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Gracefully Insane - by  Alex Beam (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Gracefully Insane - by Alex Beam (Paperback)

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About this item

Highlights

  • Its landscaped ground, chosen by Frederick Law Olmsted and dotted with Tudor mansions, could belong to a New England prep school.
  • About the Author: Alex Beam is a columnist for the Boston Globe and for the International Herald Tribune.
  • 296 Pages
  • Psychology, Psychopathology

Description



About the Book



An entertaining and poignant social history of McLean Hospital--a temporary home to many of the troubled geniuses of our age--this book explores the evolution of the treatment of mental illness from the early 19th century to today. of photos.



Book Synopsis



Its landscaped ground, chosen by Frederick Law Olmsted and dotted with Tudor mansions, could belong to a New England prep school. There are no fences, no guards, no locked gates. But McLean Hospital is a mental institution-one of the most famous, most elite, and once most luxurious in America. McLean "alumni" include Olmsted himself, Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, James Taylor and Ray Charles, as well as (more secretly) other notables from among the rich and famous. In its "golden age," McLean provided as genteel an environment for the treatment of mental illness as one could imagine. But the golden age is over, and a downsized, downscale McLean-despite its affiliation with Harvard University-is struggling to stay afloat. Gracefully Insane, by Boston Globecolumnist Alex Beam, is a fascinating and emotional biography of McLean Hospital from its founding in 1817 through today. It is filled with stories about patients and doctors: the Ralph Waldo Emerson protégé whose brilliance disappeared along with his madness; Anne Sexton's poetry seminar, and many more. The story of McLean is also the story of the hopes and failures of psychology and psychotherapy; of the evolution of attitudes about mental illness, of approaches to treatment, and of the economic pressures that are making McLean-and other institutions like it-relics of a bygone age.

This is a compelling and often oddly poignant reading for fans of books like Plath's The Bell Jarand Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted (both inspired by their author's stays at McLean) and for anyone interested in the history of medicine or psychotherapy, or the social history of New England.



About the Author



Alex Beam is a columnist for the Boston Globe and for the International Herald Tribune. He is the author of two works of nonfiction, Gracefully Insane and A Great Idea at the Time, both New York Times Notable Books. He has also written for the Atlantic Monthly, Slate, and Forbes/FYI. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts with his wife and three sons.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.28 Inches (H) x 5.56 Inches (W) x .76 Inches (D)
Weight: .74 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 296
Genre: Psychology
Sub-Genre: Psychopathology
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Format: Paperback
Author: Alex Beam
Language: English
Street Date: January 1, 2003
TCIN: 11787398
UPC: 9781586481612
Item Number (DPCI): 248-22-4365
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.76 inches length x 5.56 inches width x 8.28 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.74 pounds
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Q: Where was McLean Hospital located?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: McLean Hospital is situated in a landscaped area designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, resembling a New England prep school.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: What is the main theme of the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book focuses on the history of mental illness treatment at McLean Hospital, highlighting key figures and societal attitudes.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: Who is the author of this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The author is Alex Beam, a columnist for the Boston Globe and known for his nonfiction works.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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Q: What is the publication year of Gracefully Insane?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: The book chronicles the history of McLean Hospital from its founding in 1817 to contemporary issues.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
    Ai generated

Q: What type of book is Gracefully Insane?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
  • A: It is a social history exploring the evolution of mental illness treatment and notable patients at McLean Hospital.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 1 month ago
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