Bobby Wonderful: An Imperfect Son Buries His Parents

Roger Peele, M.D., and Mahrokh ShayanpourAuthors Info & Affiliations

Based on: by Bob Morris; New York, Twelve, 2015, 192 pages

Publication: Psychiatric Services

Volume 67, Number 10

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.671011

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Bob Morris, who in his mid-forties is a New York Times columnist, stand-up comedian, and spouse of the publisher Ira Silverberg, provides a moving, insightful, and captivating story of the deaths of his parents. His mother was in her seventies and his father was in his early eighties when they died.

As the title suggests, Morris describes himself as not living a life his parents might have hoped for him, and he describes his older brother as the responsible one. But when his mother begins her long physical and mental decline, Bob gradually becomes very attentive and helpful to his father’s and brother’s care of his mother. Her last word was “Bobby.”

Already close and accepting of each other, Morris and his father become even closer. After his mother’s death, Bob and his father decide to search for love, captured in Bob Morris’ 2008 book, Assisted Loving.

His father’s eccentricities, free spirit, and lack of pretense or concern about appearances make for a lovable being who is very accepting of others. In contrast, the author comes across as quite picky and presents himself as far less likable than his father.

When his father becomes terminally ill, his free spiritedness does not diminish. Bed-ridden and attached to intravenous lines, Morris’ father asks that the lines be removed, sits up in bed, and, just before dying, shouts, “Wonderful!” Such was his life. So is the book.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Cover: Tea infuser and strainer, by Marianne Brandt, circa 1924. Silver and ebony. The Beatrice G. Warren and Leila W. Redstone Fund, 2000, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Image copyright © The Metropolitan Museum of Art; image source: Art Resource, New York City.

Psychiatric Services

Volume 67 • Number 10 • October 01, 2016

Pages: e15 - e16

PubMed: 27691395

History

Published in print: October 01, 2016

Published online: 3 October 2016

Authors

Details

Roger Peele, M.D.

Dr. Peele is with Behavioral Health and Crises Services, Montgomery County, Maryland. Dr. Shayanpour is with Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.

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Mahrokh Shayanpour

Dr. Peele is with Behavioral Health and Crises Services, Montgomery County, Maryland. Dr. Shayanpour is with Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C.

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Funding Information

The reviewers report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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Bobby Wonderful: An Imperfect Son Buries His Parents