This collection of memoirs, accounts by families and professionals and reports on research describes how institutionalization, the threat of it, the reality of it, and the elimination of it has affected thousands of human beings. Although contributions come from Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US, it appears the many experiences are, sad to say, strikingly similar. In some cases those most involved, the institutionalized, are allowed to speak for themselves and it is through them we learn the most about how living in the community, having a meaning and purpose, and being allowed to have at least some measure of self-determination are golden to those to whom such basics of human life have been so long denied. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)