Crazy by Earley, Pete. (Berkley Trade,2007) [Paperback]

by Earley

Paperback

Reviews

[Anne Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned reading for a course I am taking titled Neuropsychiatric Drug Discovery. I have struggled of what to write for my reflection to this because I think that this is an incredibly important work that explains why our mental health care system is flawed and it deserves the respect it has earned. Earley included his own personal experience with his son's mental illness and how damaging it was to watch someone you love shatter inside and not have any recourse of action. While this is heart breaking and creates an empathetic bond between himself and the reader he goes deeper and tries to educate the public on why our system is so deeply troubled.

His writing is that of a journalist - it is blunt and gets straight to the point. He does not sugar coat the lives of the people suffering inside Miami Dade Prison on the 9th floor psychiatric wing or the homeless women who are raped, abused, and left out on the city streets. It is what the public needs to hear.

I myself have had loved ones in similar positions to his son Mike, in ERs with no legal rights to help them and doctors telling me they cannot do anything because of how the laws are written. It made this book hard to read- it brought back many troublesome memories however I feel like this book answered so many questions about how we got to this point.

My favorite quote from this book was that patients "die with their rights on" in reference to the laws preventing doctors from helping those clearly suffering from delusions or addictions when they don't want help but so desperately need it. I think that shows the true irony of the situation and how law makers have befuddled and made a mockery of the current system.

My honest review is if you are ready to sit in the uncomfortable truth that we as a society are all responsible for changing the system and how we fail sick individuals everyday until we do create solutions then this is the book for you.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preface that this is not meant to be a hope-filled, happy-ending sort of text. This is a true account of what the mental health care system has been for dozens of individuals, both those with mental illness and those dedicated to their betterment and safety. This is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who want unto read something light and move on. This will stay with you and impact you in some way.

Truly revolutionary. This is an important manifesto calling for action in the treatment of those who have been mistreated for centuries - those with mental illness. This was a combination of fact-based journalism, memoir, op-ed, and biography - wrapped in a narrative nonfiction bow. The writing was beautiful and tugged at emotions while also being an informative, complex informational text that makes one rethink the many highs and lows of the mental health movement. I am better for having read this and that is all I could ask. Thank you, Pete Earley, for sharing a story that didn’t have to be told - but made an impact in a way that motivates advocacy and compassion from those read it. Thank you Mike, for being a voice in change as well and allowing your story to be told.

[Cynthia Koopmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a human, you simply must read this book. Not only does Pete Earley debunk our previous beliefs about.mental illness, but he teaches us and offers realistic suggestions for solutions. Mental illness isolates and fractures people. It destroys and traumatized people in all walks of.life. Like so many crisises in history, government interventions have only serves to make the situation worse. Understanding mental illness is the first step in advocacy. This is critically important for us all.

[Laura Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good expose on some of the major socioeconomic and ethical issues that plague mental health care, written because an investigative journalist had an experience close to home.