Strangers to Ourselves

Book summary

Rachel Aviv is a writer and author who currently works as a staff writer for the New Yorker. She’s won several awards for her creative nonfiction writing, including a 2020 Whiting Award. Strangers to Ourselves, her first book, was selected as one of the New York Times 10 Best Books of 2022 and was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in criticism.

Ray’s story illustrates the enduring tension between psychoanalysis and medication in treating mental illness. Once a successful doctor, his life unraveled after his family’s move, leaving him consumed by depression. At Chestnut Lodge, psychoanalytic methods failed to alleviate his suffering, prompting his transfer to Silver Hill Clinic, where antidepressants brought rapid improvement. Convinced his depression was rooted in a chemical imbalance, Ray sued Chestnut Lodge for neglecting drug-based treatments, igniting a debate within psychiatry. Despite settling the case, Ray never found lasting relief, his career and relationships in ruins. His memoir reflects his ongoing struggle with identity and loneliness, highlighting the limitations of both therapeutic approaches in addressing profound human suffering.

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