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No One Cares About Crazy People

The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America

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No One Cares About Crazy People

By: Ron Powers
Narrated by: Ron Powers
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About this listen

New York Times-best-selling author Ron Powers offers a searching, richly researched narrative of the social history of mental illness in America paired with the deeply personal story of his two sons' battles with schizophrenia.

From the centuries of torture of "lunatiks" at Bedlam Asylum to the infamous eugenics era to the follies of the anti-psychiatry movement to the current landscape in which too many families struggle alone to manage afflicted love ones, Powers limns our fears and myths about mental illness and the fractured public policies that have resulted. Braided with that history is the moving story of Powers' beloved son Kevin - spirited, endearing, and gifted - who triumphed even while suffering from schizophrenia, until finally he did not, and the story of his courageous surviving son Dean, who is also schizophrenic.

A blend of history, biography, memoir, and current affairs ending with a consideration of where we might go from here, this is a thought-provoking look at a dreaded illness that has long been misunderstood.

"Extraordinary and courageous.... No doubt if everyone were to read this book, the world would change." (New York Times Book Review)

©2017 Ron Powers (P)2017 Hachette Audio Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders Health Medical School Personal Health Psychology Memoirs

Critic Reviews

"Very emotional...[Powers] reminds us how apathetic and cruel society can be when it comes to mental illness." ( Booklist)
"Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Powers ( MarkTwain: A Life, 2005, etc.) presents two searing sagas: an indictment of mental health care in the United States and the story of his two schizophrenic sons.... This hybrid narrative, enhanced by the author's considerable skills as a literary stylist, succeeds on every level." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Ron Powers and his wife never expected to visit the exotic lands of schizophrenia until their two sons became affected. A gifted professional writer, Powers takes the reader along on his explorations as he tries to understand why it happened and what to do. What he finds is 'the most dreaded of all human mental disorders.' Very readable and highly recommended." (E. Fuller Torrey, MD, author of Surviving Schizophrenia)
All stars
Most relevant  
Brilliant. Seeringly sad. Thought provoking. An inspired call to action. I've read 200 books in the last two tears and this would be in my top ten.

Thank God Ron did write this book

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