Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American FamilyHidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
Score Modern
What it's about
Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the American dream: after World War II they settled in Colorado and raised twelve children. But six of their ten sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Robert Kolker tells the family's story, and how the Galvins became one of the most studied families in the history of mental illness research.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's a powerful family saga and a clear account of how science has tried to understand schizophrenia.
You'll love it if you liked
Educated: A Memoir
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksGood to know
It deals with violence and abuse within the family. It moves between the family's story and the science.
By the numbers
- Readers86 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #87 of the 198 history books we rank
- #93 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #248 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #494 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #494 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family about?
Don and Mimi Galvin seemed to be living the American dream: after World War II they settled in Colorado and raised twelve children. But six of their ten sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Robert Kolker tells the family's story, and how the Galvins became one of the most studied families in the history of mental illness research.
How long does it take to read Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family?
About 9 hours (378 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family?
If you liked it, try Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.