Disability-and-Health Books

As you can see, I enjoy the topic of Autism. This approach has more useful ideas that should be considred when working with children with Autism. Although, this is a more parent/home approach, there can be some carry-over into school as well.

My son and I love the games in this book, and we often end up in fits of laughter.

I also love RDI because it doesn't feel like therapy - it just feels like playing! The games are light and non invasive, and don't involve analytical thinking or psychology etc. This is perfect for my son as he tends to think too much about things. These games get right outside of linear thinking and work on relating.

Highly recommended!

The title of thie book is a little misleading, as the book is not really a downward age-extension of Gutstein's other RDI book but an expansion of exercises useful for the first 3 stages of RDI. Therefore, it is THE book for most parents of children with ASD, as usually these are the stages you end up starting with/on when doing the RDI exercises with your child. And, having more than double the options for the exercises is very helpful. I strongly recommend this book.

This book gives excellent advice to parents on ways for parents to help their autistic child develop socially. The principles are laid out clearly and activity descriptions are easy to follow. Unfortunately, for us, the beginner activities are nearly all too difficult for my child. As the book makes the objectives for each activity clear, parents can, if necessary, invent easier activities to meet them. I would recommend it but I understand the authors no longer do, saying that RDI has moved on since its publication and that the book no longer represents what RDI is about.

Great for preschoolers with autism who are low to high functioning. You will come away with a least 5 new play activites here that will always work.

This story was recommended by a counselor for 2 nephews who really enjoyed reading it!

The reviews on the back of this book focus upon the character with Asperger syndrome. Doing so to this intricate and well-paced saga of a year in two young men's lives is an injustice. RUNNING ON DREAMS juggles the journeys of two protagonists in addition to several subplots. It is peopled by multi-faceted characters who face several difficult moral dilemmas. The result is a never-boring book that young readers will relate to, a book that will make them think, and that they probably will not soon forget.

While attending the 2007 Autism Society of America National Conference last week, I met Herb Heiman at the AAPC booth. He was excited to tell me about this recent book. I started reading it immediately and enjoyed the unique style of writing highlighting the two main characters, Brad, the middle school track star and Justin, the new transfer student who has Asperger Syndrome. It's an enjoyable story that compares similarities and differences while teens struggle with issues middle school presents. It was fun to also learn more about the author's home state of Oregon. I recommend this book especially for those entering middle school.

Brad, 15 has a lot going for him. A track star at the Oregon high school he attends, he also has a good track record academically. He has an older sister, Amy, 19 who has undefined differences and an eating disorder.

Justin, also 15 is an only child who has Asperger's Syndrome which is the spectrum partner to autism. A walking encyclopedia of classic rock knowledge, he is also a Beatle fan who has his first experience in a mainstream/inclusion program. A good resource room teacher helps Justin along in the inclusion process.

Enter Brad. He has signed on for extracurricular activities and decided to pitch in with the resource students. Justin's teacher describes Justin to Brad, feeling that the boys will be a good match. The boys also happen to share the same birthdate.

After some rocky starts, Brad reluctantly rises to the challenge. He feels Justin's blunt statements and willingness to stand by what he believes in even if it means compromising popularity and status might embarrass him. After all, Brad is a track star who has an attractive, albeit shallow and self centered girlfriend and the image that Justin only fantasizes about having.

Brad's friend Pat and Pat's girlfriend Linda, whom Brad describes as a dog help Brad re-evaluate his priorities. In time, he realizes that the trophy girlfriend; the image; the plaudits and middle school status are not the most important priorities in his life. He gets involved with Special Olympics and offers to work with Justin on improving his running and agility.

Excellent dialog and delightful, plausible characters make a good story even better. This is a good book for all ages and the obvious message of tolerance and acceptance can never be overstated. I like the way Brad responded to the Special Olympics participants once he got to know them; I also like his displeasure with Crystal when she made fun of others or acted repelled by people with disabilities. One especially poignant part in the book was when Brad helped a child with a crooked leg onto a seesaw while Crystal rebuffed the child. Brad also says that people with challenges like the boy on the playground and the students in the resource room often got overlooked and that he was one of the people who overlooked them.

