The Man Who Couldn't Stop - David Adam (4 stars)

[Cora]

The Man Who Couldn't Stop - David Adam

4 stars

The Man Who Couldn't Stop is a book about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is not about people that like things to be neat and orderly, it is about people who have intrusive thoughts that can only be temporarily suppressed by the sufferer to perform rituals and actions. The author of this book was obsessed with catching AIDS and he was constantly checking surfaces for possible blood left by others and calling HIV helplines for reassurance about the odds of catching the virus from different sources. Along with discussing his own struggle with OCD, the author presents the history of OCD and psychology, different ways OCD has been treated throughout history and today, and other case studies of people that have suffered OCD. I thought I knew about OCD, but after finishing this book I feel like I learned a lot and I have a new appreciation for how those with true OCD suffer. I would recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about the disorder and those who have friends or family suffering from OCD.