Rating: 
Summary: Informative look at how families of the mentally ill cope
Review: This book provides a number of actual stories from
the family members (especially children) of the mentally ill. As an adult daughter of a bipolor mother, it was great to hear of people who grew up in similar environments and how they've coped in
adulthood. However, what I did not like about the
book was its casual use of language, ie. "crack
up" to be a mental breakdown; I found it disrespectful. But this was a minor negative compared to the book's overall usefulness.
Rating: 
Summary: Positive Review
Review: This is the first book I've ever read that
legitimizes the many complex and long-term
problems suffered by families which contain
members with mental illness. It is reassuring to
learn that mine is not alone in what we have experienced.
Secunda does an excellent job of explainin the
problems as well as the possibilites for success in
these situations.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but not helpful
Review: When my daughter suffered a deep depression, I read this book and found it spectacularly unhelpful. The author has done a study that revealed a bunch of interesting facts about how mental illness runs in families. But the underlying tone of parent-bashing that pervades this book will make you feel miserable if you're a parent with a child who has problems. Parents and so-called "bad parenting" do NOT cause every problem a young adult encounters in life. This book may be useful for adults whose parents had mental problems. And it may also be fine for siblings. But if your child has mental problems, I'd strongly advise turning elsewhere for help. You won't find it here.
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