An intense book with an ending that will remain in the hearts of readers long after they have turned the last page. This book makes me think of a song by a Brooklyn duo, Professor Louie and Fast Eddie, "You Can Make it on a Dream," which is an intense look at richly drawn individuals who have indeed made things happen.

The week I first met Herb Heiman this book was published. I met him in his "other life," as a 40-year veteran of TaiChi. His ability to see the gifts in every human being shows up just as strongly in this book as it does in his teaching.

Running on Dreams is a beautiful story that will clean the windows of your heart. Having lived this story with my own child, I know, first hand, the joys, the frustrations, and the terrific sadness that comes with the territory Herb has so masterfully described. Running on Dreams show us, right up close and personal, what it's like being on both sides of the experience of autism.

It's a wonderful book, not just for young adults, but for anyone who wants to understand more about what it's like to cope with the very different experience of the world that people with aspergers live everyday. The story is told from a truly compassionate point of perception. Every parent, every sibling, every neighbor, every teacher, and certainly every school and social service administrator who needs to better understand the everyday challenges of coping with aspergers will benefit deeply from reading it.

I recommend you get a copy for yourself today. Then get five more copies and give them away to others who need to clean the windows of their hearts, too.

This book offers must-know information about ADD in a very clear, concise, and easy-to-read format. I have recently diagnosed with ADD, and this book gave me a very informative introduction to what I am dealing with.

This book is an excellent resource for learning about adult ADD. It is an easy read, not too long, and gets to the point in giving information describing ADD, how to get a diagnosis, and gives a good overview of medications that can help.

There are much better books on adult ADD available than this one by Adler. They are (in no particular order):
1) Delivered From Distraction
2) Healing ADD by Amen
3) You Mean I'm Not Lazy Stupid or Crazy
4) Attention Deficit Disorder by Brown
5) When Too Much Isn't Enough by Wendy Richardson

Adler's book is so-so and I would put it at the bottom of my list of favorite ADD books. There are plenty of horrible analogies and he gets into details of biology that are unnecessary and hard for an ADDer to follow. The only redeeming feature was that it has the best and latest info on ADD meds that I have seen.

I bought this book at the same time I bought Delivered From Distraction. I read this book first because of it's focus on adults and medications which is what concerned me most. After my insurance company took away my name brand prescription, I began to take the generic which proved disastrous on many levels. Since that time I have struggled to find a medication that would be right for me and OK with my insurance company. Scattered Minds; Hope and Help... has given me all the information there is right now. I loaned this book to my doctor and we are working things out. Like the book says, "Just keep trying".That is what I am doing, only now, with more help than I've ever had before,thanks to this book.

Structure: Good, ADD friendly; I'll give it 4 out of 5

Language: Bit too stuffy for ADD audience. 3 stars for that language is generous.

Content: Very cursory. If you've already read an ADD book, any book, you may most probably not learn anything few from it.

What's missing: The author comes across very "alabaster". He doesn't connect with the reader well. Plus, I feel that something is missing in the way he understands ADD; I can't put a finger on it. On a generous day, like today, I would give him 3 out of 5, mostly bceause the book is so small.

What's good: Thin!

Even though I don't have Asperger Syndrome, the text within this book described many challenges I and friends had faced. University administrators and some faculty attempted to talk down to and ignore us only because we were people with disabilities.

Like one of Harpur's suggestions, we formed an impromptu student organization--which DID bring ADA renovations to campus.

I also appreciate the information on sexuality and stress management. Conceding his readers are adults, Harpur does not condescend under the misguided and outdated notion of protecting college students with disabilities. He assumes they will be enrolled alongside students without disabilities.

