Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us
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- Create Date：2022-09-19 20:21:37
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Rachel Aviv
- ISBN：B0BFJR14KH
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Summary
In Strangers to Ourselves， a powerful and gripping debut， Rachel Aviv raises fundamental questions about how we understand ourselves in periods of crisis and distress。 Drawing on deep， original reporting as well as unpublished journals and memoirs， Aviv writes about people who have come up against the limits of psychiatric explanations for who they are。 She follows an Indian woman， celebrated as a saint， who lives in healing temples in Kerala; an incarcerated mother vying for her children’s forgiveness after recovering from psychosis; a man who devotes his life to seeking revenge upon his psychoanalysts; and an affluent young woman who， after a decade of defining herself through her diagnosis， decides to go off her meds because she doesn’t know who she is without them。 Animated by a profound sense of empathy， Aviv’s exploration is refracted through her own account of living in a hospital ward at the age of six and meeting a fellow patient with whom her life runs parallel―until it no longer does。
Aviv asks how the stories we tell about mental disorders shape their course in our lives。 Challenging the way we understand and talk about illness， her account is a testament to the porousness and resilience of the mind。
Aviv asks how the stories we tell about mental disorders shape their course in our lives。 Challenging the way we understand and talk about illness， her account is a testament to the porousness and resilience of the mind。
Reviews
Samantha Martin
，
An incredibly insightful book drawn from personal experience and journalistic research， about the issues we face with mental health diagnoses and the stories we tell ourselves and others about them。 Naomi’s story in particular moved me; the book is deeply sympathetic and thoroughly researched。 Learning about how India treats mental illness is fascinating， and Avis’s own struggles with child anorexia was illuminating。 Our American psychiatric system leaves much to be desired， but my take away fro An incredibly insightful book drawn from personal experience and journalistic research， about the issues we face with mental health diagnoses and the stories we tell ourselves and others about them。 Naomi’s story in particular moved me; the book is deeply sympathetic and thoroughly researched。 Learning about how India treats mental illness is fascinating， and Avis’s own struggles with child anorexia was illuminating。 Our American psychiatric system leaves much to be desired， but my take away from the book is that the stories we are told （and tell ourselves） about our mental illnesses can often effect our trajectory。 。。。more
Christine Hiller
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3。5 Interesting case studies that definitely raised a number of difficult and troubling issues， but there was no common thread that provided understanding as to how or why these cases were so unique， and thus no insight on how they could have been treated successfully。
heidi
，
"[The] question — "Am I the insane one， or is it society？" — diminishes the reality of mental disability and presumes the impossible: that the self can be divorced from the society that shapes it。"One of the best books I've read this year。 Aviv masterfully weaves nuanced personal accounts of mental illness within their historical and cultural contexts。 The writing is sharp and tight; her precision of language is satisfying to read。 The subjects she interviewed come from a variety of backgrounds， "[The] question — "Am I the insane one， or is it society？" — diminishes the reality of mental disability and presumes the impossible: that the self can be divorced from the society that shapes it。"One of the best books I've read this year。 Aviv masterfully weaves nuanced personal accounts of mental illness within their historical and cultural contexts。 The writing is sharp and tight; her precision of language is satisfying to read。 The subjects she interviewed come from a variety of backgrounds， and she highlights how their unique places in space and time shaped the course of their mental illness and treatment experiences。 Through each personal account， Aviv delves into how individuals make sense of their own diagnoses and integrate psychiatric labels into their sense of self。 "Psychiatrists know remarkably little about why some people with mental illnesses recover and others with the same diagnosis go on to have an illness "career"。 Answering the question， I think， requires paying more attention to the distance between the psychiatric models that explain illness and the stories through which people find meaning themselves。 Even if questions of interpretation are secondary to finding effective medical treatment， these stories alter people's lives， sometimes in unpredictable ways， and bear heavily on a person's sense of self — and the desire to be treated at all。"Embedded within each narrative are insightful comments about the progression of the psychiatric field and its impact on how people understand themselves。 