Book Log 2021 #10: Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

By all appearnaces, Don and Mimi Galvin were the ideal family of the Baby Boomer era, raising their 12 kids in a large house in Colorado. But as the kids grew into adulthood, it was clear that some of them were progressing differently from their siblings. In the end, six of the kids - all boys - developed schizophrenia. This book tells the story of how the family coped with this run of mental illness, and how the family played an important role in our current understanding of mental illness (and schizophrenia in particular).

Both the personal and clinical stories here are fascinating, and the author does an excellent job of telling both in a clear, straightforward manner. There are plenty of places where he could have played up the more lurid parts of the personal story, or focus on the researchers to the point of dehumanizing the family, but that never happens.

This is likely the best book I will read all year. You should read it too.