Watermark Books and Cafe

Brian Riordan will be here to talk about "Pyramid on the Prairie" by Craig Miner.

In 1975 began a unique partnership between Dr. Hugh Riordan, a psychiatrist committed to a holistic approach to health, and Olive Garvey, the octogenarian businesswoman willing to back his vision.  Their combined efforts resulted in the creation of the Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning, which pioneered its alternative approach to medicine despite fierce criticism within the medical profession, staunch resistance from the insurance industry, and outright skepticism from the public.

This is the story of the first quarter century of Dr. Hugh Riordan’s  work, written in anticipation of the Clinic’s 25th anniversary in the  year 2000 by Kansas historian, Craig Miner. His research included poring over years of correspondence and newsletters and conducting hours of interviews with Dr. Riordan, Mrs. Garvey, and the Clinic staff. Death claimed Oliver Garvey in 1993, Hugh Riordan in 2006, and Craig Miner in 2010. The families of all three agree that the story should be shared, as intended, and this book is the result.