The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

by Thomas S. Szasz (Author) "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..." (more)
Key Phrases: iconic body signs, impersonated role, vegetative neurosis, Middle Ages, United States, Soviet Union (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Bold and often brilliant." -- --Science

Product Description
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

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Revised edition (October 10, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060911514
• ISBN-13: 978-0060911515
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,309 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #10 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  #23 in	Books > Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  #43 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Clinical Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Myth Revisited, August 4, 2001

By	Dennis B. Roderick, Ph.D "droderickphd" (Pawtucket, RI United States) - See all my reviews

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.

43 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Important Books in Psychiatry and Philosophy, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

I believe this is one of the most important books in the history of psychiatry. The book is ground-breaking and establishes a new parardigm and organizing concept for many "mind" disciplines. Dr Szasz's ideas are timeless, revolutionary and common sense - not to be contrued as a criticism. Indeed many revolutionary ideas are simple and obvious and I think that is exactly why this book and Dr Szasz must be taken seriously. I am speaking behind the times when I say this because the book is nearly 40 years on the market. However Dr Szasz is as relevant today as ever. Institutionalized persecution of "different" behaviours has evolved beyond the ridiculous to the absurd. Dr Szasz's characterization of this as a "war on personal responsibility" is important from a medical and a moral perspective, as a challenge to the popular notions of "inner child", the gowing "victim" industry (e.g. gambling and shopping "addictions", among many many more) and similiar conceptual garabage.

The Myth of Mental Illness creates for the reader a reference point for cross diciplinary thinking in sociology, linguistics, philosophy of mind and science, psychology, history and or course medicine. The concepts are true to human beings as self-responsible moral agents and consistent with the North American work-ethic. Dr Szasz is commended for his insight and understanding of a pyschiatric industry gone mad. The book should be part of Amazon's "Well Worth Reading" displays.

24 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Superb, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

Superb and fascinating. One of the most logical and outstanding works in psychiatry I've read in a long long time. Believable and academically shattering. I don't undertand some the comments in these reviews but I can tell you that the suppositions and the theories are accurate. Absolutely superb work that deserves serious attention and critical analysis.