Sometimes amazing things happen review

Option1: Ford, E. (2017). Sometimes amazing things happen: Heartbreak and hope on the Bellevue Hospital psychiatric prison ward. Regan Arts. Dr. Ford is a compassionate psychiatrist and dedicated to the care of her patients who are also incarcerated for a wide range of crimes. At times, it seems her patients’ needs take priority over her marriage and child. Prompt: Does Dr. Ford care too much? Does she suffer from compassion fatigue?

Option 2: Lessing, D. (1988). The fifth child. Jonathan Cape. It’s the traditional story: boy meets girl, they fall in love, marry and plan to fill up their large home with a brood of children. David will commute to London for work, and Harriet will stay at home to raise their children. All is going to plan until Harriet becomes pregnant with Ben, their fifth child. The pregnancy is a horrible ordeal for Harriet, and it is at this time she knows there isn’t something right about Ben. Things do not improve after his birth. Ben brings about a miserable suffering for the entire family. Prompt: Are Ben’s behavioral challenges the result of nature or nurture?

Option 3: Lipska, B. A. & McArdle, E. (2019). The neuroscientist who lost her mind: My tale of madness and recovery. Mariner Books. As a deadly cancer spreads inside her brain, neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness—only to miraculously survive with her memories intact. In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts her ordeal and explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind. —Amazon Book Review Prompt: Dr. Lipska seems to be suggesting her experience of “losing her mind” may be of some value as a neuroscientist who also happens to research the brain. Do you agree? Your essay needs to address the idea of “objectivity” for researchers and the possible risks of infusing too much empathy.

*The campus bookstore can assist with ordering hard copies of these titles.