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Pete Earley
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Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness Kindle Edition

by Pete Earley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 885 ratings
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“A magnificent gift to those of us who love someone who has a mental illness…Earley has used his considerable skills to meticulously research why the mental health system is so profoundly broken.”—Bebe Moore Campbell, author of 72 Hour Hold

Former Washington Post reporter Pete Earley had written extensively about the criminal justice system. But it was only when his own son—in the throes of a manic episode—broke into a neighbor's house that he learned what happens to mentally ill people who break a law.

This is the Earley family's compelling story, a troubling look at bureaucratic apathy and the countless thousands who suffer confinement instead of care, brutal conditions instead of treatment, in the “revolving doors” between hospital and jail. With mass deinstitutionalization, large numbers of state mental patients are homeless or in jail-an experience little better than the horrors of a century ago. Earley takes us directly into that experience—and into that of a father and award-winning journalist trying to fight for a better way.
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  1. Print length
    396 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Berkley
  5. Publication date
    April 3, 2007
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. File size
    1302 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Suffering delusions from bipolar disorder, Mike Earley broke into a stranger's home to take a bubble bath and significantly damaged the premises. That Mike's act was viewed as a crime rather than a psychotic episode spurred his father, veteran journalist Pete Earley (Family of Spies), to investigate the "criminalization of the mentally ill." Earley gains access to the Miami-Dade County jail where guards admit that they routinely beat prisoners. He learns that Deidra Sanbourne, whose 1988 deinstitutionalization was a landmark civil rights case, died after being neglected in a boarding house. A public defender describes how he—not always happily—helps mentally ill clients avoid hospitalization. Throughout this grim work, Earley uneasily straddles the line between father and journalist. He compromises his objectivity when for most of his son's ordeal—Mike gets probation—he refuses to entertain the possibility that the terrified woman whose home Mike trashed also is a victim. And when, torn between opposing obligations, he decides not to reveal to a source's mother that her daughter has gone off her medications, he endangers the daughter's life and betrays her mother. Although this is mostly a sprawling retread of more significant work by psychologist Fuller Torrey and others, parents of the mentally ill should find solace and food for thought in its pages. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Crazy

“A combination of old-fashioned muckraking and genuine empathy...an important manifesto.” —The Washington Post Book World

“Parents of the mentally ill should find solace and food for thought in [this book’s] pages.”—Publishers Weekly

“A case for major policy reform...a harrowing account of a father trying to obtain treatment for his adult son.”—San Antonio Express News

“Crazy is a godsend. It will open the minds of many who make choices for the mentally ill. Countless numbers of us owe Pete Earley and his son Mike a great debt.”—Patty Duke

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001M0BUL0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; 1st edition (April 3, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1302 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 396 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 885 ratings

About the author

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Pete Earley

Pete Earley

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Pete Earley is a storyteller who has penned 13 books including the New York Times bestseller The Hot House and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.

After a 14-year career in journalism, including six years at The Washington Post, Pete became a full-time author with a commitment to expose the stories that entertain and surprise.

His honest reporting and compelling writing helped him garner success as one of few authors with ”the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency,” according to Washingtonian magazine.

When Pete’s life was turned upside down by the events recounted in his book Crazy, he joined the National Alliance of Mental Illness to advocate for strong mental health reform on the public stage.

This new advocacy has taken him to 46 different states and multiple countries around the globe where he delivers speeches to rally against the troubled mental health systems and for the mentally ill.

As an author, Pete has been on the receiving end of many accolades, including:

- 2007 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for General Nonfiction

- New York Times Bestseller for The Hot House

- Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice

- Edgar Award Winner for Best Fact Crime Book

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
885 global ratings
The Forgotten Floor, Mental Illness in Jail
5 Stars
The Forgotten Floor, Mental Illness in Jail
As one of the persons in this book it will open your eyes to a better understanding of mental illness, not just in jail but helping people before they get to jail...I know it can be hard to help at times your loves ones and friends.. but they do need your help more then ever they need you, they may not know it, but..you see it and I know it's hard but as the officer in this book I see so much sadness from families that are helpless to do anything and I know it's sad that the mentally ill are in jail...so if you read this review I am not pushing the book it's a great read where I worked for over 20 years on the 9th floor...Mental illness can affect anyone on any given day. If you look up MSNBC Lock Up Miami Dade County Jail you will see the 9th Floor.
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Top reviews from the United States

John
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly eye-opening
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
Wow. This book - every single page - has been an amazing experience.
I originally picked this up as a high school student who needed a "pulitzer prize winning non-fiction book" to read as an independent reading assignment. I was expecting myself to get caught in another period of laziness as I always did, where I simply spark-noted or shmooped the book, never gaining the actual experience of it. I was wrong. As soon as I read the first couple of chapters (I always have the intention of reading the full book, but many times I never get around to it) I was captivated, and knew I would read the entire thing. It was horrifying and shocking to me that this book was reporting things that were going on in the United States of America, where I lived. Of course I had heard of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder before, but this gave me another level of insight on not only the people affected by it, but the system which they have to deal with.

