59 pages • 1 hour read
Jonathan RosenThe Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen is a 2023 memoir recounting the author's friendship and rivalry with Michael Laudor, a brilliant young man who developed paranoid schizophrenia. The book charts Michael’s meteoric success and tragic decline, culminating in a devastating act of violence. Rosen also examines the history of psychiatry and societal attitudes toward mental illness, highlighting the systemic failures that contributed to Michael's tragedy. The source material features depictions of violence, mental illness, and uses offensive terms for people with mental illnesses in direct quotes.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen has garnered mixed reviews. Readers praise its profound exploration of mental illness and the poignant, intimate storytelling. However, some critique its dense prose and occasional meandering narrative. The book’s deep dive into complex themes is both its strength and its challenge for some readers.
Who Should Read The Best Minds?
Readers with an interest in mental health, psychiatry, and personal narratives will find The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen captivating. Fans of The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon and An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison will appreciate Rosen’s exploration of psychiatric struggles and intellectual brilliance.
576
Biography • Nonfiction
New York City • 1980s-1990s
2023
Adult
18+ years
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