Plus, he then concedes that despite our making it to college we might still enter with unresolved issues from high school--and dealing with the past proactively is essential to the possibility of a better future.

I've been leery of many 'college student with disability' books. Those other texts remained fixated on having students enroll only at certain campuses across the country regardless of actual options. This implies that disability accomodations are a 'favor' available only from certain schools as opposed to being federal civil rights law.

However, this author took a much different approach. He wants people with disabilities totally aware of our own responsibilities and proactively exercising it on college campuses throughout the country. He wants us in and then completing college because we already knew what to do.

I would feel very good giving this book to ANY college-bound person with a disability.

I found this book to be an extremely practical book regarding the survival of Asperger's Sydnrome sufferers in college. Given that the majority of young AS people would end up at college, this book is essential reading.

It outlines a lot of the challenges faced by AS students in college, particularly social challenges. Many of these things are second nature to non AS students, but to the AS students a lot of these things take time and effort to understand and put into practice.

The book is written in a very simple and concise manner, and clearly goes through every logical step of any argument or situation (which is vital for AS sufferers).

That being said, this isn't any sort of 'all answer' of 'cure' book to AS, simply because nothing like that exists. It's simply a handbook that contains practical advice and tips for the AS student.

However, one of the overriding themes of the book was the emphasis on therapy and counselling for the AS student. It seemed as if the end of every paragraph had the recommendation 'see your therapist' or something similar. I grew tired of hearing that point.

Personally, I am a self-diagnosed AS student, a conclusion I reached after, quite by accident, hearing Dr Tony Attwood speak on television one day. I am only just now, almost at the end of my tertiary education, looking into AS in great detail. I only wish that I had had this book when I had first started at university. It would have saved me from a lot of embarrassing moments and awkward situations. However, I draw confidence from the fact that a lot of the methods and tips given in this book I actually developed on my own, before I had any idea about AS.

I personally feel that AS is more common that currently thought (about 1 in 250 people), and that as research into AS continues, we will begin to understand more and more about the syndrome. I hope to one day see programs in schools (particularly at the primary level) to recognise AS in students at a young age and help them deal with the condition.

This book is required reading for anyone who has, or knows somebody who has, Asperger's Syndrome.

I have not finished the book yet, but so far, the information is useful for the population of students that I work with. I am interested in starting an Asperger's Support Group and am focusing on the information in the chapter related to that.

Well written. Some of the language is different because it was written in another country.

This book addresses the social needs of Asperger young adults at a very basic, practical level. At the same time it acknowledges the academic brilliance of these young adults, and how they can use their strengths in intelligence to help accommodate for their social shortcomings.

I never trust a book that spends the entire first chapter telling you what you will learn from the book. And it only got worse, it seems like the authors spent most of their "ink" telling us what we were going to learn. There was some useful info, but it could have been offered in a 3 pages pamphlet.

The customer was very pleased with this book. I was pleased with the seller.

I'm preparing to have surgery in a month or so and have read MANY books on being the hospital, what to expect, etc. This book manages to combine all the "patient's rights/protect yourself" information with some very concrete questions to ask of the hospital administration when evaluating a facility. The appendix also has wonderful forms you can use for keeping track of who gives you what when, since after reading this book, you will inevitably be checking your bill with a magnifying glass (and finding numerous mistakes, as 98.5% of all hospital bills contain them, according to the author). Since this book is endorsed by the People's Medical Society, a non-profit consumer organization that I think has ties to the Rodale Foundation, it's nice to know that the revisions of this volume have input from previous readers sharing their experiences (and how the book helped them in their own hospital experience). I feel that I will be a better patient and advocate for myself as a result of reading it - and I definitely plan to bring it to the hospital!

good hospital information
use it as a reference for what you can ask for and not be afraid to ask for

This is a clever and detailed analysis of virtually every aspect of any hospitalization. It is very easy to read, and quite accurate. It has a thorough glossary, and defines terms throughout the book.

