Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness

Analyze the first paragraph of the preface. Why does the author give us so much of his autobiographical expertise up front? How does this affect your reading of the text?

Choose one of the incarcerated individuals that Earley follows throughout the book and analyze their story’s trajectory. Why does he choose these specific subjects, and how are their narratives a microcosm of Miami’s criminal justice system?

Earley often discusses the ethics of his book project, as well as the ethics of being a father and a journalist. Write an essay interrogating how Earley navigates difficult ethical dilemmas when shadowing and reporting on those experiencing mental illness, as well as those who work with them.

Consider Tom Mullen’s quote about Passageway’s success being due to the “parish-like” sense of community. Which forms of community does Earley investigate in this book? What does it suggest about the qualities of successful communities that support people with mental illnesses?

Earley writes and records a lot of dialogue. Why does he rely upon dialogue and scene work so heavily throughout?

Much of the text shows the difficulty of navigating American criminal justice and mental healthcare systems without the help of an advocate. What is the role of advocacy in the text? How does it depict advocates like Judy Robinson?

Select one of the historic mental healthcare reforms mentioned in the text and analyze its impact on the incarcerated individuals whom Earley follows. How do we see these laws impact their lives?

What is the role of race, gender, and privilege in the long-term prognosis of the people with mental illnesses whom Earley shadows? Compare three of the following characters: Mike Earley, Freddie Gilbert, Ted Jackson, Deidra Sanbourne, Alice Anne Collyer, and April Hernandez.