My Lobotomy
by Howard Dully, Charles Fleming
My Lobotomy by Howard Dully, Charles Fleming holds a well received rating of 3.70 out of 5, based on 8.1K reader ratings. First published in 2007. The book spans 288 pages.
About My Lobotomy
At twelve, Howard Dully was guilty of the same crimes as other boys his age: he was moody and messy, rambunctious with his brothers, contrary just to prove a point, and perpetually at odds with his parents. Yet somehow, this normal boy became one of the youngest people on whom Dr. Walter Freeman performed his barbaric transorbital—or ice pick—lobotomy.Abandoned by his family within a year of the surgery, Howard spent his teen years in mental institutions, his twenties in jail, and his thirties in a bottle. It wasn’t until he was in his forties that Howard began to pull his life together. But even as he began to live the “normal” life he had been denied, Howard struggled with one question: Why?“October 8, 1960. I gather that Mrs. Dully is perpetually talking, admonishing, correcting, and getting worked up into a spasm, whereas her husband is impatient, explosive, rather brutal, won’t let the boy speak for himself, and calls him numbskull, dimwit, and other uncomplimentary names.”There were only three people who would know the truth: Freeman, the man who performed the procedure; Lou, his cold and demanding stepmother who brought Howard to the doctor’s attention; and his father, Rodney. Of the three, only Rodney, the man who hadn’t intervened on his son’s behalf, was still living. Time was running out. Stable and happy for the first time in decades, Howard began to search for answers. “December 3, 1960. Mr. and Mrs. Dully have apparently decided to have Howard operated on. I suggested [they] not tell Howard anything about it.”Through his research, Howard met other lobotomy patients and their families, talked with one of Freeman’s sons about his father’s controversial life’s work, and confronted Rodney about his complicity. And, in the archive where the doctor’s files are stored, he finally came face to face with the truth.Revealing what happened to a child no one—not his father, not the medical community, not the state—was willing to protect, My Lobotomy exposes a shameful chapter in the history of the treatment of mental illness. Yet, ultimately, this is a powerful and moving chronicle of the life of one man. Without reticence, Howard Dully shares the story of a painfully dysfunctional childhood, a misspent youth, his struggle to claim the life that was taken from him, and his redemption.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Howard Dully, Charles Fleming |
| Published | 2007 |
| Pages | 288 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Psychology, Biography & Memoir, Science |
| Average Rating | 3.70 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 8,068 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is My Lobotomy?
My Lobotomy is categorized as Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Psychology, Biography & Memoir. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is My Lobotomy worth reading?
Based on 8.1K reader ratings, My Lobotomy has an average score of 3.70 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is My Lobotomy?
My Lobotomy has 288 pages.
Who wrote My Lobotomy?
My Lobotomy was written by Howard Dully, Charles Fleming. It was first published in 2007.
What is the ISBN for My Lobotomy?
The ISBN-13 for My Lobotomy is 9780307381260.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