The author has written a number of very good books on the subject of health care value. This is no exception. The book
places great value in reviewing hospital bills in detail to detect unnecessary charges and areas where generic drugs could provide cheaper alternatives over the long term. In addition,
the institution you choose should have a good nosomial infection
record . Many patients die from the disease they contract in the
hospital rather than the condition upon entry. Some patients

actually have family members that get jobs in the hospital to
oversee loved ones and take advantage of benefits and reduced employee costs. Board certification is another important item for
the treating physicians and surgeons. Perhaps there is no greater
benefit to the patient than having a comprehensive knowledge
of the condition being treated and the alternative treatment
modalities whether conventional or alternative medicine.
Wise utilization of the ambulatory care centers and outpatient
clinics are another important set of options for patients.
Conditions requiring continuous monitoring and post-followup
reviews are best treated in the outpatient care centers.
This volume is a treasure chest of medicinal information pertinent to any medical consumer. The work is a good value
at the price charged.

More geared to the US than New Zealand because of the differences in the medical insurance systems but a lot of very valuable information that would be applicable anywhere. The information about how doctors do things gives more confidence when dealing with the medical profession which can be very hard at times. Doctors become very nervous when they cannot put things into little boxes and give solutions to problems which leads to the pain sufferer being pushed out into the cold sometimes. Recent experience has shown that attitudes within the medical profession are changing and doctors are opening up to new methods of pain treatment that give the patient more hope for the future. No doubt books like this have played a significant part in this change of attitude.

I found some areas helpful.

I suffer from debilitating "nonspecific" chronic headaches. Doctors have spent four years trying, and failing, to slap a label (diagnoses) on this pain. Because it is diagnosed as nonspecific, most physicians refuse to provide me with a specific, nonnarcotic pain medication that time and experience has proven extremely effective on a regular basis. because my headaches currently remain undiagnosed, my chronic and extreme pain is regarded as suspect. The reality of actual severe pain is dismissed by doctors as imagined, psychosomatic, hyperchondrial, or "drug-seeking behavior" on my part. For the most part, for over ten years, I have not received proper, adequate or humane treatment for actual, real and terrible pain. This book has given me the key to solving this critical state of medical affairs when it comes to negligent or non-existant pain treatment that is crucial and required by myself and countless others who suffer needlessly. A concise, witty, inteligent and most importantly, an invaluable book on the subject is available. This is that book. My highest recommendation.

I think this book is right on. I have had chronic back pain for years and every doctor tells me it is in my head, or I need physical therapy. If I could do the exercises they want you to do in therapy, I would nt need a doctor. The worst thing is finding someone to believe you and who is willing to do all that is possible to help. Doctors are too quick to just blow you off when it comes to chronic pain.

Run, limp, order it online- but DEFINTELY obtain this book ASAP if you are a pain survivor, work with pain patients or if a loved one suffers from chronic pain. This book is outstanding and sincere. I use it as an invaluable resource and I use it for emotional support. The approach is right-on-target and empowering. The utter contempt pain patients face on a daily basis from the medical community, indifferent (sometimes frustrated) and ignorant doctors and nurses, acquaintances, friends and family is appalling and barbaric.
I was recently referred to a pain clinic associated with a respected university and I went relunctantly. The two doctors I encountered were utter clowns. I knew more about neurology and medicines applicable to my situation than they did- which is terrifying. To think that people, in the most horrific of pain have no choice but to turn to these "Keystone doctors" when they are in the most desperate of situations is truly of nightmarish implications. As anesthesiologists they were already discussing "shots" before I even gave them my pain history. The doctor who took the history "zoned-out" in the middle while I related my history. I did not fit neatly into any of his boxes. As a teacher it is my job to know when someone is not paying attention. I had to resist the urge to tell him "to sit up straight and pay attention". Nor was he even following what I was saying (that is also my job to determine if a listener understands.They could not diagnose me, recognized I was bright and well-informed, and was not going to stand for any of their nonsense. They could not get me out of there fast enough and kept looking for one feeble excuse after another. Six years of unrelenting, daily pain that never goes away, is getting worse and they said I was doing "just fine". I was butchered by a endodontist who is still out there "practicing".I can barely hold down a job. The most mundane task is a major event. They couldn't wait to get me out of there which was fine with me. I am certain they could not even pass a basic logic class.
This book explains a myriad of procedures and covers countless medications. Drs. David and Chino brought to my attention a medication that is actually helping me. I have scoured the Internet in search of help but their book is packed with information I may never have found. The information is compassionate and up-to-date.
My only regret is that I live in the Midwest and cannot further benefit from the expertise and empathy of these forthright, pragmatic pain specialists.
But I cannot thank them enough.
BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

