The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog and Other Stories by Dr C.H.Labrador: To write a book entitled The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog is a major undertaking. Dr Labrador upholds the honour of Prince Charles and his dog and justifies the title with a unique and extraordinary tale in which he makes a philosophical voyage through severe mental illness in search of the future King of England's lost pet. The story is often bizarre as he travels around these isles like a psychotic Rick Stein in search of the remarkable, touching, note-worthy and fishy to then announce he has found the dog as though the animal has its own Royal Crest which the writer uses to honour these events and places. One might have suggested The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much as an alternative title but the never say die (with one almost fatal exception) attitude of the author mean it would be churlish not to suggest that of course the disappearance of His Royal Highness's dog was of major significance to the peace process in Ireland! More seriously the story is often violently shocking in its portrayal of the torment experienced by sufferers of schizophrenia not only from the illness itself but also from the "despicably unpleasant and murderous" side effects of the drugs prescribed for it. Indeed, as the story demonstrates, these side effects become part and parcel of the illness and the author only manages not to commit suicide because of them by invoking an efficacious military Special Forces mind-set to complement his laughably deluded attempt to place the dog on the table in the peace process negotiations. At the same time the delusions are so intricate that, where the supposedly imagined involvement of the Security Services and the IRA were concerned I was, on occasions, so sucked in to it all that I was left wondering. The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog is the autobiographical account of what it is like to experience paranoid schizophrenia and is a great achievement - Edward Blackstock.

This book should be read by anyone with an interest in the human mind/brain and its universe complexities. The writer displays a forensic intelligence and recall during this painful, comic, emotional, frightening and compassionate piece of work. The novel has a marvellous soundtrack ranging from 70's punk to indie. It is a powerful analysis of what is at times a brutal journey through the medical establishment and the often devastating consequences of their resulting decisions. There is also much humour as well as brilliantly bizarre meetings and leaps of imagination as Dr Labrador travels around the British Isles following his intense and often desperate attempts to put his various theories into action. There is always hope however tough the situation gets and love plays its part in this moving novel. It will serve as an inspiration to anyone who is struggling to overcome mental/psychological difficulties that at times can appear overwhelming.

Read this book and laugh, cry, be confused, angered, amazed and finally overcome by the incredible sense of wonderment as to what the human mind/soul can achieve with humour, imagination, self-belief and sheer determination. - Matthew Jones

A wonderful piece of work. Believe in it, I do. It is special. – Pascal Scudamore

Thank you very much for letting me read The Layman’s Guide to Prince Charles’s Dog. I enjoyed it very much. It is a fascinating read giving great insight into what it is like to live with the symptoms associated with paranoid schizophrenia as well as the appalling side-effects of some of the treatments for it. – Helen Finch, MIND

Such an important piece of work – Billi Street, RETHINK

Really good. Exciting – Richard Knight.

Really enjoyed the book, a truly great effort of will – what a journey! Love the book man! Viva! – Jonathan Jones.

What is it like to experience mental illness? A Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog ... answers that question by taking the reader on a most extraordinary journey of discovery. Autobiographical accounts of schizophrenia are few and far between, but Clive's intelligence, intellect and vivid memory have enabled him to recount in full technicolour, the inside story in all its confusion, dilemma and delusion, clearly demonstrating the nature of the beast that is schizophrenia. He shows remarkable insight enabling him to create a work of exceptional quality. Clive has chosen not to recall his experiences in a detached reflective manner, but boldly from the word go, the reader is sucked into madness with the author. You are taken across the line from genius to lunacy and back again, and challenged to open your mind and re-examine personal beliefs. This is the road least-travelled which the reader is privileged to join in all its complexities. An unconventional tale which is compelling, perplexing and astounding and one which should be compulsory reading for all mental health professionals. Other questions answered in this book include: Why do people with mental illness end up homeless? Why don't people with mental illness just take medication to get better? Why would a grown man be seen pecking at a discarded hamburger on a pavement? Why do many sufferers of mental illness kill themselves? - Alison Bass

In The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog Dr Labrador brings the condition of the schizophrenic into sharp focus, a world far stranger than fiction. Clive supertramps far and wide across the country as he tries to make sense of his life, transforming himself in the process. These adventures are at times harrowing, but frequently hilarious; on occasions they made me laugh out loud, no mean feat for me. This is a story that needs to be told - Mike Wallis.

"From the sample that you sent, it does look to be a truly captivating piece of writing"-Will Maddox, Development Editor, Blackwell Publishing.

The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog and Other Stories or One Summer I Thought I Was A Dog is an autobiographical account which is both entertaining and revealing. It evokes a strange sense of awareness and insight into an illness that sadly, many have been unable to cope with. The writer's courage as he struggles to understand what is happening to him makes this book a worthwhile, compelling read for all of us - Emily Barker.

“This very interesting book makes a unique contribution to our understanding of serious mental illness…In the face of the turmoil of psychosis, there is no easy prescription for achieving collaboration between the patient and the psychiatric services, but this book eloquently makes the point that the first step is engagement in dialogue.”- Peter Liddle, Professor of Psychiatry, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham

Thank you, Dr Labrador, for letting me read chapter 41 of your excellently titled book. I have just finished reading the chapter, named after my song The Headlight Song, and found it thoroughly enchanting and true of voice. I laughed out aloud at least six times. It will be a pleasure to read the rest of the book and I've got a feeling I have already written the song which was on the tips of your fingers; when its recorded I'll send you a copy. It's called The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much - Tim Keegan, The Departure Lounge (ex Railroad Earth, Ringo).

The Layman's Guide to Prince Charles's Dog is an account of a young man's descent into a dark unreachable hell called schizophrenia, pursued by imaginary forces of a spy network which has managed to tap into his brain. It is a book that every mental health consultant and psychiatrist should read as it will show them the detailed workings and thought-paths of a mind in the grip of this disease. The book describes an incomprehensible and upside-down world where one is torn between amusement and pity; a world where Dr Labrador no longer knows why he must act as he does, except that "the power of all the magic and mystery possessed by the future King of Great Britain's dog now seemed to be mine"; a world one could at times sorrowfully call "Hell on Earth". It is also an account of all the drugs that were unsuccessfully or detrimentally administered by doctors and consultants who had little idea of the causes of this dreadful affliction, and even less of how to cure it. It is a book for parents worried about the sudden and inexplicable actions of their children, ultimately diagnosed as schizophrenic, so that they can at least have some idea of that terrible, haunted landscape in which their children are now lost - EBT.

Dr. Labrador provides a lucid autobiographical account of his battle with 'schizophrenia'. Or Intelligence Service inspired genius? All of the author's life experiences and education to the highest standard are only just enough to help him survive and eventually find the right road back from his harrowing journey in search of peace. It has all gone terribly wrong: cast into an asylum, the misery of incarceration and now real terror of injections* given forcibly determine our hapless traveller to find his own way. He escapes the secure unit fleeing further degradation and 'soldiers' on, grief-stricken and anguished, towards his goal aware it may be ever more distant, aware of the penalty of failure. Touching, compelling, fraught and emotional, Dr. Labrador crafts his own very individual experiences into thoroughly entertaining reading - ANS
*Not fear of the injection itself - real terror because of its effects. .

A landmark text for students of schizophrenia, a ripping yarn, and a cult buy - TEB

"Prince Charles's Dog goes missing. I go 'looking for it'. I find myself - Clive Travis.