Genetic-Brain-Disorders Books

Every parent of a newly diagnosed child with Fragile X should read this book. Mary Beth and Megan each have two sons with Fragile X. Their letters tell the story of two families' lives: the heartbreaking experience of searching for and finally finding a diagnosis, the simple joys of appreciating these children and their individual accomplishments, and the stories of husbands and wives adapting to their own kind of "normal." The difficulty of raising 2 children with Fragile X cannot be overstated. The coping methods shared by these two women are sometimes difficult to read, and sometimes just hilarious. But the overarching message is that you can find and new "normal", and that life gets better. When you think no one has experienced what you are going through, pick up the book and read about how alone these women once felt and what they each did to connect to other Fragile X families. Their individual accomplishments are astounding.

It is simply a WONDERFUL BOOK.
Many thanks to the authors for their courage to share with the readers their inmost feelings and unique personal experience of fragile x challenges.

Dear Meagan was an interesting read regarding Fragile X. The form of the book is through letters written by two women, both of whom have two sons with Fragile X. It is very personal, and the letters give information and research-based facts regarding Fragile X; however, it is intimate as it describes family situations, concerns, and details.

I've just listened to Mary Beth and Megan on the Diane Rehm Show and was very moved by their openness in describing their sons with Fragile X and their life with them, how they parent these sons, searched for the best education and medical care for them, and how they have found meaning and joy in their sons, despite their severe disabilities. Their book is an inspiration to all parents with disabled children.

This is the book that all of the families in the Fragile X community have been waiting to read. These letters between two women tell us the story of their personal griefs and triumphs; but they tell us so much more. The chapter called Dropping Bread Crumbs explains Fragile X for the layman more clearly than you've ever heard it explained before. We will all relate to the devastating news of the diagnosis in the chapter called Diagnosis and Dealing. And we will admire the courage of Kelly Randels' chapter on the hearbreak of facing an abortion. These women have the courage to tell us what we need to know; and the talent to keep you riveted throughout their journey in a world that has been defined for them by Fragile X. A extraordinary accomplishment.

Having experienced schizophrenia firsthand in my immediate family beginning in the 1950s, I was interested in seeing what medical explanations are being explored and what progress has been made regarding this devastating illness. This book beautifully presents necessary background data on brain function and on basic chemistry and genetics, and then gives lucidly presented information about new strategies and treatments. Various fields of medicine, genetics, and chemistry are coming together to present the real albeit complex picture of what these awful illnesses are about and how we can work to live with them or overcome them. Mental illness must be liberated from individual guilt, shame, and social stigma, which are still very strong in human society. Only knowledge of the facts can free us from these crippling attitudes, and this terrific book goes a long way to help. The author's PhD in literature also adds a humanistic touch to a scientific work, which I deeply appreciated.

BRAVE NEW BRAIN follows up the classic THE BROKEN BRAIN, both written by Dr. Nancy Andreasen. She is a recent winner of the National Medal of Science, and a great thinker in the fields of medicine and philosophy of medicine. The book is written for the general public so they will become part of the great revolution of knowledge in the neurosciences. She details not only traditional psychiatric illnesses, but expands this view into the neurological illnesses. This is important as now psychiatry and neurology begin to merge, each developing a new respect for the field of the other. She details how psychiatry cannot solve all of our modern day society's woes, but must turn these over to individuals to seek answers. A recommended book for any public or private library.

As a society we face, is it medicine or out of my house. We have some knowledge of medicine but what we don't have is knowldege of what to do with our nations poor, we need to think about this. Walking is important for people on medications but they don't tell you about this. What they don't tell you is not to drink coffee's etc. Or that many over the counters in general are bad. Our knowledge continues to grow as a society, however, there are many things we don't know. Nancy C Andreason gives a good review of things, and a well rounded perspective of things in her Brave New Brain. I am interested in also her genetics research as well. I believe the NAMI which she has mentioned is not the best helping organization though, and there is not much outside support or resources to help disabeled people which I think we need more of, when they don't have there families anymore. We need to think about how we are going to house homeless etc.

Having experienced schizophrenia firsthand in my immediate family beginning in the 1950s, I was interested in seeing what medical explanations are being explored and what progress has been made regarding this devastating illness. This book beautifully presents necessary background data on brain function and on basic chemistry and genetics, and then gives lucidly presented information about new strategies and treatments. Various fields of medicine, genetics, and chemistry are coming together to present the real albeit complex picture of what these awful illnesses are about and how we can work to live with them or overcome them. Mental illness must be liberated from individual guilt, shame, and social stigma, which are still very strong in human society. Only knowledge of the facts can free us from these crippling attitudes, and this terrific book goes a long way to help. The author's PhD in literature also adds a humanistic touch to a scientific work, which I deeply appreciated.

