The Cockroach Catcher

by Am Ang Zhang

A Child Psychiatrist's personal view of the human psyche and of the world at large. Cases range from simple childhood toilet and sleep problems to anorexia nervosa, abuse and psychosis and are seen through this specialist's eyes. There are also cases of “entrepreneurs” in the making, cases of family tragedy and cases that turn out not to be psychiatric at all. The material should be of interest to health care practitioners and the general public. Anybody can read The Cockroach Catcher. They do not have to be in the medical profession.

456 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2008

About the author

Am Ang Zhang was born in Kunming, China, grew up in Hong Kong and has worked and lived in England since 1971. Educated and trained in the University of Hong Kong Medical School, Queens Square National Hospital for Nervous Diseases,and London Tavistock Centre, he practised child psychiatry in UK for over 30 years before retiring. He is also an international gold medal winning photographer, keen golfer and snorkeler and avid traveller.

The Cockroach Catcher is his acclaimed debut autography cum case book (with fictional names). His other published works include:

童心未明;

Looking for Sting Ray (a children's photobook - http://www.lulu.com/product/14913752); and

Antelope and Friends (another children's photobook).

His fifth book “The Cockroach Catcher II - Attempted Living” is a collection of travel essays and reflections on his work and life experiences, illustrated with over 130 photographs. This will be of interest to those who are interested in nature and medical issues (in child psychiatry in particular), and those who enjoy reading about and seeing pictures of unusual travel destinations.

Reviews

[Am Ang Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cockroach contains over fifty case studies of child and adolescent psychiatry, told in story form. The wide spectrum covered includes simple childhood soiling and sleep problems, behaviour disorder, social phobia, school bullying, anorexia nervosa, abuse, elective mute, Tourette, autism, and psychosis. This book is a "must read" for all professionals in the mental health field, and for all interested individuals. It is a kaleidoscope of life seen from the eyes of the therapist who genuinely cares about his patients as people. Zhang provides an in-depth understanding of the human condition. The Cockroach Catcher