Beam traces the hospital's place in the history of psychiatric treatment, from the early days of ice water therapies and moral management through the introduction of modern psychopharmacology. He discusses McLean's current condition—neither individuals nor insurers can afford McLean's long-term care, and the downsized hospital faces an uncertain future. More than a history of a psychiatric institution, the book offers an unusual glimpse of a celebrated American estate: the Boston aristocracy that produced, for nearly two centuries, an endless stream of brilliant, troubled eccentrics and the equally brilliant and eccentric doctors who lined up to treat them.
Agent, Michael Carlisle. View Full Version of PW. In Gracefully Insane , Beam writes of the high rate of suicide among psychiatrists and observes that "mental illness can be infectious. The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.
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Gracefully Insane, The Biography of an Institution. May 15 A compelling look into a prominent insane asylum in Massachusetts and the various treatments used throughout the decades. I believe it gives insight into the limited care available in mental health today. It makes you want to advocate for better resources in and beyond. Apr 11, Haunt rated it really liked it Shelves: brain.
Incredibly thorough in its account of everything McLean, which is both a blessing and a curse. I do wish Beam had regularly included sources in footnotes in a more typical APA-type fashion, because some things I would have liked to look up later, but there is a section in the back of the book that details where his information originates and I believe much of it was in oral form or otherwise unavailable to the public anyway. In the end, it was not as patient-focused as expected, but proved an interesting and valuable, if occasionally tedious, read.
Jan 24, Nicole rated it liked it. A work of non-fiction cataloging the history of the famous McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility located in the Boston suburbs, this was a pleasure to read.
Especially since I grew up a couple miles from the hospital had even volunteered there as a young adult , I felt protective of this fine institution and all that it represented. It always seemed a staple of mental health treatment which was well known in the psychiatric circles but otherwise seemed to be a "secret" to others outside of th A work of non-fiction cataloging the history of the famous McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility located in the Boston suburbs, this was a pleasure to read.
It always seemed a staple of mental health treatment which was well known in the psychiatric circles but otherwise seemed to be a "secret" to others outside of the nearby community.
Turns out Beam's novel revealed that this hospital was even more well known than I had suspected, just that this reputation existed a little above my pay grade. The novel catalogues the hospital's year history from its humble beginings to its heyday in the 's as a facility providing excellent treatment for those who could afford it. The listing of the rich and famous who sought treatment within its walls is extensive and author Beam does a great job juxtapositing the historical background of the hospital with its evolving treatment modalities, as well as information on some of its more well-known residents.
The hospital, much like many psychiatric hospitals across the country, has faced challenges in how it administers care in a changed health care environment and this stepwise progression is depicted nicely by Beam. For those with any training in psychology, medicine, or psychiatry this is a very well researched piece of medical history that is engrossing and factual.
Readers without some of this background should not be intimidated by the subject matter or mental health terminology since Beam is able to provide good explanations for all without alienating. Highly recommended. Jan 09, Erin rated it really liked it.
This book was great. I sort of expected it to focus more on the various messed-up therapies common in the days when McLeans was started, but it kept that to a minimum. I found myself saddened that in the current age of "treat 'em and street 'em" therapies, a place like McLeans is having to change what made it essentially the best mental hospital in New England: a place where the mentally ill could take their own time to get better.
I was also extremely entertained to learn how many famous people This book was great. I was also extremely entertained to learn how many famous people passed through its doors.
I've never been to McLeans, seen the grounds or anything, so I think I'll always picture it the way Olmstead imagined it: sprawling grounds, sparse living facilities so residents of one ward didn't have to see residents of other wards necessarily , dairy farm, and all the other things that went into making it a universe unto itself.
Feb 02, Marie rated it really liked it. It's probably more of a 3. It is all over the place and choppy expect more a collection of short stories and it shouldn't bother so much , but it's an interesting glimpse into what used to be one of the most prestigious mental institutions for the wealthy and talented.
It also covers the evolution of psychiatric science from the days of lobotomies to the current drug-pushing, managed care marketplace. Quick read. This book is about McLean Hospital outside of Boston. The two hospitals could not be more different. Bellevue is a public hospital taking all cases while McLean was a hospital for the affluent affiliated with Harvard. McLean offered the rich and famous a genteel, gracious milieu for healing and restoration. The grounds were filled with mansions and gardens even a golf course , ho This year I have read two books chronicling the history of two major American Mental Hospitals--Bellevue and McLean.
The grounds were filled with mansions and gardens even a golf course , housing the residents in comfortable suites instead of wards. McLean did offer all the innovations in psychiatry that rolled out over the decades gruesomely detailed , but the tone was always one of elite professionalism.
