Thursday, September 1, 2016

Book Review: BEDLAM'S DOOR by Mark Rubinstein

Bedlam's Door: True Tales of Madness and HopeBedlam's Door: True Tales of Madness and Hope by Mark Rubinstein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A terrific book for people studying psychology and for everyone interested in mental illness and the medical world.

Mark Rubinstein, MD, is a novelist, physician, and psychiatrist. His ability to tell a story with vivid details is what makes this book great. This book reads very much like a compilation of short stories, but the difference is that each of these stories actually happened.

As the description on the back of the book reads: "Bedlam's Door depicts the challenges mental illness poses for patients, their families, health-care professionals, and our society."

Some lines from the book that really struck me include:

"If I could tear open my chest, and if you could lick my heart, it would poison you." (page 15)

"Four times as many women as men attempt suicide, yet four times as many men succeed in killing themselves." (page 25)

"I'd grown accustomed to the medley of moans, groans, shrieks, and rantings of a nighttime psychiatric ward." (page 34)

I highly recommend this book for its excellent writing and the glimpse it gives readers into the world of mental illness.



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