Aviv notes the rise of managed care in the early nineties， which came to dominate each facet of the healthcare industry。 The treatment of mental health care as a commodity overly-expedited patient care and minimized the influence of economic， social or political causes behind patients' problems: in a hospital setting， "patients must be diagnosed， prescribed medication， and discharged within a few days。" Psychiatrists were similarly encouraged to treat each symptom with a new prescription， often creating "prescription cascades" which left patients dependent on a host of medications。 The managed care approach similarly left little gray area to understand the complex realities behind each patient。 Black and white explanations became the order of the day。"Delusions are not spun from pure fantasy。 It would be impossible to separate Bapu's desire to wed Krishna from her dismay over the way that wives in traditional Indian households were treated; or Ray's obsession with avenging his failed life and career， his fall from grace， from his expectation that white educated men should not have to contend with such a fate。 Naomi's psychosis drew from reality， too， but her doctors seemed to expect that delusions couldn't on some level make sense。。。 Until her crime， psychiatrists had seemed unwilling to engage with her remarks about race except as a "bizarre" pathology。 These doctors recognized the validity of her insights about society — it was the first time her perspective had been validated at an institutional level — but only to use them against her， as evidence that she deserved to be punished。"All of Aviv's subjects wrote about their illnesses， providing another layer of depth to each account。 We are given a glimpse of their interiority and shown how this compares with their outward presentation and reception by others。"They described their psychological experiences with deep self-awareness， but they also needed others to confirm whether what they were feeling was real。 It didn't matter whether they believed they were married to God or saving the world from racism — they still looked to authorities （mystics for Bapu， doctors for the others） to tell them how and why they were feeling this way。 Their distress took a form that was created in dialogue with others， a process that altered the path of their suffering and identities too。"Could not recommend this book highly enough。 Some stories moved me to tears， all left me with greater understanding of how a life can unfold。 。。。more
BookStarRaven
，
What I really appreciated about Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories that Make us by Rachel Aviv was the storytelling across place and time。 While most books I’ve read on mental illness tend to be Eurocentric this book told the stories of people struggling with mental illness in various places and cultures。This book is a collection of stories about people struggling with mental illness。 From the man with depression in the 1960’s when psychiatry was in its infancy to the woman What I really appreciated about Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories that Make us by Rachel Aviv was the storytelling across place and time。 While most books I’ve read on mental illness tend to be Eurocentric this book told the stories of people struggling with mental illness in various places and cultures。This book is a collection of stories about people struggling with mental illness。 From the man with depression in the 1960’s when psychiatry was in its infancy to the woman in India with schizophrenia who believed she communicated with the gods， we see the full spectrum of treatment and experience。 What really comes through is the nuanced experience of mental illness。 There is no “one size fits all”， while mental illnesses may have similarities the human experience of it can be quite different from person to person。I would have liked it if this book were longer and included even more diverse stories。 When I reached the end I had the feeling， is this it？ There's no more？ I felt like a few more stories were needed to round out the picture of mental illness。 My one criticism of the book's message is that it came across as anti-medicine。 While she tried to provide a balanced picture， it still came off like she was saying “medicine won’t help you， it will just take away your personality。” As someone who feels like an anti-depressant saved my life， I cannot agree with this。 I feel that she should have included a story like mine， where medicine DID make a difference and that was the main message。I recommend this book to anyone interested in mental health/illness/psychology。 This book should be added to any complete mental health library。Rating: 4/5Genre: Psychology/Mental Health 。。。more
Katelynn
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Rarely does non-fiction make me cry but this book had me sobbing and rethinking mental illness and my own experiences with it in ways I've never considered。 There are many moments that help you understand your own struggles with mental health from a more compassionate point of view。I can't recommend it enough。 Rarely does non-fiction make me cry but this book had me sobbing and rethinking mental illness and my own experiences with it in ways I've never considered。 There are many moments that help you understand your own struggles with mental health from a more compassionate point of view。I can't recommend it enough。 。。。more
