5150 - One Who Flew Into The Cuckoo's Nest [Paperback]

Kathi Stringer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2007

A true story about personal journey in the following domains: Psychiatric Hospital(s), DID, Borderline PD, PTSD, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Transsexualism, and Infantilism. First time a book is published that resonates with the psychiat

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kathi Stringer (July 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615153593
• ISBN-13: 978-0615153599
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Dissociative Disorders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, January 9, 2008

By 

Jim Gottstein (Anchorage, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 5150 - One Who Flew Into The Cuckoo's Nest (Paperback)

5150 is an extraordinary and compelling account of mistreatment at the hands of the mental health system after an extremely abusive and terrifying childhood. It is also a testament to the human spirit. Kathi Stringer has been subjected to more cruelty than it seems possible anyone could endure. She emerges from true hell to help others, but hardly intact. Grippingly written, this book uniquely intersperses hospital progress notes with the narrative and gives an objection by objection account of legal proceedings by a lawyer really fighting for her client. This is a real world account by someone labeled crazy who is everything but. This is an important and highly recommended book, especially for mental health professionals, family members, and others who are interested in knowing how involuntary commitment is experienced.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A journey into Hell and out to Reality., December 14, 2007

By 

Joseph Silverthorn "Professor, Researcher" (Bremerton, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 5150 - One Who Flew Into The Cuckoo's Nest (Paperback)

Kathi Stringer has written a personal account of her journey through the hell of the misinformed and sometimes biased world of the mental patient that very little is known of. She illustrates how misinformation, bias, and control over-ride the need for realistic investigation, research and compassion when it comes to over-burdened public systems. She has also, shown the ability, like people similar to herself, to rise above the quagmire they sometimes find themselves thrust into, to combat the system and make things better for herself and others. I found her trial, sadly, similar to others who have shared the abuse, neglect, and isolation she has endured. I enthusiastically suggest that this is a helpful tool for any social-worker, psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist that may deal with someone who exibits similar personality traits to Kathi's. It is a very useful tool for assisting one to understand, somewhat, what she has been through. The book is interesting, informative and realistic.

Joseph Silverthorn, Professor and Researcher
Bremerton, Washington

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5150 is a must read!, February 3, 2008

By 

Pat Risser "Pat Risser" (Heartland, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5150 - One Who Flew Into The Cuckoo's Nest (Paperback)

A true story about a woman caught in a life or death struggle with a psychiatrist whose ego feels he must defeat her at all costs. The psychiatrist forgets all about healing and enters into combat with the patient -- it's his will versus hers. The battle scenes are vividly captured through Kathi's eyes as well as through the chart notes that reveal the terrifying specter of the thoughts of the staff as they try to force their will upon Kathi.

Kathi sought healing and instead found a system corrupt with ego, force, coercion and just plain insanity. Cuckoo's Nest had Nurse Ratched and 5150 has it's Dr. Mason. Both are frightening but Ratched is fiction. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the oppression of the psychiatric system and the egos that drive that oppression. Thank god Kathi survived to tell the story.