That's How the Light Gets in: Memoir of a Psychiatrist

As I was engrossed in reading That's How the Light Gets In, I tried to think of the one world that would describe it, and I think that word is elegant. One expects all kinds of "dishy" stuff in memoirs, but in this instance the author artfully circumvented this hazard without skimping on any of her feelings or struggles. I say, Bravo ! I identified in so many places, which made reading this book that much more pleasurable and validating for me. It is a fine piece of literary work.

This insightful chronicle of one woman's journey from childhood to a mature psychiatrist is a must-read for every woman seeking to find her own path through life by understanding her strengths and limitations. The author artfully weaves together rich descriptive details of the defining moments in her life over the past sixty-plus years with clever interpretive commmentary. This book offers a refreshing glimpse into the core of what all women struggle with...finding fulfilling, sustaining relationships with peers, parents, surrogate parents and how to use them as fuel for the healing of both self and others.

a book so many can relate too, from different cultures and backrounds. I read it in one sitting. An amazing memoir for all types of readers that appreciate life at its most challenging moments

Susan Rako's memoir, "That's How the Light Gets In," is an intimate look at a thoughtful woman who is not only a dedicated psychiatrist, but also a skilled writer and women's health activist. Rako's mentor, Dr. Elvin Semrad once said, "One becomes a therapist because of his own desperation." As a child, Rako felt a "formless despair" and was never able to connect emotionally with her parents. Although she was an excellent student and an accomplished pianist, she felt unsettled and unsure of the path that she should take in life. She finally decided to attend medical school and study psychiatry. A graduate of Wellesley College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Harvard's Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Rako, who is in her sixties, still has an active psychiatric practice. She looks back on a life that has had more than its share of great joys and fulfillment, as well as a few fissures, but a crack, says Leonard Cohen, is "how the light gets in." Rako spent her childhood in Worcester, Massachusetts, in a secular Jewish home. She had a large extended family, a workaholic father, and an unhappy mother who eventually became physically ill. Rako recalls her two unsuccessful marriages as well as the birth of her beloved daughter and granddaughter. She derives much solace from nature; she loves walking along beaches, collecting seashells, and sailing in her boat. In addition, she has gained a great deal of self-knowledge and personal growth from her deep exploration of her own spirituality and the intricate workings of the human mind. "That's How the Light Gets In" is an entertaining, humorous, and often deeply introspective look at how Dr. Rako became the person she is today. She shares her hard-earned life lessons, exhorting us to confront and then let go of the past when necessary, so that we can tackle new challenges and establish more productive relationships. Of the many quotations that Rako includes in her book, this is one of my favorites: "There are only a few choices in life: to kill yourself, go crazy, or learn to live with what you have." Rako has learned to live very well with what she has, and by sharing her ideas and experiences with us, she enriches our lives as well.

Having known Susan Rako for over 40 years (and having been honored by finding myself within the memoir), I thought there would be no particular surprises for me in reading her book. To my delight, I find that she has taken the facts, events and feelings of her extraordinary life and written about them in a way which teaches me more not just about her, but about me, the reader. The wisdom that has been her gift (perhaps her early curse) is presented in a flow through which the reader easily engages and finds his/her own meaning. She has given us an exquisite opportunity for empathy, both hers and ours.