Surviving Madness: The Betty Berzon Story

by Betty Berzon

“…a rich account of the fascinating journey of [not only] her own life, [but] the remarkable people and places that punctuated it, and the war that raged inside her…an enthralling, instructive, and ultimately uplifting story."
-Michelangelo Signorile, author of Queer in America and Life Outside.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Anais Nin, Edith Sitwell, Evelyn Hooker, Paul Monette—such luminaries are only some of the fellow trailblazers whose paths intersected with Betty Berzon in this amazing memoir of the life of one of the most vital and fascinating of our LGBT pioneers.

Surviving Madness unveils the dramatic story of an emergence from mental breakdown and suicide attempts to coming out as a lesbian at age forty, followed by the discovery of life-long love, the triumphant rise to becoming a groundbreaking therapist and a courageous, passionate, resolute activist--and the pioneering author of such classic books on lesbian and gay relationships as Permanent Partners and Positively Gay.

Surviving Madness is the transcendent story of a woman central to the reach for LGBT civil rights in the twentieth century, whose drama-charged life changed forever our own lives today.

This edition of Surviving Madness includes a very special Introduction and Afterword by life partner Terry DeCrescenzo.

Genres: Memoir, LGBT, Nonfiction, Psychology, Queer, Mental Health

310 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2002

About the author

Betty Berzon was an American author and psychotherapist known for her work with the gay and lesbian communities.

Berzon was among the first psychotherapists to assist gay and lesbian clients. After coming out as a lesbian in 1968, she began providing therapy to gays and lesbians, and in 1971, she organized the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center as well as an organization of gays and lesbians within the American Psychiatric Association, which declassified homosexuality as a mental illness two years later.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Herman Plasmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people should read this book

[Anne I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written memoir and reminder of the challenges faced then, and continue to not let our guards do

Expertly created fusion of personal and social history, one we should be reminded has not passed that many years ago.

[Neil Mudde · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story about Betty Berzon renowned pschychotherapist, who tells about her background, her time spent in an asylum being on suicide watch, being locked up, to becoming a grounbreaking therapist and gay pioneer in the work focussing on theraputic means of developing healthy gay relationships and overcoming homophobia. Along the way she encounters Anais Nin, a picture op+ interview with Eleanor Roosevelt,Evelyn Hooker, the Sitwells, Paul Monette, there are some great historical notes.
Somewhat depressing here and there, however as the Phoenix, she rises from the ashes, a great book, such a wonderful uplifing ( in the end) story.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like a biography, not a memoir (as in, it's a recounting of her life, not just a lens into a specific aspect). Although some parts were interesting, overall it was very bland and boring. The "madness" she goes through is nothing compared to that of many other memoirists.

Instead of delving deep into her specific stories of therapy, she prefers to gloat about her contribution to the GLBT liberation movement. Yawn. If I wanted to read a history book, I would have done so.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a gift bag at the 2012 Lambda Literary Awards. I'm embarassed, now, to say that I knew very little about Betty Berzon. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read the story of this remarkable woman, who gave so much to the lesbian and gay community. Berzon is the author of several books, including "Positively Gay: New Approaches to Gay & Lesbian Life" and "The Intimacy Dance: A Guide to Long-Term Success in Gay & Lesbian Relationships."

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely interesting. It does not focus on typical mental illness, though there is some of that as well. The 'illness' she struggles with throughout her life is homosexuality, which was very scandalous throughout much of her lifetime. It is interesting for history's sake, as well as seeing how she overcame obstacles and turned her life into one of the best success stories I've seen from someone who experienced all the troubles and heartbreak she did.