By member David Castle.
In 1948, aged 36, Dr John Cade (Australian psychologist) discovered lithium as a cure for bipolar disorder. This book is a full-scale biography of Cade. Having spent over 3 years in Changi, single-handedly Cade experimented with lithium and came up with a cure – which is now the world-wide gold standard treatment for bipolar.
The book club unanimously applauded the authors for their work in detailing how all this happened and in celebrating a person who deserves to be remembered as a famous Australian who changed the world forever.
Greg has already been a guest at a Tattersalls literary lunch for his book on Tom Wills. We have invited him back for a 2nd literary lunch on Thursday June 18 to discuss this new book. As a distinguished psychiatrist, Greg is ideally suited to detail the state of mental health institutions at the time of Cade – as well as the discovery of the lithium cure and its aftermath.
We awarded the book a total of 7/10 and our traditional 3 word summaries included:
• Cade cures bipolar
• Australian discovers lithium
• outstanding Australian trailblazer.
Not only had none of us ever heard of John Cade, but none of us would have read the book – absent the book club. So the benefit of joining the book club is to read books you might not otherwise have heard of.
The added bonus is the ability to discuss the book with the author at our next literary lunch. An opportunity open to all members of Tattersalls.
All excellent reasons for joining the book club – and reading the book.
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