Of course, about 40 years ago, the mental health field turned away from this type of mental institution, when the era of psychopharmacology began. These residential hospital are now rare, and Mclean also had to adjust.
It has sold off most of its acre campus, and now visits are for a week or so instead of lifetime! The history if fascinating because it is both a social history and the history of a medical specialty. The book offers a condensed biography of all the major characters administrating this institution. Read both books together for a comprehensive look at the American Psychiatric establishment since the early 19th century. Feb 25, Ronald Koltnow rated it really liked it. Gracefully Insane was Boston Globe journo Alex Beam's first non-fiction book few know that he had written a c0uple 0f novels before this.
It may be his best. Using the country club setting of McLean Psychiatric Hospital as a springboard, Beam traces the history of the treatment of mental patients. In olden times, lunatics were chained to walls, frightened to near death, and dunked in water until they lost consciousness. Then came insulin and electro-shock therapy. McLean was a center for milli Gracefully Insane was Boston Globe journo Alex Beam's first non-fiction book few know that he had written a c0uple 0f novels before this.
McLean was a center for millieu therapy, a way of making the filthy, yet insane, rich feel at home. The Mayflower Madcaps played golf, socialized, and went on their loony way. Beam gives us case histories and portraits of the patients and the doctors; Can you tell which was the most in need of psychiatric care? As the years progress and the Back Bay eccentrics are replaced by drug-addled brats, the book loses some steam.
Yet, this is a fascinating look at how little we understand mental illness and why we will never know what works effectively on those who suffer from it. Feb 17, Ryan Johnson rated it really liked it. This book proved to be very profound. Working in the field since graduating High School, working at 4 different State Hospitals in Mass, reading about Mcleans was like reading about the rich and famous though very different from the places I've worked, their were also many similarities mostly notably the architecture and quality of building materials, which in time all turn back to dust and either melt into the ground, get bulldozed over or simply get re-used in a manner no befitting its history This book proved to be very profound.
Working in the field since graduating High School, working at 4 different State Hospitals in Mass, reading about Mcleans was like reading about the rich and famous though very different from the places I've worked, their were also many similarities mostly notably the architecture and quality of building materials, which in time all turn back to dust and either melt into the ground, get bulldozed over or simply get re-used in a manner no befitting its history.
As with many books I read, this book has certainly given me many dog eared pages to go back and get the names of Authors and Books on the subjects pertinent to this book. I also need to catch up on the works of the Famous Mclean Graduates, its almost sick just how many poets and talented individuals thought admission to Mcleans was a "Must Have" in their resumes, but whatever. Great Book. May 07, Marianne rated it it was amazing. A great book outlining the history of mental health treatment in the United States.
Of course, it is also the history of the luxurious institution for the rich still open today if you can pay for it yourself. It's filled with engrossing stories and is a great beginning for someone interested in finding out where we're going wrong in treating mental health issues today.
Interestingly or ironically, the last chapter discusses insurance companies and insurance coverage and health care coverage is A great book outlining the history of mental health treatment in the United States. Interestingly or ironically, the last chapter discusses insurance companies and insurance coverage and health care coverage is on the Sunday morning talk shows this very day. Once again, I read a book with a historical perspective only to find that we haven't really changed for the better.
Apr 18, Ashley rated it really liked it Shelves: historical. Interesting to see how the institutions of Somerville in Boston was strictly for the elite, and life in Somerville also had it's own downfalls.
The elite used Somerville as a place to retreat from life and still be treated like they were elite. The poor, no matter how poor, we're still treated beyond abusive and places with their documentation like many institutions always disappeared and it demonstrates how care of the "mentally insane" was like many places inhumane, ignored rights and did what Interesting to see how the institutions of Somerville in Boston was strictly for the elite, and life in Somerville also had it's own downfalls.
The poor, no matter how poor, we're still treated beyond abusive and places with their documentation like many institutions always disappeared and it demonstrates how care of the "mentally insane" was like many places inhumane, ignored rights and did what they pleased with the people whom entered their doors. If your interested in how these places ran and what came from these places, it's a must read, Well written history of an interesting topic.
This book was of personal interest to me as both my parents worked here when I was young. My mother worked evenings and would bring my brother and I with her and we would play outside during sift change.
My father would come out after shift change he was day shift and bring us home. The book filled in a lot of holes in my limited knowledge of the place.
It is also an interesting view of the treatment of mental illness for the rich. I found it inte Well written history of an interesting topic.
I found it interesting to compare to nearby Metropolitan State Hospital where I briefly worked in high school. Oct 29, Heather Goodwin rated it it was ok.
I was looking forward to this book so much as I am a Boston native who currently works in psychiatry.
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