Involuntary Commitment

About the Book

Jordan Hammersmith finds himself the man with nothing to lose and in the right place at the right time. Diagnosed with a terminal cancer and lacking immediate family to be jeapordized by his actions, he plans on going to his gala college reunion - to be also attended by the President and Defense Secretary of the United States. They will be advocating a proposed weapons system that can launch an American nuclear attack - randomly and unaccountably in response to any nation´s unspecified "targeted" behavior. The opponent in President Aldrich´s (too close to call) re-election campaign, among many others, fears the Commmander-in-Chief has lost his mind. Jordan, a psychiatrist, has the legal/professional standing  to force that suspicion to the test of an actual psychiatric examination. He thus could crown his life and career as the man who crucially turned the nuclear clock back from a certain Midnight. Or he could suffer the ignomy of a Don Quixote or Dr. Stockman (i.e., Ibsen´s "Enemy of the People"). But his position becomes even more dangerous as a woman he has recently met emerges as the love of his life and his daring plan somehow is leaked to the government, which devises its own weapons of deterrence against him. The incredible, often terrifying, events that thusly unfold make "Involuntary Commitment" an excitingly built drama that seamlessly blends tragic romance, political satire, and psychological thriller. It could well be the Samizdat novel of our time.

READER´S CRITICAL COMMENTS ON "INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT"

"...thoroughly enjoyable, well-written with just the right combination of politics and romance. The relationship between Hammersmith and Erica is...delicately done....the final outcome is believable and indeed reasonable, (showing the) ´banality of evil´....I hope more people get a chance to read it."-Howard Zinn, activist and author of "A People´s History of the United States" and many other books and articles

"As timely today as ever. Briskly paced (with an) accurate view of both our politics and our entire culture, along with the dynamics of how mental health institutions function....Erica is an irresistible character, sexy and tough as nails!- Matthew Dumont, psychiatrist and author of "The Absurd Healer"; former Mother Jones columnist as "Hugh Drummond"

"A fun political thriller and steamy love story...good read which I highly recommend"-Julie Johnson, co-chair of Brookline (Mass) PAX

"...absolutely terrific read....I was deeply moved by it. Hope for more from (Chipman)"-Ernest "Tony" Winsor. attny. at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

"Two thumbs up! I´m in awe of (Chipman´s) description of scenes...high humor..the many subthemes woven in...Great writing...incredibly crafted..and totally amazing political satire, all working together perfectly. Bravo!-Jean Ratner, Clinical Social Worker and founder of The Center For Travel Anxiety

About the Author

Abram Chipman has worked as a Clinical Psychologist in and around Boston since the mid-'sixties. He received his Ph. D. from Columbia, and post-doctoral training at Yale. Like this book's hero, Chipman is a passionate devotee of classical music, and for some years wrote record reviews for various periodicals. His professional papers and teaching activities have frequently blended psychodynamic concepts with the arts, as well as with the social and political concerns around which he is active. "Involuntary Commitment" is his first novel. The author is married, with a grown son and daughter.