Casondra Bee
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10/10 would recommend。 This book offers a fresh perspective on how we understand psychology and how mental illnesses are shaped by genetic， biological， environmental， and socioeconomic factors。 Great debut from this author。
Dakota Bossard
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A fascinating series of case studies on people and their mental illness that go beyond the realm of straightforward diagnosis。 Each story was unique and incredibly diverse， though I was partial to Aviv’s personal story that began and ended the series。 A great nonfiction read if you have any interest in psychology。 Many thanks to FSG for the advanced copy！
Leticia
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3。7some of the cases are better structured/more narratively compelling than others， but i liked this journey through mental illness and the way medicine and psychology have approached it over the years。 i thought that where she shines in the most is when she introduces her personal experience but generally interesting read。
Diane S ☔
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This is the best book I've read about mental illness in quite a while。 The author herself was the youngest patient to be diagnosed with anorexia and she tells how her life was effected by this diagnosis。 She uses actual people， cases that showcase how the treatment of mental illness has changed through the years。 From talk therapy to medication and how once medication was thought to solve all problems， many mental health facilities closed， leaving those for whom medication didn't work， flounderi This is the best book I've read about mental illness in quite a while。 The author herself was the youngest patient to be diagnosed with anorexia and she tells how her life was effected by this diagnosis。 She uses actual people， cases that showcase how the treatment of mental illness has changed through the years。 From talk therapy to medication and how once medication was thought to solve all problems， many mental health facilities closed， leaving those for whom medication didn't work， floundering。She also shows through her cases that the one diagnosis for all， doesn't in fact fit all。 The story of the young wife and mother in India， who wanted to leave her family and marry， dedicate her life to Krishna， had after much struggle， a happy ending。 The case of the young black mother from Chicago， raised in the Robert Taylor homes， was horrific。 They show that how we treat mental illness often fails。 More medication is piled on but the personality， genetics， background， to life struggles in general often has a role to play in when and how the illness manifests。 This is not taken into consideration， in essence， the whole person needs to be treated， not patched up like a bandaged knee。 Very interesting book and thought provoking book。 The narration by Andi Amdt was excellent。ARC from Netgalley 。。。more
Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition
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I am not sure what to make of this book - A 6 year old girl is diagnosed with anorexia。A woman stops taking her meds because she can't remember what she is like without them。A successful doctor disintegrates into depression and spends the next 30 years writing a memoir without any apparent insight into what he was writing about。A woman is obsessed with her religion and her writing is considered divinely inspired。 She eventually abandons her family and tries to go to a Hindu monastery。 She is lat I am not sure what to make of this book - A 6 year old girl is diagnosed with anorexia。A woman stops taking her meds because she can't remember what she is like without them。A successful doctor disintegrates into depression and spends the next 30 years writing a memoir without any apparent insight into what he was writing about。A woman is obsessed with her religion and her writing is considered divinely inspired。 She eventually abandons her family and tries to go to a Hindu monastery。 She is later diagnosed as schizophrenic and lives a tortuous life。A psychiatric hospital failed to successfully treat patients， because the author says the personal doctor/patient relationship turned into a corporate provider/consumer relationship。There is another heartbreaking story about a woman with anorexia。The only common thread is that it seems conventional practices & medicine do not work for certain people。 。。。more
Terri
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This book is a great book about how we see ourselves in times of crisis。 Full of stories of people who have faced a crisis in their lives and have come out the other side。 They have come up against the limits of psychiatric explanations for who they are。 This is a book about how we should reframe the "Story" of a person who has mental illness。 This book is a great book about how we see ourselves in times of crisis。 Full of stories of people who have faced a crisis in their lives and have come out the other side。 They have come up against the limits of psychiatric explanations for who they are。 This is a book about how we should reframe the "Story" of a person who has mental illness。 。。。more
Aimee Neill