Nancy Andreasen is one of the top researchers in the field of Schizophrenia so is a good person to write this book. This is a very good book on the underlying causes of schizophrenia and other brain diseases and prospects better treatments and cures based on this knowledge. Great reading for a person who wants a better understanding of how the genetics revolution is impacting our knowledge of mental illness. Writen for a layman with some background or interest in science and biology.

This book is just another example of John Money making up stuff to earn a dollar. He is a known fraud and people should not be naive enough to take him seriously. In the past he has made up data and published false research to support his claims. He is a poor excuse for a scientist and nobody should buy his work

Contrary to one poster who called Money the foremost thinker on this subject, the reality has proven that Money is the foremost [suspect]. His "groundbreaking" experiment in gender identity has been shown to be a complete fabrication on his part.

While he may be a great theorizer (anyone can concoct a ridiculous and salacious theory), reality has demonstrated that his theories are false.

Please read of this man's (...) in the work of John Colapinto cited above--As Nature Made Him (it is the story of an identical twin whose circumcision was botched, and
Money recommended that he be raised as a girl--this Money "guineau pig" committed suicide last week--age 38, but not before he had many, many negative words for the misguided "work" of Money). Colapinto is his exclusive biographer.
The fact that Money's name remains prominently on the syllabus of many women's study courses is a considerable shame to both fields of psychology and women's studies.
Recommended reading of real scholarship in the area of biological and social determination pertaining to sexual and homosexual behavior: Mean Genes by Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan

on the formation of gender identity. Money is unquestionably one of the foremost thinkers on human sexuality of the modern era. His project is to ask questions that few dare to ask. Since those questions are about sex and gender identity, it is guaranteed that there will be howls of disagreement with his methods of study and proposed answers. "Gay Straight and In Between" is a very good book to get into the fray, and its insights can have a lot of influence given the current political debates over gay rights. You may not agree with all of its premises (I don't), but since when do we read only to confirm what we already believe?

As for the person who thought the title was insulting to bisexuals, I am surprised--the whole point of that title seems, to me, to point out that much of the world is (happily, healthily, normally) "in between" the poles that usually frame the debate.

Recommended.

Looking for a book to suggest to a family that has been having trouble understanding, and continuing to love, a gay family member, I had a quick look-around for published materials. I was especially hopeful that there might be an appropriate title by Dr. Milton Diamond, but no such luck. I'll have to hope they'll view his website. That left me with two books that I would very strongly recommend: John Money's Gay, Straight, and In-Between, and Anne Fausto-Sterling's Sexing the Body. Money's book is a straightforward description of how a serious and responsible researcher has come to understand homosexuality over the course of decades of research, but Fausto-Sterling's is a more "nuanced" account of the formation of human sexualities that ruthlessly but with good humor attacks easy assumptions and over-generalizations.

Money objectively synthesizes the work done during his lifetime by numerous researchers in the field of human sexuality. He gives the reader a clear way to understand that the sexual identity of a person, what the person is and is motivated to do as a sexual being, begins with the individual's genetic constitution (which is in all cases almost entirely identical to other human beings), is influenced by the complex hormonal and nutritional environment in the womb during gestation, and then is further molded by nurture and learning -- with early events, generally speaking, being more influential than later events.

Criticisms of Money in the Colapinto book refer to events that occurred early in Money's career, and to an understanding that has been revised and reshaped over the years and the dozen or so books that Money has written to the point that it does Money an injustice to condemn his recent book on that account. More importantly, perhaps, it may turn readers away from a book that describes the "state of the art" at the time it was written. Anyone who wants to study this field must go over these same findings, must "re-search" them, to discover whether further refinements are needed. So, whether you end up agreeing with Money on individual points or not, his book gives in relatively short compass a survey of what is currently regarded as knowledge in this field.

It is impossible to review this book as it has not yet arrived. This book and a number of other books I ordered have not arrived. Two thirds of my order arrived 2 weeks ago and I am still waiting for the other books. Given that I have been invited to review the book does this mean that you assume that I have received this book? Mmmmm.... I know that Amazon.com is hermeneutically sealed and all customer service is computer automated. I have always wondered what redress I would have is an expensive order goes missing. Guess I am about to find out and I don't feel optimistic.