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You are here: Home / Culture / Books / HOW TO SURVIVE THE MADHOUSE offers unique view of psychiatric system

HOW TO SURVIVE THE MADHOUSE offers unique view of psychiatric system

November 17, 2021 Category: Books, Reviews, Well-being Region: Wales-Wide
The Secret Madman, How To Survive the Madhouse
The Secret Madman
How To Survive The Madhouse - The Secret Madman
How To Survive The Madhouse – The Secret Madman

How To Survive The Madhouse is witty, realistic, thought-provoking, and mysterious. The book was written by The Secret Madman, who spent six years locked away in a Welsh forensic hospital. During his stay, he paid close attention to how this institution operated and turned the experience into books, almost as a to-do guide to others, or rather what not to do. It’s a unique perspective on things you’d only know if you’d lived through it.

RELATED: ‘A collection of short stories from Penelope Lively, Metamorphosis offers brilliant observations of the human experience and relationships.’

Rule one of How To Survive The Madhouse is, of course, to avoid the madhouse at all costs. Various other rules simply explain how to get through the process should you end up in the same situation. It’s short and mostly serious in tone, with quotes at the start of each chapter from, I presume, other patients.

How To Survive… is one of three books, written under different pen names, by this writer about his experiences in the psychiatric system. I only wish to learn more about him and his story. To ‘The Secret Madman,’ if you’re reading this, I applaud you. This book will hopefully help people who are going through a hard time, or are generally interested in mental health and first-hand experiences.

How To Survive The Madhouse, The Secret Madman (Vallon Von Bacchus)

Price: £7.87. Info: here

words SARAH BOWDIDGE

KEEP READING: ‘Inventive, poetic, energetic, uncomfortable and uncompromising, Dark Neighbourhood marks the arrival of a singular talent.’

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About Noel Gardner

Noel is the listings, reviews, music and books editor at Buzz and has been doing some or all of these things here since the days of dial-up internet. He was raised in Cornwall, lives in Cardiff and that is more or less all he has ever known.
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Tag: buzz book review, Sarah Bowdidge, the secret madman, vallon von baCCHUS

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