#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • ONE OF GQ's TOP 50 BOOKS OF LITERARY JOURNALISM IN THE 21st CENTURY • The heartrending story of a midcentury American family with twelve children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science's great hope in the quest to understand the disease. "Reads like a medical detective journey and sheds light on a topic so many of us face: mental illness." —Oprah Winfrey A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the American dream. After World War II, Don's work with the Air Force brought them to Colorado, where their twelve children perfectly spanned the baby boom: the oldest born in 1945, the youngest in 1965. In those years, there was an established script for a family like the Galvins--aspiration, hard work, upward mobility, domestic harmony--and they worked hard to play their parts. But behind the scenes was a different story: psychological breakdown, sudden shocking violence, hidden abuse. By the mid-1970s, six of the ten Galvin boys, one after another, were diagnosed as schizophrenic. How could all this happen to one family? What took place inside the house on Hidden Valley Road was so extraordinary that the Galvins became one of the first families to be studied by the National Institute of Mental Health. Their story offers a shadow history of the science of schizophrenia, from the era of institutionalization, lobotomy, and the schizophrenogenic mother to the search for genetic markers for the disease, always amid profound disagreements about the nature of the illness itself. And unbeknownst to the Galvins, samples of their DNA informed decades of genetic research that continues today, offering paths to treatment, prediction, and even eradication of the disease for future generations. With clarity and compassion, bestselling and award-winning author Robert Kolker uncovers one family's unforgettable legacy of suffering, love, and hope.
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About the author
Robert Kolker
Author
Robert Kolker is an American journalist and contributor to The New York Times Magazine who previously worked as a contributing editor at New York Magazine and projects and investigations reporter for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Hidden Valley Road
by Robert Kolker
Books Like Hidden Valley Road
If you're looking for books similar to Hidden Valley Road, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
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A comprehensive exploration of genetics and its impact on human understanding of inheritance and disease. Mukherjee traces the history of genetic research with compelling storytelling. The book delves into how genetic research can illuminate family medical histories. It shares the scientific curiosity present in 'Hidden Valley Road' about genetic predispositions.
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A groundbreaking exploration of medical ethics, scientific research, and family legacy. The book examines how one woman's cells became crucial to medical research without her knowledge. It reveals the human stories behind scientific discoveries, similar to the Galvin family's contribution to schizophrenia research. The narrative blends personal history with scientific investigation in a compelling manner.
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A personal account of navigating mental health challenges within a family. Ramey explores the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and mental health. The book offers insights into family resilience and medical understanding. It resonates with the family-focused narrative of 'Hidden Valley Road'.
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A novel exploring mental health, choices, and personal potential. Haig offers a unique perspective on psychological struggles through a fictional narrative. The book examines life's complexities and personal resilience. While fictional, it shares themes of personal journey and psychological exploration.
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