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Not my usual regular reading but I’m so glad I read this book！ Do you know how you react （or would react） in times of crisis， trauma or emergency？ Do you already struggle day to day with （diagnosed or not） mental issues？Unique and interesting stories that make you think！
Tyler Jager
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Absolutely fabulous debut （and so lucky I got an advance copy。。。） can't wait for everyone to read it Absolutely fabulous debut （and so lucky I got an advance copy。。。） can't wait for everyone to read it 。。。more
Susan Sanders
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ARC from NetgalleyThis is like Dopesick and Hidden Valley Road coming together in a sad， frustrating memoir with other people's stories mixed in。 This book is at times relatable， frustrating， hopeful and matter of fact。 It uncovers uncommon details about the history and the irresponsibility of the mental health industry。 ARC from NetgalleyThis is like Dopesick and Hidden Valley Road coming together in a sad， frustrating memoir with other people's stories mixed in。 This book is at times relatable， frustrating， hopeful and matter of fact。 It uncovers uncommon details about the history and the irresponsibility of the mental health industry。 。。。more
Lisa Konet
，
A very thoughtful and empathetic book about 6 different people's mental health as told by Rachel Aviv， who is a well-known journalist for The New Yorker。 I like how each person had a different background and different struggles， as well as different treatments/tools to help them。 I also appreciate the bravery it must have taken to share their stories to the world。I feel that anyone can relate to the stories shared in this book about mental health。 It is ok to ask for professional help so you are A very thoughtful and empathetic book about 6 different people's mental health as told by Rachel Aviv， who is a well-known journalist for The New Yorker。 I like how each person had a different background and different struggles， as well as different treatments/tools to help them。 I also appreciate the bravery it must have taken to share their stories to the world。I feel that anyone can relate to the stories shared in this book about mental health。 It is ok to ask for professional help so you are not alone。 I have learned a lot about my own struggles as well。 Do not suffer alone！Highly recommended book for everyone！Thanks to NetGalley， Rachel Aviv and Farrar， Straud and Giroux for an ARC in exchange for an honest review。Available: 9/13/22 。。。more
Tina
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Sooo interesting！！ Full review soon！Thank you to FSG Books for my advance review copy！
Sarah
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Strangers to Ourselves was a fascinating look into mental illnesses told through a series of anecdotes。 We take a look into various illnesses， the racial biases in diagnoses and treatment， and even the writer's own experiences with her anorexia nervosa hospitalization when she was six and her use of Lexapro （an antidepressant） as an adult。 I really enjoyed each section and would have been happy with an even deeper dive。 The interviews were especially enlightening， and the book gave me a ton to t Strangers to Ourselves was a fascinating look into mental illnesses told through a series of anecdotes。 We take a look into various illnesses， the racial biases in diagnoses and treatment， and even the writer's own experiences with her anorexia nervosa hospitalization when she was six and her use of Lexapro （an antidepressant） as an adult。 I really enjoyed each section and would have been happy with an even deeper dive。 The interviews were especially enlightening， and the book gave me a ton to think about by the time I finished。 This is definitely an interesting， page-turning nonfiction choice！ 。。。more
Brandon Westlake
，
I really don't know how to classify this book， nor do I feel like it has a definite message， other than exploring the ways in which people's depression and addictive behaviors manifest themselves; the struggle to find one's self perhaps。 Several people's stories stand out: Ray's and his history of antidepressants is a story of how we view ourselves。 One chapter gives insight into intersections with other countries。 Naomi's story describes racial oppression through mental disability （which I foun I really don't know how to classify this book， nor do I feel like it has a definite message， other than exploring the ways in which people's depression and addictive behaviors manifest themselves; the struggle to find one's self perhaps。 Several people's stories stand out: Ray's and his history of antidepressants is a story of how we view ourselves。 One chapter gives insight into intersections with other countries。 Naomi's story describes racial oppression through mental disability （which I found the most interesting）。 Again， it's hard to get at the sense of the overall goal of the book。 I would've liked more analysis to tie all of these essays together- they seemed rather disjointed。 However， they do show a personal struggle that many readers may recognize in themselves and their loved ones。 。。。more
Louise Foerster
