A classic work that has revolutionized thinking throughout the Western world about the nature of the psychiatric profession and the moral implications of its practices. "Bold and often brilliant."--Science
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"Bold and often brilliant." -- --Science
About the Author
Thomas S. Szasz, M.D., is professor emeritus of psychiatry at the State University of New York in Syracuse, where he has taught since 1956.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Myth Revisited,
By Dennis B. Roderick, Ph.D (Pawtucket, RI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct (Revised Edition) (Paperback)
Dr. Szasz'definitive work should be revisited by all mental health professionals in this new era of "managed care" and its resultant "new mental health system". Although I don't agree with everything that Dr. Szasz claimed in his groundbreaking book, it seems to me that those who considered him a quack and continued the medical model of mental illness for the last 4+ decades have not proven him wrong. We have miserably failed the "mentally ill", "mentally disordered", people with "problems in living", or whatever term one uses these days. The mental health system and its providers these days use the excuse of managed care to explain its failures, but would be better advised to read or reread Dr. Szasz's forewarning of 40 years ago. It is time to rethink the problem, and a good place to start is with the "Myth of Mental Illness"-before the death of the mental health system is upon us.
21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book on the cons of psychiatry,
By Studied Scholar (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct (Revised Edition) (Paperback)
If you only read books on the pros psychiatry you cannot fully understand it. Thomas Szasz delves deeper into some historical truthes about this pseudo-science and gives a better view as to what psychiatry is. Never base your ideas on one book however, read up on both sides and form your own opinion on what is right or wrong. I can tell you that I will provide you with a roof over your head, a bed, 3 square meals a day, plenty of reading material to study, a chance to improve your physical conditioning and an opportunity to make lifelong friends and it sounds good right? Of course if I say that I am talking about prison, the luster seems to fade fast doesn't it...read both sides!
45 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"The Myth of Mental Illness" is not Szasz's magnum opus.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct (Revised Edition) (Paperback)
Though this book might be of paramount importance for those who desire to find an antithetical position to the "Doctors for the pathologizing of human behavior," I think it a terrible mistake to read this book with the assumption that understanding Szasz will be the result. Written early in his career, this book, like Beethoven's early symphonies, deserves not the attention it receives for the titilating title. I believe the influence of Karl Kraus caused the about face demonstrated by "The Myth of Psychotherapy" from the position outlined in "The Ethics of Psychoanalysis," both books he published later. For those that desire to find a summation of Szasz in one volume, I would recommend "Insanity."
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Since the modern concept of hysteria was cut from the cloth of malingering, and since the physician most responsible for establishing "hysteria" as a medically legitimate illness was Charcot, I shall start with an examination of his work; and I shall then trace the development of the concept of hysteria to the present time. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
iconic body signs, impersonated role, vegetative neurosis, private practice situation, counterfeit illness, nondiscursive languages, organ neurosis, medical game, interpersonal rules, organic symptoms, charity practice, biological rules, conversion hysteria, hysterical conversion, iconic signs, sign user Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Middle Ages, United States, Soviet Union, John Doe New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Since the modern concept of hysteria was cut from the cloth of malingering, and since the physician most responsible for establishing "hysteria" as a medically legitimate illness was Charcot, I shall start with an examination of his work; and I shall then trace the development of the concept of hysteria to the present time. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
iconic body signs, impersonated role, vegetative neurosis, private practice situation, counterfeit illness, nondiscursive languages, organ neurosis, medical game, interpersonal rules, organic symptoms, charity practice, biological rules, conversion hysteria, hysterical conversion, iconic signs, sign user Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Middle Ages, United States, Soviet Union, John Doe New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 88
books:
See all 88 books this book cites
88
books
cite this book:
See all 88 books citing this book
- Studies On Hysteria (Basic Books Classics) by Joseph Breuer on 8 pages
- Collected Papers: v. 1 (International Psycho-Analysis Library) by Sigmund Freud on 6 pages
- Amer Hand Psy 1-3 V St 2e ** on 5 pages
- Philosophy in a New Key by Suzanne Langer on 4 pages
- The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 1: The Spell of Plato by Sir Karl Raimund Popper in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
See all 88 books this book cites
- Szasz Under Fire: The Psychiatric Abolitionist Faces His Critics by Ph.D. Jeffrey A. Schaler on page 47, page 91, and page 130
- Who Qualifies for Rights: Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Civil Commitment by Judith Lynn Failer in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- House of Cards by Robyn Dawes in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Women and Madness by Phyllis Chesler in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- An Elizabethan Lawyer's Possession by the Devil: The Story of Robert Brigges by Kathleen R. Sands on page 81, and Back Matter
See all 88 books citing this book
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