Comprehending Suicide: Landmarks in 20th-Century Suicidology [Hardcover]

Edwin S. Shneidman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557987432 | ISBN-13: 978-1557987433 | Publication Date: January 2001 | Edition: 1

During the 20th century, hundreds of books were written on suicide, but only a few can be said to have stimulated their readers to a deeper and more practical understanding of the topic. Drawing on his more than 60 years of experience, Edwin S. Shneidman has gathered in one book 13 of the most thought-provoking works of the century that offer invaluable insights on suicide and on responses to it. Comprehending Suicide begins with a brief history of the phenomenon. Engaging reviews of the landmark publications open each chapter, and together the chapters reflect historical and literary, sociological, biological, psychiatric and psychological, or survivor and helping points of view. Featured last is a lively discussion about Dr. Sheidman's key beliefs after a lifetime of study. This book serves a large audience, from those doing research, to those helping to prevent suicide through community intervention or clinical practice, to those who have touched suicide or who have been touched by it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Comprehending Suicide is a comprehensive, rich, integrated summary of the study of suicide to date." -- Israel Orbach, PhD, professor of psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

"Comprehending Suicide is astounding in its scope and in its contemporary perspective. I learned a great deal reading this book." -- Robert O. Pasnau, MD, professor emeritus, UCLA

"Dr. Shneidman's breadth and depth of knowledge about suicide is unchallengeable." -- Isaak Sakinofsky, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry and public health services, University of Toronto

About the Author

Edwin S. Shneidman is Professor of Thanatology Emeritus at UCLA and the founder of the American Association of Suicidology. He has been codirector of the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center and chief of the Center for Study of Suicide Prevention at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA); 1 edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557987432
• ISBN-13: 978-1557987433
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Summary Combination of Book Reviews, March 15, 2007

By 

Vanessa Chen "mediocrity" (Shih Lin, Taipei, Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comprehending Suicide: Landmarks in 20th-Century Suicidology (Hardcover)

Thought it will be a keystone to my explortion to this field, however, as it is actually a summary of 13 books regarding suicidology, no offense, it's really not the right book for one who's seeking an introductory work, at least for me. I might turn back to the book after building some knowledge, years after.