Letters to a Young Madman: A Memoir
''When Paul Gruchow died by suicide in 2004, he left seven eloquently written books that link humans with nature in an almost spiritual way.Now this native Minnesotan's award-winning literary legacy is completed with publication ofLetters to a Young Madman,a new memoir about Gruchow's nearly lifelong struggle with depression.''(read Full Article at twincities.com/bestlocalblogs/ci_22077932/minnesota-writer-paul-gruchows-posthumous-memoir-details-weight)Mary Ann GrossmanPioneer Press Books Editor''Crazy, nuts, insane, the labels one takes on when their mental illness becomes known.Letters to a Young Madmanis a collection of notes and thoughts of Paul Gruchow, as he ponders the nature of mental illness, the challenges those with these disorders, what we can learn from their endeavors of life, and much more. With plenty to ponder about life and living around these illnesses,Letters to a Young Madmanis a must for memoir and psychology collections, highly recommended. -Midwest Book Review''Gruchow writes lyrically, cogently, wryly-and wittily-about his unrelenting depression. InProfessionals 2Gruchow describes one treatment option as ''another downward step in my spectacular plunge from competency into official madness.'' Gruchow's compelling prose enlightens much as initiate Temple Grandin shines light into the closed world of autism. On February 22, 2004, Gruchow did commit suicide, but bequeathed this valuable testament.'' - E.B. Boatner,Lavender Magazine''Paul Gruchow's posthumously publishedLetters to a Young Madmanabout his own descent into madness is some of his best and most interesting work.'' - Frank Buresthirty two Magazine.''Gruchow's writing style to be very intelligent, incisive and spare which I really like for a book like this. He's very frank and up front about his own great struggles, which makes for compelling reading.'' - Henry Emmons, MD,The Chemistry of Joy,The Chemistry of Calm, andThe Chemistry of Joy Workbook''As a psychologist and a creative writer, I recommend this fascinating book to anyone who wants to read about mental illness from the inside.'' -- --Cathy McClure Gildiner, Psychologist and author ofToo Close to the FallsandAfter the Falls: Coming of Age in the Sixties''Gruchow communicates with incredible transparency how depression feels. He allows readers to feel his abyss and to empathize with the feeling of waking up in the morning paralyzed and unable to get out of bed for days at a time. He helps the reader understand what it feels like to lose one's self worth after being put on disability and being defined by what one is unable to do. The reader plunges down with Gruchow, departing from a life in academia and family ties and entering a life spent in a garage and trying to take solace in the fact that it's not a mental health facility.'' --Anne Meier, Pysch Central (psychcentral.com)