Finalist

2025 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography

A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America’s Disabled

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Poster featuring six book covers, including 'Love, Queenie' by Mayukh Sen, 'A Perfect Turmoil' by Alex Green, 'Pride and Pleasure' by Amanda Vaill, 'Queen Mother' by Ashley D. Farmer, and 'Trouble Maker' about Jessica Mitford by Carla Kaplan. Text in the center indicates they are finalists for the 2025 NBCC Award for Biography, published by the book critics circle.

  • Early 1900s black and white photograph of intellectually disabled men in uniforms carrying and piling stones at an institution.

  • "A Perfect Turmoil"

    Read about the groundbreaking biography of Walter E. Fernald and the struggle to care for America’s disabled.

    “Enthralling. . . . A gripping intellectual history of a major societal sea change.”

    — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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  • Early 1900s black and white photograph of intellectually disabled men in uniforms carrying and piling stones at an institution.

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