The Man Who Couldn't Stop

The Man Who Couldn't Stop was an eye-opening experience. OCD is something I've aways wanted to learn about, at least to a greater depth to what I know of the constant-hand-washing mental deficiency portrayed in Hollywood films (which, of course, is so far from the reality of OCD it's almost embarrassing that I've even uttered the words ‘a bit OCD' in a variety of contexts. They say ignorance is bliss.)

Adams, himself a long-term journeyman with OCD, writes about the history, ‘causes', research, and rationale that man has directed towards OCD (and OCPD for that matter) which, combined, provides a great contextual overview of what the disorder is and how we came to acknowledge it. Additionally, fascinating real-world accounts of people who have endured the anguish of severe OCD are described with great depth and empathy, giving the reader a thorough understanding of the complexity and variety of forms in which OCD hijacks the mind.

If you're interested in mental dysfunction, or the psychological thought behind the numerous attempts at understanding and treating OCD specifically, then this book is for you.