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Fully engrossing. Especially towards the end, I was quite attached to this book considering how heavy it was to carry around. Does a great job of tying their lives to cultural events. Also gets into the history of mental illness treatment and dinstitutionalization. Gets a lil slow on some chapters on literary theory and 70s culture for me, but loved all around.

15-8 May 24 (audiobook)
Rosen tells the story of his brilliant childhood friend who is diagnosed with schizophrenia yet graduates from Yale Law School and becomes a poster boy for mental illness, but later murders his girlfriend in a psychotic episode. He also reviews the system of mental health treatment in the US, the de-institutionalisation of mental health patients without an adequate replacement and the impact on families and support groups.

Book 3 ✔️ for #DiseaseoftheMonthBookClub (prompt: Read a book about the brain)

This is a memoir of Rosen‘s friendship with Michael Laudor, who, despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia, breezed through Yale as an undergrad and law student and was heralded as an example of how people can triumph over the stigma of mental illness—until he killed his girlfriend. It‘s also an examination of how society has failed those with mental illnesses.

I‘m so glad this was one of the NYT‘s top 10 of 2023, as I‘m not sure I would have found it otherwise and it‘s superb. Rosen explores the recent history and current state of mental health care in the US by telling the story of his friend Michael. They grew up together as friends and competitors, until in their 20s Michael developed schizophrenia and headed toward tragedy. It‘s a tough book but really well done.

This truly shines when Rosen discusses his boyhood friendship with Michael Laudor, a brilliant young man. Sadly, Laudor descends into madness and commits a horrific crime. The book goes into many tangents throughout the story of Michael‘s life about mental illness in America including lobotomies, legislation, etc. I found this engaging but wondered how Rosen knew the intimate details of Laudor‘s life when they were grown and no longer close.

This book had me hooked in the first few chapters. A great dissection into the failure of the mental health system and also a good page turner even though you know the outcome.

This book has been great so far. It‘s been a little challenging because my best friend is going through a pretty challenging mental health crisis right now, so it‘s a little triggering for me. But overall, I love the joyful stories about being kids and growing up. Def reminds me to be happy about the time I‘ve had and not dwell on the future I may not be able to control.

Part memoir, part biography of a childhood friend, Rosen traces the arc of his life vs Michael Laudor‘s. It‘s striving, witty, vulnerable, jealous, confused, and resolute. Very readable, and I covered the 500+ pages in record time…almost like a thriller, as it has a tragic ending. With Rosen‘s memory, the reader also tried to see the signs of mental illness that is so clear later. Good book!