Sylvia True joined us to discuss her excellent book Where Madness Lies. We talk about mental illness during the rise of the Nazi regime, eugenics, and how this played a part in Sylvia’s family. Sylvia is also an avid seeker of the paranormal and we talked about how often mental illness and the paranormal often overlap. We had a fantastic conversation and hope to have Sylvia back on the show in the future.
Sylvia was born in England to parents who were refugees from Germany. She moved to the US when she was five. Growing up with parents from different cultures, a mother who was a Swiss champion figure skater, and a father who was a theoretical nuclear physicist gave her varied and unique perspectives. During her summer breaks, Sylvia likes to travel to the Amazon with students and do research in the rainforest. She has raised two daughters, who are both pursuing their passions. Presently, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two very spoiled dogs, where she is a high school chemistry teacher. Where Madness Lies is available from Top Hat books and from wherever books are sold.