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Rachel Aviv's STRANGERS TO OURSELVES is that most rare of books， casting a whole new light and prism through which to view our assumptions and presumptions about those who suffer from mental illness。 Aviv's exquisite talent for respecting the stories of others and illuminating the experiences of those in the throes and those attempting to be their own truest selves without labels， medicine， and checkbox expectations informed and moved me throughout this important， timely， and marvelous book。 I r Rachel Aviv's STRANGERS TO OURSELVES is that most rare of books， casting a whole new light and prism through which to view our assumptions and presumptions about those who suffer from mental illness。 Aviv's exquisite talent for respecting the stories of others and illuminating the experiences of those in the throes and those attempting to be their own truest selves without labels， medicine， and checkbox expectations informed and moved me throughout this important， timely， and marvelous book。 I received an early copy of this book and these thoughts are my own， unbiased opinions。 。。。more
Nancy
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Rachel Aviv’s Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us is a rare gem: a non-fiction book I couldn’t put down。 Aviv is a staff writer at The New Yorker， and the book reads like a really long New Yorker article。 It is intelligent and well-researched yet accessible and compassionate。 Tellingly， it is non-prescriptive: readers should not look for pat answers here。 Aviv simply tells the stories of half a dozen individuals， mostly women and including herself， for whom moder Rachel Aviv’s Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us is a rare gem: a non-fiction book I couldn’t put down。 Aviv is a staff writer at The New Yorker， and the book reads like a really long New Yorker article。 It is intelligent and well-researched yet accessible and compassionate。 Tellingly， it is non-prescriptive: readers should not look for pat answers here。 Aviv simply tells the stories of half a dozen individuals， mostly women and including herself， for whom modern psychiatry does not suffice and often hurts as much as it helps。 Aviv puts special emphasis on the narratives that arise out of diagnoses， and what it means to have mental illness become a main element of one’s story。 Highly recommended for anyone interested in mental health。 。。。more
BethK
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Strangers to OurselvesBy Rachel AvivCopyright © 20222Farrar， Straus， and Giroux， New YorkISBN 978-0-374-60084-6Recommended: 4 StarI read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley， provided by the publisher。This is a book of six independent stories from various people of both genders， various countries， different races， and all along the socioeconomic spectrum with a single thing in common – they all have been diagnosed with mental illness， and are living with it。 Some at home。 Strangers to OurselvesBy Rachel AvivCopyright © 20222Farrar， Straus， and Giroux， New YorkISBN 978-0-374-60084-6Recommended: 4 StarI read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley， provided by the publisher。This is a book of six independent stories from various people of both genders， various countries， different races， and all along the socioeconomic spectrum with a single thing in common – they all have been diagnosed with mental illness， and are living with it。 Some at home。 Some in institutions。 Most in and out of various institutions。 These people have similar-but-different experiences with their treatment and living their lives。 Some are not getting very much help， or of the wrong kind， no matter what they try or anyone tries on their behalf。 Others are getting far too much “help” which greatly interferes with their living their lives。Some stories were from decades ago， and some of the institutions have long histories which were described。 Some things work better than others for at least some people， and the book shows how far we’ve come， how some things have gotten better and worse， and we need to continue to progress and find what works。 None of these stories were “the answer” for anyone。 。。。more
Smita
，
https://www。loc。gov/events/2022-natio。。。https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=hYWEO。。。 https://www。loc。gov/events/2022-natio。。。https://www。youtube。com/watch？v=hYWEO。。。 。。。more
Marika
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Author Rachel Aviv is a staff writer for the The New Yorker and has written many enlightening articles about kids struggling to find their way in the often confusing maze of adult-made systems。 Aviv now writes about the inner struggle of mental illness and the accompanying stories that we tell ourselves about the mental illness。 Where did your phobia come from？ Why do some people have so much much rage inside of them and why？ And who are you really if you are not taking the psychotropic that you Author Rachel Aviv is a staff writer for the The New Yorker and has written many enlightening articles about kids struggling to find their way in the often confusing maze of adult-made systems。 Aviv now writes about the inner struggle of mental illness and the accompanying stories that we tell ourselves about the mental illness。 Where did your phobia come from？ Why do some people have so much much rage inside of them and why？ And who are you really if you are not taking the psychotropic that you've taken for years？ The author combs through memoirs and and journals to try to answer the age old question of what and who has shaped the people that we become and has written a book oozing with empathy for those who struggle。 Rachel Aviv knows the struggle well as she was diagnosed and treated for an eating disorder at the age of 6。 Highly recommended and readers will come away realizing that their diagnosis is not their identity。* I read an advance copy and was not compensated。 。。。more
