Hidden 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 or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Good to know
It deals with violence and abuse within the family. It moves between the family's story and the science.
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 #499 of the 2,819 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.
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.
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1).
Where it ranks
- #88 of the 198 history books we rank
- #93 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #250 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #499 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
How to Be an Antiracist
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Einstein: His Life and Universe
A Short History of Nearly Everything