70 pages 2 hours read

Daniel Keyes

The Minds of Billy Milligan

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1981

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes tells the true story of Billy Milligan, the first person to be acquitted of a major crime by reason of insanity due to dissociative identity disorder (DID). The book explores Milligan's trial for rape, his diagnosis of DID, and his subsequent time in psychiatric institutions. Sensitive topics discussed include trauma, abuse, and suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes explores the complex and intriguing story of a man with multiple personality disorder. Reviews are generally positive, praising its compelling narrative and thorough research. However, some criticisms highlight the book's occasional slow pacing and skepticism about the accuracy of the psychological details. Overall, a thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Minds of Billy Milligan?

Readers fascinated by true crime, psychology, and complex human behavior will enjoy The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes. Fans of Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber or The Man with a Thousand Faces by Charles Brooks will appreciate the in-depth exploration of dissociative identity disorder in this compelling, real-life narrative.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Crime / Legal

Psychology

Mental Illness

Themes

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Identity: Mental Health

Self Discovery

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Mystery / Crime Fiction

American Literature