In her book "Flight Behavior," Barbara Kingsolver raises a thought-provoking question about societal attitudes toward mental health. She explores the paradox of how society often encourages fantastical or unrealistic beliefs in children while, at the same time, tends to treat similar behaviors in adults with medication. This inconsistency prompts a deeper examination of how we nurture imagination in youth versus how we manage adult perceptions that deviate from reality.

The commentary invites readers to reflect on the complexity of human behavior and the varying responses to it. It suggests that while imagination is celebrated in children, as they are still developing, the same may be seen as problematic in adults, leading to a reliance on medication to conform to societal norms. This contrast raises important questions about how we support mental well-being across different stages of life and what it means for individuals to navigate their realities.