Chock Full of Nuts: My 28 Days Inside a Premier Psychiatric Hospital and the Shocking Truth

by Jakob Williams

Chock Full of Nuts is a raw, unflinching memoir that explores the enduring flaws in the institutional treatment of mental health, tracing its stagnation from the shocking practices depicted in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the present day.

With firsthand experience in what he darkly dubs “summer camp,” a euphemism for a modern-day asylum, JaKob Williams recounts harrowing episodes of institutional care, reflecting on the controversial methods still in use today. From grappling with electroconvulsive shock therapy to navigating the labyrinth of mental health care, he exposes a system resistant to progress, while offering hope to those who feel different, broken, or lost.

Chock Full of Nuts is more than a critique; it is a testament to resilience. Williams shares extraordinary personal experiences: a near-death fall on Mount Fuji that led to a life-altering promise, daring adventures as a competitive runner and climber, and his transformation into a celebrated yet unconventional artist.

Through humor, grit, and an unwavering commitment to being “different,” this memoir delivers an inspiring call to embrace individuality. It challenges society’s perception of mental differences, proving that what makes us unique can also make us extraordinary. A riveting blend of personal confession, societal critique, and a dash of rebellious wit, Chock Full of Nuts is a story for anyone ready to stand up when the world tells them to sit down.

264 pages, Hardcover

Published July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. The synopsis had me thinking it would be a home run for me and unfortunately…it just wasn’t. I nearly dnf’ed it, but wanted to finish it for an honest review for the free ARC. It feels like the author wrote the book in the midst of a manic episode, it was all over the place. Which might have made sense in the first couple chapters when he is explaining what led up to his in-patient time on the ward. But the whole book is written that way. Also it felt like he was working overtime to prove he is smarter than everyone and it really grated on me. The overuse of repeated phrases annoyed me (…wait for it…, to bid them…adieu, etc.). Over-explanation of pop culture reference, and frequent use of pop culture reference that felt forced.
I really thought I would and wanted to enjoy this book. And it really did not do it for me. I thought I would learn something and feel for the people in this book. But I really just felt like someone was trying too hard to convince me how cool, important, rich and smart they are.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested this book because I have bipolar I disorder and my first hospitalization was at McLean Hospital, where the author spent the 28 days referred to in the subtitle. I was hoping for an interesting story full of insights and experiences I could relate to or learn from. This is not that book.

I would have abandoned this memoir almost immediately had I not wanted to get through it in order to give a proper review. The author is completely insufferable, a Boomer trying extremely hard to be hip and cool but only achieving levels of cringe I rarely encounter or endure willingly. He's obnoxious, self-aggrandizing, and rude; these traits go beyond the expected behavior of a manic individual. He peppers his writing with ridiculous nomenclature he devised to appear clever but which make him seem very foolish. He refers to the mental hospital as "MrClean" and calls Mass General Hospital "MoRass General." He refers to his spouse as "Lovely Wife" throughout the story. In the first few pages, he uses "bigly" and later in the book, "nonwokily" (This is used to describe a manner not deemed "woke" by the author; it was a challenge to parse the meaning... I am all for making up new words, but this is truly awkward.) The word choice, along with the hostile tone, make for an uncomfortable reading experience.

I am not sure who the intended audience is for this memoir. I would imagine it would include someone like me, but it most certainly does not.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.