// Author & Storyteller
I write books about real things that happen to real people — including me. My debut memoir, Chock Full of Nuts, is my account of 28 days inside one of the nation’s premier psychiatric hospitals, and the shocking truth of what I found there.
JaKob tells the truth in his brilliant portrayal of his frightening incarceration in one of the most esteemed mental institutions.
— Nancy Schön, American Sculptor and Author
Chock Full of Nuts is a raw, unflinching memoir that explores the enduring flaws in the institutional treatment of mental health, tracing its stagnation from the shocking practices depicted in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to the present day.
With firsthand experience in what he darkly dubs “summer camp,” a euphemism for a modern-day asylum, JaKob Williams recounts harrowing episodes of institutional care, reflecting on the controversial methods still in use today. From grappling with electroconvulsive shock therapy to navigating the labyrinth of mental health care, he exposes a system resistant to progress, while offering hope to those who feel different, broken, or lost.
Chock Full of Nuts is more than a critique; it is a testament to resilience. Through humor, grit, and an unwavering commitment to being “different,” this memoir delivers an inspiring call to embrace individuality. It challenges society’s perception of mental differences, proving that what makes us unique can also make us extraordinary.
A riveting blend of personal confession, societal critique, and a dash of rebellious wit, Chock Full of Nuts is a story for anyone ready to stand up when the world tells them to sit down.
JaKob Williams has excelled in two seemingly diverse worlds: finance and the arts. A founding partner of a prominent investment and asset management firm in Boston, Massachusetts, Williams served in various roles over the last thirty-seven years, including chief investment officer, president, CEO, and cochair, and earned recognition as a subject of Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School case studies. Outside the structured confines of finance, Williams is an acclaimed artist whose works have been lauded for their cultural and political significance.
Esteemed critic Donald Kuspit described one of his works as “one of the most significant pieces of political art of this generation.”
In his debut memoir, Chock Full of Nuts, Williams reveals his deeply personal journey of living with a unique mental difference—a distinct lens through which he views and interprets the world. Drawing on his experiences in modern mental health institutions and the extraordinary moments that shaped his life, including a life-altering promise made while he thought he was dying on Mount Fuji, Williams explores the challenges and triumphs of embracing individuality.
With humor, resilience, and unflinching honesty, Chock Full of Nuts inspires readers to see their differences as strengths and encourages a bold, unapologetic embrace of what makes us unique.
Defying Gravity: An exhibition by JaKob Williams presented at Georges Bergès Gallery.
Newton’s Cradle: A photograph of the Newton’s Cradle installation by JaKob Williams, taken during its exhibition at Georges Bergès Gallery.
“A fine memoir and a searing behind-the-scenes exposé.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A powerful memoir, Chock Full of Nuts uses a troubled stay at a psychiatric hospital to indict the system, revealing what horrors patients are often subjected to without cause.”
—Foreword Clarion Reviews
“The individual perspective offered in this book is a poignant argument as to why neuropsychiatry must fully transition from a disease-centered model to an individualized, precision-based approach.”
—Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School
“JaKob tells the truth in his brilliant portrayal of his frightening incarceration in one of the most esteemed mental institutions. He dares to tell the truth in extraordinary, hair-raising clarity.”
—Nancy Schön, American sculptor and author
Join JaKob for the official launch of Chock Full of Nuts with a reading, Q&A, and signed copies. An evening you won’t forget.
Acclaimed sculptor and author Nancy Schön calls the book a brilliant, unflinching portrayal of life inside one of the nation’s most esteemed mental institutions.
// Get in Touch
JaKob is available for speaking engagements, book clubs, interviews, features, and other media opportunities. Please contact Alexandra Israel at alexandra.israel@smithpublicity.com
and Erin Beardsley at erin@erineldesign.com.
For bulk purchase inquiries, please contact Alison Keiser at alison@amplifypublishing.com.