Writer and editor Adam (science journal Nature) spent many years overcome with worry about contracting AIDS from accidentally touching contaminated blood before fighting his intrusive thoughts with the help of medication and group therapy. In this book, which is part memoir, the author's story of his struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) serves as a backdrop for a historical and scientific exploration of the disorder, including descriptions of other cases of OCD, its possible evolutionary and genetic origins, its underlying brain abnormalities, its relationship to other psychiatric disorders, and historical and modern approaches to treatment. Rather than dwelling on the seemingly strange behaviors of individuals with OCD that are so often portrayed by the media, such as excessive hand-washing, checking, or counting, Adam emphasizes that it is the persistent unwanted thoughts that are most distressing and disabling to OCD sufferers.Verdict Although at times meandering and overly simplistic, this book is recommended for general readers who are curious about OCD, who have friends or family with the disorder, or who see tendencies toward obsessive thinking in their own lives.—Katherine G. Akers, Univ. of Michigan Libs., Ann Arbor