Endorsements
“Dr. Walt is truly ‘a man for all seasons.’ This memoir is an intimate look into the life and work of a Menninger man who, together with his family, forever altered the way we approach mental health all over the world.”
— Laura Kelly, 48th Governor of Kansas
“Dr. Walt’s memoir, Like What You Do, reads like a history of psychiatry and the mental health professions in the USA during his 90-plus years; it is written from the unique view of a remarkable man standing on the shoulders of brilliant others in this preeminent family of the period who birthed a vision of alleviating human suffering. Yet his style is candid, humble, filled with wisdom, relatable, and infused with that amazing ability to distill complex concepts, both psychological and environmental, into common sense discourse that was Menninger. An uplifting volume conveying the deeply-held Menninger spirit of community and collaboration that provides hope in these difficult times and this troubled world.”
— Bonnie J. Buchele, Ph.D., President-Elect, American Psychoanalytic Association
“Seldom does one book inform, inspire, educate, engage, enthrall, charm, and provoke. This one does! In addition to sharing his personal and family history, ‘Dr. Walt’ provides advice, guidance, and direction that offers a handbook for our own lives.”
— Ted D. Ayres, Vice President and General Counsel Emeritus, Wichita State University and Producer and Host of Inside The Cover, PBS KANSAS
“Dr. Walt’s book is truly a tour de force. He combines a fascinating personal story with a compelling picture of how modern American psychiatry has evolved, and the challenges it has faced, from the early 1920s when his grandfather started the ‘family business’ with his two physician sons, Will and Karl, to the passing of the baton to Dr. Walt and before him his brother Roy, two sons of Dr. Will. And what a saga it is. Anybody interested not just in the evolution of modern psychiatry, but also in the meaning of a life well lived, should read this book.”
— Harvey Kurzweil, Trustee, Menninger Clinic, 1998 to date; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers; partner, Winston & Strawn LLP law firm
“A warm and compelling story of a man, a family, and an institution that shaped American psychiatry in the twentieth century. Dr. Menninger's long and clear-eyed perspective on the world is balanced by his eternal optimism and deep compassion. In these times of psychobabble, the simplicity and humanity in his explicated solutions to both our individual and societal struggle is inspirational. He has returned much more than he has been given."
— Jennifer F. Havens, MD, Arnold Simon Professor and Chair, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
“Dr. Walt Menninger shares with us the uniqueness and the commonness of the Menninger family as he recounts adventures and occurrences from his life and that of his family. His wisdom and life lessons are easily grasped as you read the stories. This is a historical work presented by a living legend of the psychiatric family dynasty. It is interesting and insightful, a book to be read and treasured, and the perfect gift to share with anyone interested in psychiatry, history, leadership, and humanity."
— Linda P. Jeffrey, President, Kansas State Historical Society