The Necessity of Madness

by John Breeding (Author)

8 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0954221874

ISBN-10: 0954221877

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John Breeding's Necessity of Madness is a work of genius. He has a unique understanding of the damage that psychiatry causes society. Foucault would have been proud. Breeding's argument is so well researched, thought out and articulate that it would be difficult for anyone not to be convinced by him. Like any great work of literature what Breeding says is controversial. The publication of his book in Europe and particularly within the UK will inspire the mental health survivor movement to speak up and speak out. His brilliant philosophy gives more venom to the social model of madness and distress in the UK. As we struggle to develop our own philosophy Breeding's book can be used as a tool to give the social model the momentum it so desperately needs. Widespread circulation and consumption of this book within the UK survivor movement would make an underdeveloped philosophy developed. Breeding is so lucid and enlightening that he gives us all hope. There is no need for apathy anymore. It's payback time.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chipmunkapublishing (January 3, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 460 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0954221877
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0954221874
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.02 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,112,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #30,748 in Medical General Psychology
- #39,603 in Psychology (Books)
- #88,938 in Sociology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
8 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		31%
4 star		42%
3 star		26%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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J. Dalton

Scientology Woven Throughout

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2018

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Just be aware... it's pretty certain he is coming from a Scientology approach. If you can eat the meat, and split out the bones, it's an interesting read.

Helpful

Dana R. Widmark

Very Helpful Book

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2012

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Not being a pysch major or anything of the sort, I simply got this book because I needed some help detoxing from many destructive religious beliefs, I highly recommend this book to get a deeper understanding of the human mind.

One person found this helpful

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Jeff

Deep and insightful

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2012

Verified Purchase

Love this awesome book! It was definitely worth it, for anyone who has or wants to know about mental illness. Thank you, John Breeding!

One person found this helpful

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Fiona1406

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2005

This book suggests that psychiatry may not be the 'answer' to mental illness, and provides great insight into the lives of those living with mental illness. An enjoyable and interesting read for everyone.

9 people found this helpful

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Marie Best

An ingenious account

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2005

An ingenious account of a book that is anti-psychiatry by an American Professor who is a psychiatrist. This book is an educational tool for the British Mental Health Movement.

5 people found this helpful

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Michael Heseltine

An educational book

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2005

This book will be a pioneering educational tool for the British Mentl Health Movement.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

anon

Brilliant with a few quirks

Reviewed in Canada on August 14, 2013

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The fourteenth century German mystic, Meister Eckhart, said that "All creatures are innately good in their being." To hold onto this belief while writing a brilliant analysis of the harm psychiatry does, is a credit to the decency of John Breeding. He envisions a society where people treat each other with respect.

I write this on the day a major newspaper reported the mistreatment of a woman in a Vancouver hospital. She was stripped in front of four male security guards and restrained to a bed. Why? Her diagnosis was anorexia, classified as a psychiatric disorder. That she admitted to a problem with eating and entered the hospital on her own volition didn't count, it seems. This same hospital electrocutes the brains of people who don't get better with the mind-disabling drugs known as "meds." It's all part of the coercion that Breeding argues is central to psychiatry as it's practiced today. As Breeding notes, in general we don't acknowledge the trauma psychiatry inflicts on those already vulnerable and in emotional distress.

Some psychiatrists, such as the incoming American Psychiatric Association President, Jeffrey Lieberman, use the term "anti-psychiatry" as a character smear. Breeding's brilliant book on the history of psychiatry and its current abuses does "anti-psychiatry" proud. Read this, and I promise you won't see so-called "mental illness" in the same way again.

I gave this book four stars instead of five only because I find Breeding a little naive, in a knee-jerk way. Women, children, and First Nations people are attributed with a sentimental Rousseau-type purity that I find a little patronizing. (As a woman with Métis family members I get to say this.) Energy healing, as taught by Barbara Brennan, is afforded uncritical acceptance, while, to my mind, it flunks most of the tests Breeding puts psychiatry through. It's tempting to find refuge in the alternative when the mainstream is so flawed, but I suggest we apply the same critical thinking to all modes of therapies, not just the ones sanctioned by the American Medical Association.

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