The narrative takes us into the heart of the family home — the boys’ fighting, their accomplishments and the development, eventually, of schizophrenia in six of them. Thanks to Kolker’s research and the family’s forthrightness, he gives us a robust picture of how the disease shaped the family, but also how it looked, manifesting itself differently in each affected son. That helps to create an awareness, at least, if not an understanding of what schizophrenia is.
“One couple. 12 children — six of them schizophrenic. A new book taking in decades of this family’s history is more intimate than the author dared dream,” April 7, 2020