The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity

Mark Vonnegut

Seven Stories Press, Jan 4, 2011 - Psychology - 240 pages

The Eden Express describes from the inside Mark Vonnegut’s experience in the late ’60s and early ’70s—a recent college grad; in love; living communally on a farm, with a famous and doting father, cherished dog, and prized jalopy—and then the nervous breakdowns in all their slow-motion intimacy, the taste of mortality and opportunity for humor they provided, and the grim despair they afforded as well. That he emerged to write this funny and true book and then moved on to find the meaningful life that for a while had seemed beyond reach is what ultimately happens in The Eden Express. But the real story here is that throughout his harrowing experience his sense of humor let him see the humanity of what he was going through, and his gift of language let him describe it in such a moving way that others could begin to imagine both its utter ordinariness as well as the madness we all share.

What people are saying

Review: The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity

User Review  - Colleen - Goodreads

Up front: I've never had a psychotic episode, but I have a history of depression and anxiety. Mental illness, schizophrenia especially, has always fascinated me. This memoir is a pretty interesting ...

Review: The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity

User Review  - Jonathan Harnisch - Goodreads

Amazing and insightful so far, via Kindle Fire. Mark like counter culture hero, his pops, always comes through.

Contents

• V: 21
• VI: 99
• VII: 219
• VIII: 285
• IX: 297
• X: 301

About the author

After writing The Eden Express, MARK VONNEGUT went to medical school. He lives with his wife and two children in Milton, Mass., where he is a full-time practicing pediatrician.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity
• Author: Mark Vonnegut
• Contributor: Kurt Vonnegut
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press, 2011
• ISBN: 1609800699, 9781609800697
• Length: 240 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs; Psychology / Psychopathology / Schizophrenia