Erin Keith
，
Wow。 Rachel Aviv gives a fascinating insight into mental illness and it’s treatment over the years。 While each case study was fascinating， diving deep into different types of treatment over the decades and around the globe， I found Rachel’s own struggle with anorexia as well as her relationship with Hava to be incredibly enthralling。 If you’ve ever wondered what goes on within the walls of a mental health facility， this book takes an in-depth look at several people， their struggles in getting no Wow。 Rachel Aviv gives a fascinating insight into mental illness and it’s treatment over the years。 While each case study was fascinating， diving deep into different types of treatment over the decades and around the globe， I found Rachel’s own struggle with anorexia as well as her relationship with Hava to be incredibly enthralling。 If you’ve ever wondered what goes on within the walls of a mental health facility， this book takes an in-depth look at several people， their struggles in getting not only a diagnosis， but proper treatment and care。 。。。more
Ashley Peterson
，
Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv explores the different ways in which people try to make sense of mental illness， both on an individual and societal level。 The book tells the story of six different people who experienced mental illness， including the sociocultural factors that shaped those experiences。 One of these stories is of the author's own experience of being hospitalized at age six for anorexia nervosa。The author is a writer for The New Y Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv explores the different ways in which people try to make sense of mental illness， both on an individual and societal level。 The book tells the story of six different people who experienced mental illness， including the sociocultural factors that shaped those experiences。 One of these stories is of the author's own experience of being hospitalized at age six for anorexia nervosa。The author is a writer for The New Yorker， and her journalistic background is very apparent in the stories she tells。 Of the other five individuals whose stories were told in the book， two of them were still alive and directly interviewed by the author。 One of these five was someone who had been a co-patient of the author’s during her childhood hospitalization。The book opens with the author’s own story， then moves on to Ray Osheroff， who was a notable figure in the conflict between a psychoanalytical approach to psychiatry and an evidence-based approach。 He had a lengthy stay for severe depression at an institution called Chestnut Lodge， where the treatment team insisted that psychoanalytic therapy was the only way he could get better。 Although he was only getting worse， they refused to put him on medication。 He later sued Chestnut Lodge for malpractice for not using evidence-based treatment， and the book explores the debate that this lawsuit sparked within the field of psychiatry。Next up is Bapu， a deeply spiritual Indian woman who was diagnosed with schizophrenia。 In telling her story， the author explores issues around spirituality and psychosis， culture， and the ways families respond to mental illness。The story of Naomi Gaines， a Black woman who killed one of her children while psychotic， addresses how racism impacts how mental illness is framed and treated and how it impacts access to care。 It also looks at the effects of deinstitutionalization， the large numbers of mentally ill people who end up in the criminal justice system， and the limitations of the M'Naghten Rule， which is the legal test that's commonly used in the US to establish an insanity defense。 In Naomi's case， doctors didn't feel that she met the M'Naghten standard， and her public defender didn't think a jury would accept an insanity defense。 The book also looks at the poor care that people with mental illness receive in prison。 In Naomi's case， while in prison for second-degree murder， her antipsychotic was stopped due to cost。 Unsurprisingly， her mental health deteriorated， and she was put in segregation for two months。Next was the story of Laura Delano， a woman who'd been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and later borderline personality disorder。 She took 19 different medications over the course of 14 years。 The author observes， “While Black women tend to be undermedicated for depression， white women， especially ambitious ones， are often overmedicated， in order to ‘have it all’: a family and a thriving career。”Laura ended up going off of medication because of emotional and sexual numbness， and she had significant difficulties with withdrawal， which led to her getting involved in online communities of others who'd also struggled with psychiatric medication withdrawal。 