United Methodist Women’s Reading Program

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

The following Book Review was recently posted on the United Methodist Women’s Reading Program website.

When an author lives a story and then writes about it, she likely leaves part of herself among her words and between the lines of her book. She becomes a part of the book as it becomes a part of her. In this case, the story relives a journey. This book is an act of love … a mission of mercy and determination to help others who may be impacted by bipolar disorder … or mental illness.

In Mind on the Run, Dottie traverses her son Scotty’s life through his journeys as she did in his life … all of them! You’ll come to know Scotty as a bright and enterprising boy, a colorful part of his family, as a promising and successful man … as a whole person. Only his last journey with bipolar disorder depleted him of his wholeness.

Dottie has dedicated herself to helping families and others impacted by this tragic mental illness so that they can better understand some of what happens to a loved one faced with this illness. Her hope is that medical professionals … hospitals … and state legislators with the power to change this country’s laws governing the treatment of mental illness will make it a mission … like hers … to see early on what needs to be done to help people like Scotty. I invite you to walk with Dottie along Scotty’s journey and share this book with others who may need help in like experiences.

Zimmie Goings
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Springfield, Virginia