“As a psychologist and a creative writer, I recommend this fascinating book to anyone who wants to read about mental illness from the inside.”

“I find 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.”

“Interesting how those who have died continue to teach us beyond the grave. Letters To a Young Madman shares not only the struggles, hopes and helplessness of Paul’s own life, but reminds those of us in health care that, like a ripple in the water, mental illness also affects family, friends, co-workers, and yes, even those of us who try to provide care. Paul directly, and indirectly, shared the ‘wisdom’ that came from exploring his own dark emotions… his own grief, fear and despair. As therapists we need to listen to his words related to helping and supporting, words that help our patients/clients ‘find meaning in the suffering.’ I strongly recommend this book to anyone in the health care field, and especially those working daily with individuals and families on the loss journey…the journey of both suffering and hope.”

“This is a book for clients, for therapists, and for people who care. It is a remarkable chronicle of Paul Gruchow’s life’s journey and his personal experience with emotional struggles and mental illness. It is a first hand account with personal descriptions of admission to a psychiatric ward, electroconvulsive shock treatment, and so many other things familiar to the mentally ill, but not everyone else. What is illuminating about this very honest and direct personal account is the integration of personal observations with philosophical statements and ideas.

Gruchow quotes a psychologist who advised clients be asked, ‘Whoever gave you the idea that you ought to be happy all the time?’ Indeed his own journey was painful and he does not mince words about that. He does this with the power of a confessional poet like Anne Sexton. And while heroic, he does not end happily. Words I will not forget summarize this: ‘My own story does not end with me bathed in bright sunlight and the Hallelujah Chorus playing in the background. It ends with me alive, more so some days than others. That has to be enough, because it’s all there is.’”

“We see mental illness from the inside out — the ways depression, trauma, grief, loss, and abuse influence our inner self… a unique elegy to, not the triumph, but the tragedy of the human spirit.”