Another kind of madness A journey through the stigma and hope of mental illness

Hinshaw, professor of psychology, has childhood memories of his father, a professor at Ohio State, disappearing for weeks at a time with no explanation. When Hinshaw enters college, his father confesses that he had been diagnosed as schizophrenic and was repeatedly hospitalized. His father's doctors had counseled him to protect his children by keeping his condition a secret. By digging into his father's past, Hinshaw discovers that his family is filled with both genius and madness. The years of secrecy take a toll on both Hinshaw's mother, who develops rheumatoid arthritis, and the author himself, who has occasional hallucinations, insomnia, and eating disorders. Hinshaw ends up devoting himself to the study of mental illness and tries to advocate for his father. His research leads to a new diagnosis for his dad (bipolar disorder), new medication, and, finally, a relief from his symptoms. The true culprit, Hinshaw discovers, is the stigma of mental illness, which leads to mistreatment, secrecy, and social dysfunction. This heartfelt memoir shares insights into the effects of mental illness on all involved.--Smith, Candace Copyright 2017 Booklist