Close to the Bone is an absolute blessing for anyone going through a life-threatening illness and a saving grace for those who love and support that person. Dr. Bolen goes deeply into the psychological and spiritual components of a challenging illness and brings the light and warmth of understanding and compassion. Her use of mythological stories is brilliant and will change the way you look at a hospital stay.

If you are sitting by the bed of a loved one, this is the book you should have near at hand.

As a businesswoman seeking to ensure that the daily demands of running a successful organization do not impede my ability to live a life of integrity, I seek to read books that inspire me to find joy in daily living. As I read this book, I was in awe of the stories of the survivors who have found life that much more as a result of their experiences in dealing with terminal illness. I applaud Dr. Bolen's wisdom in sharing the challenges that make a healthy person realize how weak we are in comparison to these heroes who live so richly in spite of events. I found the book a great joy and, in fact, am reading it again - just in case I missed something the first time. I am positioning myself to "recreate" myself in a 2nd career and this book inspired me to think of using my skills in some way to assist women who find themselves dealing with their own terminal illness or the illness of a loved one.

Early in this beautiful book, Jean Shinoda Bolen reminds us that the Chinese pictograph for "crisis" contains the ideograms for both "danger" and "opportunity." I've worked with clients who deal with life-threatening illness, and it is almost invariably true that this experience raises important "soul-evoking" questions. To explore those questions is inevitably healing, whether in body, spirit, or both.

As with any major crisis in life, we can either view the glass as half-empty, or see the gift that we are offered: the opportunity to re-examine our priorities, our relationships, and to do the soul-work that brings true meaning to life. Illness forces us to deal with "what we know in our bones" that we may have so far denied -- ways in which we are unhappy and/or self-destructive.

And those of us who do not have life-threatening illness can learn from those who do. As Bolen points out, "Life is a terminal condition, after all." So we can all benefit from answering the questions she poses: "What are we here for... What did we come to learn... What and who did we come here to love?"

This book is unlike any other I have read. The author is a Jungian analyst and clinical professor of psychiatry. To quote the book jacket, she "weaves myth, experience, and story to produce a book which at once illuminates the experience of the seriously ill patient and shows that facing one's mortality can be a life-transforming, and even a life-saving process". At a time when I was recovering from life-threatening illness myself, I heard the author speak at a lecture in Vancouver, and I found her use of classical myth as an allegory for illness to be quite effective. My friend Russell borrowed this book from me a few weeks before he died from cancer, and in a written note he described it as "the right book at the right time".

This book is poorly written and not worth the money. Too much time spent on vague ideals and notions of death and dying not enough substance. Dr. Bolen spends very little time sharing the actual patient's stories and too much time on the New Age doctrine she so voraciously clings to. A New Age sermon is what this book is, not a search for meaning during life-threatening illness.

Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!
No joke... as far as I'm concerned my back pain is essentially cured. It took me 3 attempts to get the exercise right . You must follow the directions exactly and rest 24 hrs between attempts. Immediately after the 3rd attempt , I was able to bend down without my knees buckling, and get up from a squatting position with strength in my legs.No pain in the morning. But I do have some pain if I sit in one position for awhile--can deal with that.Physical tx and chiropractic have been helpful but only remedial. This one exercise in the book cured me. Follow directions about diet and water intake.I'm now telling all my friends. Purchase any of author's books as well. Best Rx for staying healthy in case we get national health insurance when we will not have access to anything.
This is an update(November 10,2008). I don't even think of my back anymore.I can sit in any position for any length of time. I still drink alot water but stopped all exercises because I have no pain. If the pain returns I will resume the exercises. This book is the best of all self-help medical books on the market!. A true miracle.

Dr. Batman is my hero..... I went to the doc to get some pain meds and she sent me to the hospital to get an MRI and they wanted to operate but the neurologist said he would see me the next day . He gave me three choices,surgery,cortizol shots,or 18 months to 24 months to recover from 3 bulging and one ruptured disc #5. After a month in a chair laying on one side---- at the library I found the Body's many cries for water....gave me some HOPE , which I had lost. The first day...my back was improving...my emotions were improving and I felt better. Then I ordered some of his books online and they are GREAT! The back book is very helpful to understand what I am up against. The cancer book was very encouraging. Cancer can bring fear to anyone who doesn't understand there are some safe treatments available.And of course ,I had to buy the bodies many cries for water book. I will be ordering some more books soon and recommending them to friends , neighbors and family members.....Keep your mind open and receive the answers to your questions ,and receive hope , help, and healing. Haven't used pain meds for 30 days...just salt and water.

Book gives a very concise approach of how water effects the body and can give relief to the impacts of general back pain. There are also a number of exercises to both relieve pain and also strengthen the back to assist with the long term management of back pain.

This is what he says. "Drink alot more water and your pain will go away". I knew that was his message before I got the book but I was not convinced. The book explains why to drink more water and also offers some exercises that I was not aware of.

And it works. Maybe its a coincidence but I have been trying to recover from a back problem for the last 9 months. In the last two weeks I have noticed a dramatic improvement and I have started to lose weight. It this continues this book is GREAT!!

One drawback is that now I have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Small price to pay.

The "superhero's" stretching is what I call the excersises described in this book, considering the author's last name. My trainer was the one who introduced me to this book. He lent it to me for a couple of days but since I could not finish reading it, I decided to buy it. It's amazing how easy and uncomplicated it is to get rid of my back pain, even if it's for a couple of days. The excersises are simple and quick to do and the reading, although you will find some scientic descriptions, is easy.

I was diagnosed with RA in December and picked this book up soon after. It gives lots of information about the course of the disease, medications, exercises and diet. I've loaned it to family members and reference it whenever I have a question about what my body is doing. The only drawback is that medications are developing at such a fast rate, that the book is already a bit outdated after only 3 years. However, it is still a great starting point.

This book covers all aspects of this disease and is written by a practicing Rheumatologist. RA is considered one of the "inflammatory" forms of arthritis and is now generally considered an autoimmune disease. Topics covered in depth include what joints are commonly affected, other organs that may also be involved and some of the other complications that may be experienced. The testing commonly performed by Physicians is discussed at length and explained in lay terms. The general progression of the disease differs in different individuals and this is discussed as well. The treatments such as medications, therapy, surgery are discussed individually and in depth in lay terms. Exercise is also covered. Some other aspects that are discussed are emotional issues and disability. This book actually presents a solid in depth knowledge of the diease and contains a lot of information that many family practioners and generalist may not be aware of as they are not specialists in this disease process. This book should be read and owned by anyone with this disease or a loved one with this disease. All of the information is presented in lay terms that are easy to understand. There are numerous illustrations as well.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis by Tammi L. Shlotzhauer (Clinical Instructor of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Practicing Rheumatologist at Rheumatology Associates of Rochester) and James L. McGuire (Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts) is a large print compendium of the latest information on Rheumatoid Arthritis concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and daily life (from special diets to possible alternative therapies and more) with this troublesome and painful disease. Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis informatively presents its facts in terms and text ideal for the non-specialist general reader, yet without glossing over specific issues, problems, medicines, or other challenges facing rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Simply put -- this is a work of superb medical scholarship and Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis should be on the shelves and available to the patrons of every community library system in this country.

