Customer Reviews

Charcot: Constructing Neurology (Contemporary Neurology)

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The more research one does into the history of psychotherapy, neurology, psychoanalysis, hypnotism, and conversion disorders (a.k.a. hysteria) the more one bumps up against the enigmatic and larger than life Charcot. This is certainly the best english language biography of his career, providing a thorough accounting of his various professional accomplishments, and his significance within the contemporary 19th Century French medical establishment.

Don't look to this book for any overwhelming insight into the "epistemes" powering Charcot's work, for that you will need to look to the more critical appraisals of Charcot's work (Jan Goldstein, Elain Showalter, Henri Ellenberger, etc.) but as far as getting a thorough telling of some of the fascinating features of this man's career, this book has no substitute. It also closes with a fantastic literature review of the current status of Charcot studies to send one off to learn more about any particular details that fascinate them.

I highly recommend this book for anyone trying to fill in some crucial historical gaps in their understanding in modern medicine of the mind.

Reportedly this is the best biography of French neurological pioneer Jean-Martin Charcot available in English. Charcot is a Napoleon of medicine and a fascinating man, so it is unfortunate that this biography, while thorough, is not terribly engaging. One feels it could have been so much better.

There is significant focus on academic and medical politics in 19th century France (i.e., career advancement, credentialing etc.), which may be of interest to a minority of readers.

The authors have not tapped all of the available, still-unexploited, material about Charcot, so there is room for others to add to his story.

It is surprising that this incredible medical pioneer has not been the subject of more books. He was far more than a precursor to Freud, but was a giant in his own right.