Hitler. It is written as a psychoanalytic text, and I found a lot of stuff I couldn't agree with. Still, I felt like I knew and understood a lot more after reading it. Reviewed 1999.

Note: I know my taste is quirky, and I have strong opinions that are far from mainstream. I am aware that I am skeptical, cynical, and not always kind. I am not interested in arguing about anything, but if you like and/or dislike the same things as I do, and feel like it, email me.

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