This book provides excellent information about what rheumatoid arthritis is, how to distinguish it from osteoarthritis, etc.

However, I don't want to live with RA, I want to recover from it. As such, this book offers no help in this regard. It tells me about drugs that I can take and splints that I can wear to help me from becoming completely disabled, but offers me no hope of recovery.

In contrast, the book "Conquering Arthritis" by Barbara Allan, is the well-researched account of someone who took charge of their health and fought to recover from the disease, to get their life back. And succeeded! I'm well on the road to recovery myself by applying the principles in her book. Now that's a book well worth spending your money on!

This book gives a lot of layman explanations to medical technical jargon that the doctors throw at new patients. At times the reading was a bit dry, but this book serves as a daily reference to me with the many challenges I face as a newly diagnosed RA patient.

This is a very dangerous book. It is not what its title suggests-- it is not about the reduction of funding for mental health services, a legitimate matter for concern. It is about the struggle of patients and ex-patients to free themselves from the forced treatments which the authors favor. Take for instance ECT: the authors admit that bilateral ECT, in which the current passes through both sides of the brain, can lead to memory loss, but maintain that this can be reduced by unilateral ECT, in which it passes through only one side. The problem is that the side which it is passed through is the nondominant, non-verbal side, so that the patient may be suffering yet be unable to verbalize his/her suffering, conveying a false sense of confidence to the psychiatrist. Likewise with the "new" ECT, which is administered to heavily-sedated patients so that they do not appear to have a grand mal convulsion: as Peter Breggin has pointed out, this requires a higher voltage and may therefore do more damage (see Toxic Psychiatry).

The repressive implications of the forced treatment the authors advocate is brought out most clearly in a chapter entitled "The Specter of Violence". Noting that some mentally ill people are violent (as indeed are many people who are not mentally ill), they maintain that such patients must be forced to endure potentially dangerous treatments not only for their own sake but for that of society. President Bush must have been using this book as a reference when he decided to push for mental health screening for all citizens. And what will be taken as an indication of mental illness? Opposition to the War in the Middle East? Opposition to the treatment of detainees? Opposition to the administration in power? Have we not learned enough from the abuse of of psychiatry to persecute dissidents in the Soviet Union? Forced treatment of the mentally ill is a major civil liberties issue because WHEN THE RIGHTS OF ONE CITIZEN OR GROUP OF CITIZENS ARE INFRINGED, THE RIGHTS OF ALL ARE THREATENED.

If you accept the notion that insanity is an illness (in contast to the whacked-out anti-psychiatry crowd) then this is an outstanding history of how America's treatment of the mentally ill has been made into a disgrace by the very ilk (counterculture/New Left types) who cry the loudest and hardest about social injustice in America. Christ warned about certain men who tie heavy loads on other mens backs, but won't lift a finger to help them; well, the anti-psychiatry crowd has made it virtually impossible for concerned, compassionate Americans to help the people who need it most. One can only take comfort in the notion that at the Final Judgment the people responsible for bringing about such mind-boggling suffering will be certainly be held accountable.

Even ten years after it was written, no other book documents the origins and failure of deinstitutionalization of people with severe mental illness so well. I only wish that the authors would update the book for the new decade.

I am so disappointed that this book is out of print! I have been recommending it to everyone including political leaders. This book explains so well why our mental health system is failing! From the ACLU who allow our loved ones to "die with their rights on" to the anti-psychiatry movement who deny that mental illness exist.The authors have uncovered the web of a failed system which advocates need to have as a resource. This book needs to be available.

I read this book and could not put it down. It really explains how our mental health policy in America became so distorted. The abandonment of our mentally ill in the name of freedom and self determination was ill thought out. This book is thorough and riveting.