Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: One Man's Recovery [Paperback]

Randy Starr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2000

The autobiographical account of one man's journey from a childhood laced with abuse and violence, to forced confinement in the Illinois psychiatric system, and eventually to freedom, personal growth, and success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A very touching, sensitive and personal account. -- Jasmeet Sekhon, Psy.D.

It's the perspective of one who knew the tragedy of being someone else, a madman, for a time. -- Paul Taylor, Ph.D., ABPP

Often we activity therapists hear from patients "You don't know what my life was like." Or, "You don't know what it is to be in jail or mentally ill!" By using Randy and his essays, I can respond, "No, I don't truly know, but I know someone who does!" -- Janet Hartowicz, CTRS

This work is compiled to offer those in similar straits, adjudicated Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity, a practical daily living guide to regaining personal dignity and self respect. It is not told from the perspective of one who knows better because he is the possessor of superior morality or intelligence. It is told from the perspective of one who knew the tradegy of being someone else, a madman, for a time, and being reborn as a sane man with an "original sin" beyond that which most of us have to bear. -- Paul Taylor, Ph.D., ABPP

What makes this collection of writings remarkable is not only Starr's description of his illness and treatment, but his willingness and openess in sharing his perceptions, then and now, of his life and how he has changed. -- Stephen H. Dinwiddie, M.D.

What makes this collection of writings remarkable is...Starr's willingness and openness in sharing. -- Stephen H. Dinwiddie, M.D.

About the Author

Randy Starr was born in 1950 to a poor Midwestern family. Coming from an abusive family, he was beligerient as a youth, quick to pick a fight. In 1979 he committed a grave crime while mentally ill. This led to his incareration in the Illinois forensic mental health system following a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Starr had a profound turn-around while in hospital care and after five years was given a conditional release. He struggled and succeeded in reintergrating into the community, and today is employed by the system that once incarerated him.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Recovery Press (March 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967479401
• ISBN-13: 978-0967479408
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,457,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mental Health Professional's Review, April 3, 2000

By 

William H Briska (Elgin, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: One Man's Recovery (Paperback)

First person accounts of mental illness make for valuable reading for professionals. Not only do they ive us insight into the nature of the illness but also a perspective from the client's side of the therapuetic process. This book joins several other valuable first person accounts. Like many other books of this kind there is yet another lesson to be learned. That is one of the struggle to achieve recovery from the illness and the collateral effects on it's victms's lives. In this case, Mr Starr has nicely accomplished all three elements.

Written in a easy to read style that blends well written prose with a touch of street language this book traces one man's life from a childhood of drug abuse and violence, to mental illness and utlitimately to the killing of his mother. it also follows his recovery out from the illness, his rehabilitation and his education as he becomes a substance abuse counselor and ultimately a staff development trainer in a psychiatric hospital.

This book is a fast read, with short, easily handled chapters that can be enjoyed over lunch hours and other odd moments of the day. A powerful lesson for those working in the field, this book is good introduction to the author's life, which I am told, he has related at forensic conferences and other training venues. Here is a man once termed as hopeless and who would never get out the hospital/jail environment, who has not risen above all that but whose story stands as a testiment that good psychiatric care can be effective.

This book is also a good supplement to those trying to understand and teach their patients about the concept of recovery and self help. Mr. Starr's realization taht he had choices to make mark the turning point in his treatment. This is a valuable lesson to patients, who we all too often lure into dependency by the programs we provide for them that take away the will and need for them to strive to support themselves.

I would recommend it, not only for the material herein but also the low cost of owning it. Well worth the $15.00 (more or less) total cost for this type of training.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not guilty by reason of insanity: One man's account, April 12, 2000

By 

Dr. Peter Demuth (Evanston, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: One Man's Recovery (Paperback)

Professionals spend too much of their time in the proverbial ivory tower and don't even know it. In fact, there seems to be an inverse rule at play. The more time in the ivory tower the less in touch we become with the subject of our study. Mr. Starr shakes us, and wakes us up from our slumber, and helps us to refocus our attention on what's really important, namely, the inner workings of an individual's mind. Mr. Starr is honest and not afraid to share his thougths with his readers- even though these same readers are oftentimes taken aback with his disclosures. But, afterall, how else can we really know "what lerks in the minds of men and women" unless they have the courage to tell us - based on their sense that we will both listen and respond, not judgementally, but with compassion and knowledge of the human condition? Mr. Starr has given us one more important opportunity to understand what it's like to play with a deck without all the cards.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable contribution to the literature in forensic psych, April 3, 2000

By 

Mel Hunter, JD, California Dept. Mental Health (Department of Mental Health, Sacramento CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity: One Man's Recovery (Paperback)

This book is a fascinating tour of Mr. Starr's journey from the grip of mental illness, through recovery, and on to a productive member of society. This is a story of how the forensic mental health system is suppost to work. A copy of his book should be included in every forensic patient's admission packet, and be required reading for anyone interested in forensic psychiatry. Mr. Starr's writing style is fast-paced, witty and insightful. It is a very useful opportunity to see our profession from the consumer's point of view.