The Reckoning by Andrew Solomon

Page 1: Introduction to Peter Lanza

• Background Context: Peter Lanza's home contains an attic filled with items sent by people after his son, Adam Lanza, committed mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012.

• Description of Items: Items include letters, prayer shawls, Bibles, Teddy bears, and homemade toys, reflecting public mourning and sympathy.

• Peter’s Hesitation: He does not eat the candy sent by strangers due to fears of poisoning.

• Struggles with Grief: Peter avoids looking at family photographs, particularly those of Adam, indicating deep emotional pain.

• Willingness to Share His Story: In September, approaching the first anniversary of the tragedy, Peter expressed his readiness to share his experiences, leading to multiple interviews.

• Peter’s Personality: He is described as affable with a strong Massachusetts accent, hiding deep despair behind a calm facade.

Page 2: Peter’s Reflection on Adam

• Relationship with Adam: Peter had not seen Adam for two years prior to the shootings, reflecting on regrets and missed opportunities regarding their relationship.

• Survivor Guilt: He grapples with feelings of self-blame for Adam’s actions, indicating a desire to explore what he could have done differently.

• Victim Count Confusion: The confusion surrounding the number of victims highlights the tragedy's complexity (26 at Sandy Hook, 27 including Nancy, 28 counting Adam).

• Media and Public Speculation: There is a discourse around blaming Nancy, Adam's mother, for not recognizing Adam's deteriorating mental health.

Page 3: The Search for Understanding

• A Need for Motive: Society's tendency to seek reasons for the senseless violence illustrated by Adam’s actions—attempts to rationalize the irrational.

• Emotional Impact: Peter desires others to understand the potential for such violence; grapples with incomprehension about Adam's actions.

• Adam’s Behavior: Adam was a child with distinctly unusual behaviors: late speech development, hypersensitivity, excessive hand washing, and issues in school.

• Early Signs of Distress: There were indicators of emotional difficulties and social struggles throughout Adam's childhood.

Page 4: Early Signs of Trouble

• Mother's Influence: Nancy supported Adam's emotional growth, noted his need to practice displaying emotions for performances, and observed troubling themes in his writing.

• Struggling with Identity: Adam had a low self-esteem and expressed feelings of worthlessness in a fifth-grade assignment.

• Family Dynamics: Peter and Nancy’s marriage began to falter, affecting the children’s emotional state and environment; Peter worked incredible hours and Nancy took all responsibility at home.

Page 5: Changes During Adolescence

• Middle School Challenges: Transition to middle school was difficult for Adam; he struggled with new structures and experienced panic attacks.

• Adjustment Difficulties: Peter noted improvements in Adam’s engagement with political discussions and interests in guns, yet he remained socially isolated and had few friends.

Page 6: Diagnosis and Support

• Professional Intervention: Diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome at 13 offered a path for understanding Adam’s challenges but was met with resistance by him.

• Home Schooling: Adam was homeschooled after transitioning away from standard schooling due to struggles with social integration and academic performance.

Page 7: Social Isolation

• Tech Club Experience: Despite finding some socialization at Tech Club, Adam’s lack of understanding of interpersonal relationships persisted.

• Arrogance and Self-Perception: Adam displayed an overwhelming desire for profound information, leading to conflicts with parents about his education.

Page 8: Growing Concerns

• Struggling Relationship: Concern over Adam shutting down socially; pediatric assessments emphasized the importance of social interaction in his development.

• Therapeutic Attempts: Visits to a psychiatrist indicated Adam's severe social disabilities and highlighted the urgent need for restructuring his environment for his improvement.

Page 9: Resistance to Therapy

• Avoidance of Help: Peter and Nancy found it challenging to engage Adam in necessary mental health treatment, despite their awareness of his struggles.

• Speculative Medical Views: Debate surrounding whether Asperger's could mask other severe underlying mental health issues—suspicions of schizophrenia were discussed.

Page 10: Adam's Online Behavior

• Dark Online Interests: Evidence of Adam’s obsession with mass murder emerged through online activities, revealing a troubling shift in his interests.

• Distinction between Autism and Psychopathy: A breakdown between cognitive and emotional empathy highlights complexities within Adam’s mental health.

Page 11: Depth of Isolation

• Life in Isolation: Nancy indulged Adam's tendencies, contributing to his increasing isolation as they continued to attempt to support him.

• Separation from Family: Increasing tensions and misunderstandings within the family caused rifts in communication and support structures.

Page 12: Behavioral Decline

• Educational Struggles: Adam’s inability to cope with academic pressures led to emotional distress, noticeable withdrawal, and despair over his situation.

• Impending Independence: Discussions surrounding Adam’s upcoming adulthood raised fears about his readiness to function independently.

Page 13: Pressure and Pacing

• Concerns Over Future: Nancy documented her fears for Adam’s academic failure and withdrawal from classes.

• Plan for Future: Attempts to place Adam in military programs highlighted conflicting desires for independence and parental concern.

Page 14: Communication Breakdown

• Refusal of Father-Son Interaction: Increasingly apparent disconnect with Adam sent alarms through Peter’s frustration, despite efforts to reach out.

• Isolation's Impact: Peter suspected that Adam was deliberately isolating himself to hide his deteriorating mental health.

Page 15: Intent for Help

• Misleading Accounts: Nancy's interactions indicated a glossing over of Adam's struggles, creating a false sense of security regarding his well-being.

• Escalating Denial: Indicators of fear and potential violence within the home situation began to blur as denial perpetuated the situation.

Page 16: Mixed Messages

• Restrained Care for Adam: Context suggests the mother-son dynamic displayed anxiety rather than fear; seemed oblivious to violent potential of Adam.

• Selfish Insights: Records of Adam's philosophies without awareness of how basic needs were served in the home.

Page 17: Shock of the Shootings

• Day of the Incident: Peter's experience on the day of the Sandy Hook shootings reveals underlying denial and an inevitable tragedy unfolding.

• Media Confusion: Initial reports inaccurately pointed to his son Ryan, only for Peter to suspect Adam was involved.

Page 18: Nature of Violence

• Inexplicable Acts: Peter reflects on the tragedy of Adam’s actions, suggesting a complexity to the motivations behind mass shooters.

• Analysis of Mass Murder: Discussion on the rarity of incidents involving random victims brings to light the uniqueness of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Page 19: Definitions of Sanity

• The Search for Clarity and Understanding: Peter’s quest to comprehend Adam as a perpetrator highlights the struggle of defining sanity among mass murderers.

• Philosophical Debates: Examination of mental conditions leading to violence; complexity of understanding sociopathy and autism.

Page 20: Dealing with Aftermath

• Coping with Loss: Peter’s attempts to connect with victims' families illustrate ongoing challenges as he reconciles his identity with being the parent of a notorious figure.

• Strained Relationships: Peter describes a lingering disbelief and isolation stemming from the events and their aftermath.

Page 21: Haunting Memories

• Enduring Grief: Experiences of grief reflect the trauma and lasting impressions of his son on Peter's psyche.

• Acknowledge Identity Crisis: Peter’s path to grappling with Adam’s legacy reflects a complex emotional journey of renouncing the past.