The Inherited Mind: A Story of Family, Hope, and the Genetics of Mental Illness

A compelling memoir by ABC News correspondent James Longman in which he discusses mental illness and trauma in families, what the latest genetic science is telling us, and how to not only persevere but thrive.

James Longman was a preteen in boarding school when his dad, who was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide. As he got older, James’s own bouts of depression spurred him to examine how his father’s mental health might have affected his own. He engaged with experts to uncover the science behind what is inherited, how much environmental factors can impact genetic traits, and how one can overcome a familial history of mental illness and trauma.

In The Inherited Mind, James Longman invites readers to reflect on their own stories as he shares his quest to better understand himself and his family. Through speaking to mental health experts, to those who have had similar familial experiences, and about his own life stories, James shows us, with heart and humor, how much our bodies can empower and inform us about our own personal mental health histories.

James Longman is a foreign correspondent for ABC News. He has reported from over sixty countries, from the front lines of wars in Ukraine and Syria to the wilds of the Antarctic. He has won News Emmys for his reporting on the climate crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a David Bloom Award for his reporting on LGBTQ+ abuses in Chechnya. Longman was previously at the BBC, where he served as a Beirut correspondent. He started his career as a freelance journalist in Syria, where he reported undercover for British newspapers. Longman was born in West London and has a degree in Arabic from the School of Oriental and African Studies and a masters in comparative politics from the London School of Economics. He lives in London with his husband, Alex.