This is very much the story of a swimmer.

I must confess to a personal interest in this story, as many years ago, when the author was near the beginning of his martial arts career, I considered him to be quite a good friend; little did I know, behind the confident, self assured exterior, there lurked a dark secret……..

This was a secret kept, not because of a desire to shut others out or keep them at arm’s length, but because, in those days, there were ‘things’ you just didn’t talk about in polite society.

From almost the day of his birth, John Carrigan lived within a family burdoned by that most extreme of mental illnesses, schizophrenia; as with almost everyone dealing with mental health issues then, it was kept firmly behind closed doors, with nothing to show the outside world but a brave face.

In itself, some would say that is an unremarkable tale, a familiar story for many people; what was extraordinary, was John’s method of overcoming, surely one of life’s more difficult starts.

Except it doesn’t end there, the knock backs kept on coming, but so did his desire to succeed, in some of the most challenging professions it’s possible to choose.

Having lost touch with John some 30 years ago, I came across this book quite by chance and I’m very glad I did; not only has it afforded me the opportunity to get in touch with an old friend, it has given me a little bit of extra strength, as I find myself having to deal with my own family’s mental health problems.

I recommend you dive in and splash around a while; you may very well find yourself inspired.

This is very much the story of a swimmer.

I must confess to a personal interest in this story, as many years ago, when the author was near the beginning of his martial arts career, I considered him to be quite a good friend; little did I know, behind the confident, self assured exterior, there lurked a dark secret……..

This was a secret kept, not because of a desire to shut others out or keep them at arm’s length, but because, in those days, there were ‘things’ you just didn’t talk about in polite society.

From almost the day of his birth, John Carrigan lived within a family burdoned by that most extreme of mental illnesses, schizophrenia; as with almost everyone dealing with mental health issues then, it was kept firmly behind closed doors, with nothing to show the outside world but a brave face.

In itself, some would say that is an unremarkable tale, a familiar story for many people; what is extrordinary, was John’s method of overcoming, surely one of life’s more difficult starts.

Except it doesn’t end there, the knock backs kept on coming, but so did his desire to succeed, in some of the most challenging professions it’s possible to choose.

Having lost touch with John some 30 years ago, I came across this book quite by chance and I’m very glad I did; not only has it afforded me the opportunity to get in touch with an old friend, it has given me a little bit of extra strength, as I find myself having to deal with my own family’s mental health problems.

I recommend you dive in and splash around a while; you may very well find yourself inspired.

The book shows how limited an understanding there was in the 60s and 70s of mental health issues and how this affects families trying to cope. Families suffer when there are issues of mental health and this books shows its not ‘all in the mind’, its a shared phenomena amongst immediate family. Although you see in the book at times others would prefer not to share the issues of mental health and wash their hands: be it professions administering medical ‘help’ in a clumsy way; the judiciary administering legal rulings where they have no place to; or more distant family members.

The insights the book has in the various topics it covers are enlightening and quite broad ranging. Star Trek, T.V. and Films, bullying at school, asylums, martial arts, life, death and torment.

In parts the material is dealt with in black humour nearly and in others, a sober frankness.