Hidden Valley Road

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, Kolker’s 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 revelation—about the history of mental health treatment, about trauma, foremost about family—and 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.