Yes, absolutely, he considers environmental factors, including those in the home and the institutions to which the boys were sent.

This book has won acclaim in both the popular and scholarly media, in part, because it melds a great story with an exploration of every possible cause. I recommended this book to a multi-award-winning science writer friend in the U.K., who said to me afterward: “Please tell me about any other books you know like this!”

One poignant section involves the days when psychiatrists blamed schizophrenia on “refrigerator mothers.” Can you imagine being a parent and hearing that your child thinks he’s controlling the traffic lights in your town because you’re not a warm enough mother? It’s heartbreaking.