Review: Lunacy and Death by Tom Dombrock

Outside of a personal tragedy or affliction, the average person rarely gets a deep look into the complexities of mortality and mental illness. However, in Lunacy and Death, the insightful new book Tom Dombrock, readers are welcomed into the author’s world, which has been defined by these challenging topics for decades.

As both a Psych Aide in a locked psychiatric ward and a technician in a Medical Examiner’s Office, Dombrock has seen more shattered realities than most people could ever imagine. This book is not a flashy or dramatic vision of a psych ward, à la One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but rather a savagely honest and sad tale of people on the wrong side of mental health – and of life itself. Dombrock’s unique perspective provides an immediate level of authenticity to these mentally ill wards and the people that fall under his care.

As he describes, there are “war stories” from both his careers, many of which he shares in these pages, but the effect of these jobs on his own philosophy provides a far more interesting revelation about human nature. Rather than the gradual development of resentment for a job, which so many people feel in the modern world, this book tells a different story, one in which a person’s experience profoundly shapes their level of patience, empathy, and understanding of human vulnerability. Over the years, Dombrock’s sense of humanity has obviously sharpened, perhaps through the emotional toll he witnessed on the families and loved ones of those people with whom he worked.

This book also isn’t afraid to show the unpleasant, painful and uncomfortable moments of working with those suffering from mental illness. Dombrock is honest about the challenges he faced while working in a psychiatric ward, as well as the difficult, stomach-churning moments in a morgue. His life has been marked by careers in thankless and often overlooked jobs, but he skillfully reminds readers of their great importance to society at large. More notably, he encourages readers to expand their own conceptions of mental illness and peels back some of the frightening layers of personal mortality. This can be a daunting prospect for readers, but it is also enlightening for those who want to consider problems beyond their own lives.

The writing itself is conversational and genuine, and despite the colloquial nature that leans too casually at times, the narrative is detailed. Dark humor seamlessly runs into philosophical musings regarding the fragility of life, which makes the chapters easy to move through, even though the discussion of death so often drives people into discomfort. There are very few grammatical mistakes or poorly crafted sections, but Dombrock does have some tangential tendencies that could use some tightening and organization. That being said, even these tangential memories are powerfully conveyed.

Dombrock set out to tell the story of his life, and to describe the valuable lessons foisted upon him through his unusual careers. What readers also get is a funny, somber, and memorable story about the unpredictable paths of life, the painful realities of human nature, and the inherent value of selfless compassion.