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Hidden Valley Road
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Check link for latest rating. ( 129,260 ratings, 12,828 reviews)
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Format: Hardback
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The heartrending story of a midcentury American family with twelve children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science's great hope in the quest to understand the disease.
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Description
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker is an astonishing true story of a family grappling with mental illness against the backdrop of breakthrough scientific research.
Meet the Galvin family: Don and Mimi seemed to have the perfect post-World War II life in Colorado, blessed with twelve children born one after another between 1945 and 1965. However, extraordinary challenges lay beneath the surface of their American dream. Over the years, the family endured psychological breakdowns, unpredictable violence, and hidden abuses. By the mid-1970s, six of the ten Galvin boys were diagnosed with schizophrenia, unravelling the family's cohesion and plunging them into chaos and despair. Their journey became pivotal for scientific research into the condition, offering glimpses into potential genetic causes and treatments.
The Galvins were so unique that the National Institutes of Mental Health chose to study them extensively. Their genetic material has since contributed to some of the most significant research advancements in the field, helping to pave the way for future treatments and possible preventions of schizophrenia.
As a bestseller, the book has earned high acclaim, including a spot on Barack Obama's list of favourite books of 2020 and TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020. It was also selected as an Oprah's Book Club pick and became a New York Times bestseller.
Critics have praised the book's intimate and powerful narrative:
'Startlingly intimate' - The Sunday Times
'Grippingly told and brilliantly reported' - Mail on Sunday
'Unforgettable' - The Times
For those intrigued by works such as Educated, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Three Identical Strangers, Kolkerβs book is a must-read. Hidden Valley Road is not just a compelling case study but also a poignant exploration of family, trauma, and hope. Each chapter uncovers new layers of the Galvin family's struggles and the enduring quest for understanding mental illness.
Author Robert Kolker's extraordinary skills bring clarity and compassion to the narrative, illuminating the harsh realities and resiliency of a family burdened by schizophrenia.
'An extraordinary case study and tour de force of reporting' - Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind
'This book tore my heart out. It is a revelationβabout the history of mental health treatment, about trauma, foremost about familyβand a more-than-worthy follow-up to Robert Kolker's brilliant Lost Girls' - Megan Abbott, Edgar Award-winning author of Dare Me and Give Me Your Hand
Hidden Valley Road contains everything: scientific intrigue, devastating heartbreak, and the enduring resilience of an extraordinary family.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker is praised for its intimate, gripping storytelling and thorough reporting. It enlightens readers about the devastating impact of mental illness on a family, with exceptional insight and fine investigative journalism.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781787473805
Publisher: Quercus Publishing
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 09 April 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Quercus Publishing
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 40.0mm
Width: 160.0mm
Height: 236.0mm
Weight: 608g
Pages: 400
About the Author
Robert Kolker is the New York Times bestselling author of Lost Girls, named one of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books and one of Publisher's Weekly's Top Ten Books of 2013. His magazine journalism most often takes the form of gripping, humane narratives.
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Hidden Valley Road
Unforgettable The Times Grippingly told and brilliantly reported Mail on Sunday Startlingly intimate Sunday Times Fascinating Daily Mail Groundbreaking Evening Standard Exceptional and moving Spectator Hidden Valley Road, written by the bestselling and award-winning author Robert Kolker, is a fascinating and heart-wrenching account of an American family whose narrative magnificently weaves together scientific intrigue, meticulous reporting, and profound humanity. The...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Pre-orderThe Vanishing Family
"This is a triumph of reporting, and an absolutely compelling exploration of neuroscience and genetics. At its heart, though, it's a poignant, heartfelt story about family and how love sustains even in the most difficult circumstances. Like Kolker's other work, it is full of deep humanity. It's a beautiful book" Susan Orlean, bestselling author of The Orchid Thief From the...Paperback$3399Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableOut 6 Oct 2026Pre-order
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