Lecture Summary: Jonathan Rosen's 'The Best Minds'

Speaker: Saint Rosenbaum, Creative Director, The Forum on Life Culture, Society at Touro University

Guest: Jonathan Rosen

Book: The Best Minds: The Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions

Key Highlights of the Presentation

Introduction

• Saint Rosenbaum opens the discussion, introduces Jonathan Rosen and his book The Best Minds.
• Book Overview: Discusses the murder of Michael Lauder, Yale Law School graduate suffering from schizophrenia who killed his pregnant fiancée in a delusional state. Lauder remains institutionalized 25 years later.
• Hollywood Irony: Originally, a film on Lauder's life was planned (with Leonardo DiCaprio/Brad Pitt) but was canceled; instead, A Beautiful Mind by Ron Howard was produced.

Jonathan Rosen's Connection

• Jonathan Rosen was Lauder’s best childhood friend from the age of 10. They shared aspirations of becoming novelists, attended Yale, and had a complex friendship.
• Book’s Focus: Investigates Lauder’s life, Rosen’s interactions, and broader themes of mental illness, childhood friendships, and public policy.

Themes in 'The Best Minds'

• Childhood Friendship: Explores brotherly competition, childhood bonds, and the tight-knit community of New Rochelle.
• Mental Illness & Public Policy: Addresses complications and tragedies of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia; examines policies affecting mentally ill individuals.
• Literary Memoir: Interconnected with Rosen’s own life as a novelist and storyteller.
• Thriller Aspect: Written in a compelling style evoking suspense.

Motivations for Writing

• Unfinished Business: Rosen delves into the past to understand his friendship with Lauder and the ensuing tragedy. He avoided writing the story but recognized the necessity over time.
• Complexities of Mental Illness: Rosen explores public misconceptions, nuanced understandings, and societal failures in addressing severe mental illness.

Public Policy Discussion

• Deinstitutionalization: Impact of releasing mentally ill individuals from psychiatric institutions without sufficient community support.
• Romanticized View: Exploration of how mental illness was misguidedly compared to civil rights issues, leading to harmful policies and societal impacts (e.g., shootings, murders by mentally ill individuals).
• Role of Universities & Intellectual Elites: Critiques the idealistic but flawed views held by academic institutions and their real-world implications.

Literary and Cultural Reflections

• Cultural Impact on Psychiatry: Influence of WWII, societal shifts, and changing perspectives on psychiatric institutions and mental health treatment.
• Artistic & Intellectual Influences: The allure of madness in literature and art, and how this romanticization affects perceptions and policies toward mental illness.
• Personal Reflections: Rosen discusses his personal fears and assessments in light of Lauder’s tragedy.

Critical Reception and Structure

• Cynthia Ozick’s Praise: Described Lauder as the ideal childhood playmate for Rosen, enriching the narrative with deeper personal and emotional layers.
• Structural Choices: The book is divided into sections reflecting different life stages and impacts of mental illness on Lauder’s life and relationships.

Concluding Thoughts

• Addressing Tragedy & Accountability: Reflecting on personal guilt and the broader implications of ignoring severe mental illness symptoms and failing to act appropriately.
• Societal Responsibility: Emphasizes a need for honest dialogue about the realities of mental illness and practical policies to support affected individuals.
• Advocacy for Change: Calls for better mental health policies, particularly around hospitalization and medication compliance, while balancing individual freedom and public safety.
• Emotional Complexity: Recognizes the profound sorrow, fear, and guilt felt by friends and family in the aftermath of tragedy.

Q&A Session Highlights

• Narrative Choices: Rosen’s decision to go “backwards” in the story to present Lauder's humanity before revealing his later actions.
• Policy Recommendations: The need for more hospital beds, proper Medicaid coverage, and realistic portrayals of mental illness severity.

Conclusion

• Recommendation: The book is highly recommended as a summer read for its gripping narrative, emotional depth, and critical insights into mental health issues.
• Tragic Yet Compelling: The narrative showcases the intersection of personal memoir, public health policy, and literary craftsmanship in addressing complex human issues.
• Event Information: Future events and how to stay connected with Touro’s programming and conversations around critical societal issues.

Final Note

Rosen’s work provides a deep, nuanced exploration of friendship, mental illness, and societal failures—prompting reflection and dialogue on improving mental health care and understanding in society.