This book--*Survival Under Dictatorships: Life and Death in Nazi and Communist Regimes*--presents a complex view of how people responded to government abuse of power during three horrific events in East-Central Europe's past. These events unfolded over roughly a decade: first, the deportation and murder of Hungarian Jews in Nazi concentration camps; next, the brutal rule of the Arrow Cross in Budapest; and finally, the Stalinist terror that affected Hungary and its neighboring regions. László Borhi examines survival to grasp how individuals interact with authority, aiming to understand how ordinary people dealt with the oppression and fear brought on by unchecked power. Although the specific time and place were distinct, the Hungarian narratives offer us universal insights into the Holocaust, Nazism, and Stalinism. The author argues that the experiences of National Socialism and Stalinism are intertwined in many respects. Both regimes sought to defend their visions of the future against social groups they considered threats, which they believed had to be eradicated for a flawless society. Moreover, the methods of National Socialism were carried over. Even with Stalinism being imposed on them by an external force, some of the skills necessary for survival were learned from their previous horrific experiences.

In this work, Susanne Paola Antonetta explores the overlooked history of eugenics and its ties to contemporary mental health practices and politics in the United States, illustrating how we can leverage our past to inspire change.

In 1939, the eugenics movement, which was gaining momentum across the West, reached its most horrific peak in Nazi Germany. The Aktion T4 euthanasia program turned five asylums and an abandoned prison into gas chambers. Tens of thousands of lives—mainly adults with neuropsychiatric disorders—were lost in these facilities, ultimately setting the stage for the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Antonetta points out that psychiatry’s “Bible,” the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, was developed by a group of psychiatrists who referred to themselves as “neo-Kraepelinians,” in tribute to Emil Kraepelin—the German psychiatrist who advocated for eugenic theories and trained some of the most notorious Nazi doctors. She also highlights that the current discourse surrounding immigration serves as a painful reminder of a time in our nation when immigrants were deemed mentally “impaired,” with their alleged genetic “inferiority” used as justification for barring their entry.

Yet, while Antonetta addresses the bleakest aspects of psychiatric history, she presents a courageous vision for the future of mental health care, intertwining her personal experiences with psychosis and illuminating the narratives of Paul Schreber and Dorothea Buck, two historical figures who exemplify models for mental care and acceptance.

This compelling investigation navigates the range of neurodiversity, from the tragic effects of dehumanization to the life-changing possibilities of understanding and acceptance. In this book, Antonetta not only reveals the shortcomings of our history but also imagines a more compassionate and enlightened approach to mental health care. This narrative embodies tragedy, resilience, and hope—a call to action for change that boldly challenges the boundaries of how we define, characterize, care for, nurture, and support those affected.