BT Mind Awards 2007: Book of the Year shortlist announced

Compelling books exploring 'sanity', stress and the happiness agenda nominated for award

Today mental health charity Mind announced the shortlist for the 26th Mind Book of the Year Award. The annual award celebrates writing that contributes to public understanding of mental health issues. Contenders for the 2007 prize range in subject matter from candid real-life accounts of living with mental health problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, to explorations of how the human mind works in the modern world. Amongst the nominees is Clare Allan for her widely acclaimed novel Poppy Shakespeare, longlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 16 May at the awards ceremony, Glazier’s Hall, London, hosted by Mind's President Lord Melvyn Bragg. The 13th Journalist of the Year and Champion of the Year will also be announced at the event.

The Book of the Year judge Michele Roberts will attend a preview reading at Foyles Bookshop on Thursday 9 May [1] featuring the seven shortlisted books:

Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan

(Bloomsbury)

N has been a patient for 13 years, and like everyone else at the Dorothy Fish mental institution, her sole ambition is never to get discharged. Then in walks Poppy Shakespeare, who is convinced she isn’t mentally ill, and is determined to return to her life outside. Allan’s debut novel explores the relationship between the two and takes a comic and moving look at madness from within the mental health system, and the thin line between sanity and what is deemed insanity.

Living With Mother by Michele Hanson

(Virago)

Gathered from her Guardian columns, Michele Hanson writes with honesty and candour about caring for her mother as she changes from a vibrant woman to frail and bedridden, but still formidable, old lady. Hanson, who lived close to her mother and daughter, describes with humour how family relationships are put to the test, producing a book that strikes a balance between tragedy and comedy.

Billy's Halo by Ruth McKernan

(Transworld Publishers)

When her father, Billy, succumbed to a mystery illness that eventually led to his death, Ruth drew upon her knowledge as a neuroscientist to help her come to terms with his condition. Recounting her father’s last year as a collection of scientific themes, touching on memory, stem cells and consciousness, Ruth unites her grief with a compelling explanation of how the human brain and body works.

The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

(William Heinemann)

In every culture, wisdom is handed down through generations. Here, psychologist Jonathan Haidt uses modern science to scrutinise traditional wisdom. Adding fresh commentary to the current 'happiness agenda' debate, Haidt's book is an original exploration of the meaning of human life, delivering startling insights into what truly makes us happy.

A Secret Madness: The Story of a Marriage by Elaine Bass

(Profile Books)

Drawing on her own experiences, Elaine Bass has written a startlingly honest account of a marriage threatened by her husband’s obsessive compulsive disorder. At first Elaine finds Gerald’s actions manageable, but as his withdrawal increases, his actions become obscure and aggressive. The birth of their daughter brings about his complete breakdown, and five years of isolation and despair.

Relative Stranger: A Life after Death by Mary Loudon

(Canongate)

"On the 27th January 2001, while I was skiing fast down a mountain in France, my sister, Catherine, was dying slowly in England; in a hospital I didn’t know she had been admitted to, from a cancer I didn’t know she had, under an identity I had no idea existed." After Catherine’s death Mary slowly comes to realise that her sister wasn’t who she thought she was, and so begins Mary’s internal journey as she comes to terms with her sister’s schizophrenia. In this true story, Loudon produces an intelligent and soul-searching examination of our ideas on sanity.

The Truth About Stress by Angela Patmore

(Atlantic Books)

The Truth About Stress explains why, despite the growing number of stress therapists, the numbers of people experiencing stress continue to rise. In this thorough investigation Angela Patmore argues that stress services are an unregulated industry fuelling the problem that they claim to treat, and calls into question how trustworthy scientific research in this area is.

This year Mind is delighted to announce that BT is sponsoring the Mind Awards. BT's work on employee mental health makes them a leader in the field for promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace.

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Notes to editors: For further information or interviews, please call Assistant Press Officer Julia Lamb on 0208 215 2239 or email j.lamb@mind.org.uk

1. Michele Hanson, Ruth McKernan, Mary Loudon, Elaine Bass and Angela Patmore will all be present at the Foyles event at 18:30 on Wednesday 9 May to read from their work. For an invite to the Foyles event, please contact Mind Conferences and Training on 0844 448 4450 or email conferences@mind.org.uk