I remember before reading this book, I would go out and see a homeless person talking to themselves, and I would be legitimately frightened, as it was something of the unknown. What was wrong with them? That was all I could think of. Nowadays in society everyone has this belief that "crazy" people are "crazy" as a result of some traumatic experience of the past, whether it was child abuse, drug abuse, or rape. When parents see a homeless person, they often say "that's what drugs do to you." This book shows how wrong these assumptions can be. Pete Earely has given me so much knowledge on mental health and the mental health system and I truly appreciate it. I have a completely different view of the issues presented in this book now. This is a great read, and everyone should read it. And I promise they won't regret it.
43 people found this helpful
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Darlene V.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from parents perspective
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
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It helped reading from a parent's point of view. I liked he went in the jails, court system and homes of persons with behavioral health conditions. Everyone's story is different. I really hope more awareness can become available throughout the nation. I live in Iowa and there are very limited resources. I don't understand why more help isn't available. This book sheds light on the necessity of more resources and the outcomes when there isn't.
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Andrea Kalfoglou
5.0 out of 5 stars Mental illness and the carceral system
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2023
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A dad has to confront his son’s rapid onset of mental illness and soon thereafter, the ramifications of his son’s psychotic behavior. As he helps his son move through the carceral system, he decides to explore the link between mental illness and incarceration. The author presents a view of the carceral system most upper middle class families with privilege rarely see - the results of the brokenness of our mental health and carceral systems, and the impact on those without privilege.

I purchased a paperback copy, but then listened to it through Audible. The author does a great job. His emotional response to parts of his narrative allow the reader to feel the utter frustration of a father trying to protect his mentally ill son from the carceral system.
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Adam A Mills
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, scary but it can happen to anyone
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2014
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As a former bondsman the U.S. Jail system is no place for the mentally ill. No one wants the warehouse state hospitals back although some state hospitals are needed. Just as I read this book a California women who was mentally ill was awarded 1.5 million for fighting against a CHP officer for pulling her out of traffic on a highway. This book does a great job of showing the battles a family goes through trying to get their loved one care in current legal setting. The research is extensive and the work appreciated by me. I only hope legislatures read this book. It's easy to read and the relationships the author has with the subjects keep you wanting to know more about there stories. I'm glad I read it.
One person found this helpful
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Bobbi K
5.0 out of 5 stars Please read if mental illness has impacted you or someone you are close to
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
I preface that this is not meant to be a hope-filled, happy-ending sort of text. This is a true account of what the mental health care system has been for dozens of individuals, both those with mental illness and those dedicated to their betterment and safety. This is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who want unto read something light and move on. This will stay with you and impact you in some way.

Truly revolutionary. This is an important manifesto calling for action in the treatment of those who have been mistreated for centuries - those with mental illness. This was a combination of fact-based journalism, memoir, op-ed, and biography - wrapped in a narrative nonfiction bow. The writing was beautiful and tugged at emotions while also being an informative, complex informational text that makes one rethink the many highs and lows of the mental health movement. I am better for having read this and that is all I could ask. Thank you, Pete Earley, for sharing a story that didn’t have to be told - but made an impact in a way that motivates advocacy and compassion from those read it. Thank you Mike, for being a voice in change as well and allowing your story to be told.
2 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth Reeder
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
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This book takes a deep dive into our Nation’s so called “mental health treatment” at our jails. If you have a family member who has a mental illness, work within a jail, hospital, school, or really any service position, READ. THIS. BOOK. You have 0 clue what someone is going through. Be kind. Always.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars eye opening
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
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What a great read. The book is an easy but intense read. As a father it also had me teary eyed.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very depressive truth
Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2023
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We all should be informed of the info contained in this book.
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Marcos Luz
5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of paper - Public Utility
Reviewed in Brazil on September 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
Because of the mental illness of his son, this author begins to investigate the legal system around ”crazy” people. What he had found was a broken one. Right to not take any medication or any treatment are examples of a dysfunctional legal act. The comes and goes from hospital to prison in a kind of a revolving door is another example. Some individuals histories and perspectives written inside, helps the reader understand some everyday difficulties involving ”nuts”. Patience, love, companionship, friendship, and hard work are all the tools that people with mental illness need to fight for minimal support to get ahead in their lives. The book also shows that the worst thing that could happen to those with mental health problems is to be let alone, to live or die by themselves. Excellent book, five stars for sure.
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Beige
4.0 out of 5 stars enlightening read
Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
This was a really enjoyable read for anyone who is interested in mental illness. Early's first hand experience and expert writing allow this to be a highly informative but easy read.
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