Asylum
Hollywood Tales from My Great Depression: Brain Dis-Ease, Recovery, and Being My Mother's Son
Published on 30. April 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-1-60286-199-2 (ISBN)
Description
Most people know Joe Pantoliano from his memorable roles in The Sopranos, The Goonies, The Matrix, The Fugitive, and Risky Business, but the Emmy-winning artist has another important role-as an outspoken advocate for smashing the stigma of mental illness, or mental "dis-ease" as he prefers to call it. As a kid in Hoboken, New Jersey, he was just "Joey Pants," the son of a fiercely controlling, schizophrenic mother. As he grew up, Joey always knew he was different. "It was as if I was born with a huge hole inside of me," he writes. Much later in life he would be diagnosed with clinical depression, and now he has a message for the millions of people who suffer from mental illness, and for the friends and family who care for them: you are not alone. Asylum is the story of Joe's Hollywood success, his undiagnosed mental illness, and substance abuse, and how all three led to his awareness, diagnosis, recovery, and public activism. Picking up where his first memoir, Who's Sorry Now, left off, this unflinching memoir will resonate with victims of mental illness and others who have witnessed its devastating effects and will give all his readers understanding and hope for the future.
Reviews / Votes
Andy Garcia "A must read! Joey Pants gives us insights so valuable that one can only call his courage to share a blessing for all." Tommy Lee Jones "Joey has written a brave, fascinating book. It is astonishing what people will put themselves through for the privilege of acting. Maybe we just can't help it." Andrew Davis, director of The Fugitive "Bravo! Joe Pantoliano's very honest, moving, hilarious, and tragic telling of a life's journey is both profound and enlightening. Asylum will make anyone who reads it a more generous and understanding human being." Robert Irvin, M.D., Instructor of Psychiatry,Harvard Medical School "Pantoliano's book reveals his ever-evolving understanding of himself and his disease through a retrospective analysis of his life's most painful and jubilant experiences. The book provides a model of inspiration and courage for those who suffer from mental illness in silence to come forward and seek the life-changing help that is currently available." Jacqueline Lerner, Ph.D., Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology, Boston College "Joey Pantoliano shows insight, humor, and brilliant storytelling as he unpacks his life to understand his challenges. Joey has opened himself up so that others can benefit from what he has discovered about mental illness. No one should miss this candid and richly told memoir." Richard M. Lerner, Ph.D., Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science; Director, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University "With honesty, humor, and integrity, Joey Pantoliano uses his life story to inspire hope that each of us can thrive despite emotional challenges and family turmoil. Joey's story exemplifies the fundamental human capacities for resilience and positive growth."More details
Edition
First Trade Paper ed
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
8 pages b/w photos
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
342 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-60286-199-2 (9781602861992)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Joe Pantoliano was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. He has over one hundred movie, TV, and stage credits, and won an Emmy Award for his work on The Sopranos. He is the founder and president of No Kidding Me 2!, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing the stigma of mental illness through education. His first book, the memoir, Who's Sorry Now: The True Story of a Stand-Up Guy was a New York Times bestseller. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, three daughters, and four dogs.