Come Here: A Man Overcomes the Tragic Aftermath of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Having suppressed for 40 years incidents of childhood incest on the part of his psychotic mother, Berendzen, a noted astronomer, devoted family man and former president of American University in Washington, D.C., suffered a recurrence of subconscious trauma which triggered compulsive phone calls to strangers about child abuse practices. The calls were eventually traced to his office, forcing his resignation from the university in a flurry of publicity. With coauthor Palmer ( Shrapnel in the Heart ), Berendzen delivers a remarkably objective account of his treatment under Johns Hopkins Hospital's psychiatric program for sexual disorders, and of his eventual healing, that should not only prove inspiring to other child abuse victims, but also presents a portrait of an exceptional man who transformed a horror story into this moving human document. It concludes with the resumption of his teaching career at AU and his dedication to the cause of abused children. Photos not seen by PW . (Sept.)