The book explores the ways that people relate to the medications they are taking or have stopped taking and how this can shape identity and the stories people construct about their illnesses。 The author also contrasts her own experience with Laura’s—while Laura’s doctors had pushed meds， the author had been taught to see her illness as “a kind of stress reaction… In a sense， Laura and I were mirrors on which different faces of psychiatry had been reflected。”The author also shares her own experiences taking the antidepressant Lexapro as an adult。 It sounds like it was prescribed not because of a psychiatric diagnosis， but rather to help with psychological rigidity around feelings of inadequacy。 It was initially intended to be for short-term use， but she felt better on it and worse when she tried to come off of it。 On a low dose， the author writes， “I was not depressed， but I was less social， flexible， and spontaneous。 It seemed I had reached my baseline personality。” She ended up deciding to go back up to the full dose， and she's remained on the Lexapro for over a decade。 She adds， “I also realize that I’ve endowed my pill of choice with mystical capacities—it contains the things I’m not but wish I was—and merely the idea of swallowing such a thing has healing power。"It was interesting to examine my own reactions to this。 I’m very pro-medication as an option for treating mental illness， but I must admit， I judged the psychiatrist who started her on the Lexapro。 Why？ In part， it’s because I’m into evidence-based medicine， and prescribing medication for something it’s not indicated for seems like poor practice， but there’s also a more personal element to the reaction。 I think that’s at least partly because I take meds to try to get back some of the self that my illness obscures， and taking meds to be a different person from the self feels… backward， maybe？ Or maybe I’m just envious of the idea of taking meds as a self-enhancer rather than in an attempt to stay alive and maintain some degree of functioning。The book has a lot of detail， drawing on interviews with many people associated with each story。 It’s impressive in terms of journalistic quality， although my personal preference would have been to leave out some of the details that seemed less relevant。 Then again， that’s at least partly because I wasn’t feeling well when I read it。 I liked the author’s approach of looking at the bigger picture factors that came into play in each individual’s story and how this shaped the way these individuals and those around them understood the illness。 Both the depth of investigation and the big-picture view make this a unique and fascinating book。I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley。 。。。more
Mary C
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The case studies of people from different races， cultures， class and religion， and the impact those factors had on their mental illnesses。 Treatments did not take that into account which impacted treatments received along with what insurance is willing to cover along with medications。 Insightful and eye-opening。#NetGalley #Farrah， Straus & Giroux
Serena
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a beautifully constructed book， written with empathy and care。 aviv is present at the beginning and the end， which left me feeling a bit off-kilter， but i think a brave choice。
Linda
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An interesting study of mental illness through case studies of several people who have received diagnoses like anorexia， depression， schizophrenia， etc。Especially interesting to me was the history and use of treatment drugs in the last few decades。Thanks to NetGalley and Farrah， Straus， & Giroux for the ARC to read and review。
Macken Sloan
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Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for the e-book！ Strangers To Ourselves is a comprehensive account of the lives of six mentally ill people including the author’s own perspective。 These six people face different illnesses between depression， schizophrenia and eating disorders and detail the backgrounds of each patient as they vary from each other。 Out of the six， I found Bapu and Naomi’s stories to be the most eye opening based on their influence of class， race， culture and religion。 With brilliant Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for the e-book！ Strangers To Ourselves is a comprehensive account of the lives of six mentally ill people including the author’s own perspective。 These six people face different illnesses between depression， schizophrenia and eating disorders and detail the backgrounds of each patient as they vary from each other。 Out of the six， I found Bapu and Naomi’s stories to be the most eye opening based on their influence of class， race， culture and religion。 With brilliant attention to detail， Rachel Aviv brings light to these realities with the themes of advancements in treatment with the changing of time， contrasting personal backgrounds and conversations with doctors and loved ones of these people。 Very interesting read！ I highly recommend for those interested in nonfiction， psychology and mental illness。 。。。more
James B
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