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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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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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
53 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
Format: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!
46 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format: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."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The snake pit
When I was 17 years old in 1961, I was suffering from depression, probably due to the fact that I was gay and living in a society that considered people like me to be "sick. Read more
Published 4 months ago by othoniaboys
Eye Opening
An entire different slant on mental illness. this is a must read for anyone interested in the field. It will wipe away the certainty that clouds the entire mental health picture.
Published 11 months ago by Joseph OConnor
'Disease' redefined
Journalists are not the only ones to blame for substituting the word 'disease' for 'syndrome'; the medical profession is also careless. Read more
Published 20 months ago by William H Naumann
Useful characterization when you disagree with someone
Didn't read it. Bought it just to prove a point that my account and internet activity was being monitored!
US Intelligence agencies use and experiement with this stuff too. Read more
US Intelligence agencies use and experiement with this stuff too. Read more
Published on November 9, 2009 by A. Sawyer
Intersting but incomplete
Szazs' perspective on the etiology of mental illness and problems of living has merit. In retrospect, however, it is quite short-sighted. Read more
Published on June 4, 2009 by not a natural
Thomas Szasz; The Myth of Mental Illness Foundations of a theory
Thomas Szasz: The Myth of Mental Illness Foundation of a theory
Thomas Szasz shows how Mental Illness is not a illness, but a judgement and social control. Read more
Thomas Szasz shows how Mental Illness is not a illness, but a judgement and social control. Read more
Published on November 22, 2008 by Anna de Jonge
An excellent book!
I got the book at the date and condition I was expecting it. I am really satisfied with this order. Thank you!
Published on May 2, 2008 by Kristina Dumas
The Myth of Mental illness Review
THE MYTH OF MENTAL ILLNES REVIEW
The Myth of Mental Illness is an interesting work that should be reading by many people before they go to visit a psychiatrist. Read more
The Myth of Mental Illness is an interesting work that should be reading by many people before they go to visit a psychiatrist. Read more
Published on January 4, 2008 by Sergio Ivan Linares
MENTAL ILLNESS DOES NOT EXIST
This work contains two prefaces, one from the 1961's edition and the preface for the revised edition, 1974. Read more
Published on October 26, 2007 by Sergio
judge for yourself
Researched well, provacative, a classic. Worth reading if only to stimulate debate regarding the medicalization of human behavior. Read more
Published on September 25, 2007 by L. Vanbelle
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!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
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 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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