Bewilderment by Richard Powers

 

Theo Byrne isn't sure he's doing things right.  He is an astrophysicist and spends his life searching for signs of life in the universe.  But his son, Robin, is struggling.  Robin is nine and different from other kids.  He feels too much and has trouble controlling his emotions.  He is prone to temper tantrums that are getting more violent and has recently been hurting other students at school.  Theo's wife was killed in a car accident and he just isn't sure he knows what to do to help Robin.  The only time that Robin is at rest and engaged is when he is out in nature so Theo takes him camping and hiking when he can.

Then possible help arrives.  Another scientist at the university tells Theo about research he is doing.  Patients are given MRIs in which they are exposed to the MRI brain scans of people who are calm or happy or just generally emotionally stable.  After exposure, some have become more like the people whose images they have imprinted on.  Perhaps that would help Robin.

Theo is hesitant but after Robin breaks a child's nose at school, he is desperate to try anything.  Robin goes to the therapy and soon appears to be calmer.  He continues to improve until after a while, he seems like a different child.  He is happy and engaged and outgoing with other people.  He is the program's success story and soon word starts to leak out about him.

First, scientists are interested then the scientific journals and television programs.  Once the mass media gets involved, Robin becomes the lynchpin of the program and his and Theo's privacy is gone.  Theo is thankful for the improvement but still feels that Robin is too worried about the earth and climate change and the destruction of species.  His fears are realized when the improvements start to wane and Robin is left even more upset than before.

Richard Powers is known for his interest in science and how humans are changing the world.  He has written several books about the medical frontiers that humans are exploring and how these interventions are playing out in real life.  His work has been recognized with one book winning the Booker Prize and this one was nominated for another Booker and longlisted for the National Book Award.  Readers will agonize with Theo about the best thing to do for Robin whose emotions seem too raw to ever successfully live in this world.  This book is recommended for literary fiction readers.