The Meaning of Madness
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Review
A riveting read for anyone looking for a window into the world of mental disorder... --Professor Robert Howard, Dean, The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Most books on mental disorder are either polemical or over-technical. This remarkable book by contrast provides a highly readable and at the same time authoritative account that by combining literary and scientific sources shows the deep connections between 'madness' and some of our most important attributes as human beings. --Professor Bill Fulford, University of Oxford
Burton somehow avoids oversimplification. This is all the more remarkable, since his scope is fairly all-embracing, switching smoothly from side-effects of lithium to the nature of existential anxiety, to the quest for meaning in life... His writing is frequently almost poetic, yet he is capable of being crisply definitive... Ultimately this is a work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world. --Medical Journalists' Association
Most books on mental disorder are either polemical or over-technical. This remarkable book by contrast provides a highly readable and at the same time authoritative account that by combining literary and scientific sources shows the deep connections between 'madness' and some of our most important attributes as human beings. --Professor Bill Fulford, University of Oxford
Burton somehow avoids oversimplification. This is all the more remarkable, since his scope is fairly all-embracing, switching smoothly from side-effects of lithium to the nature of existential anxiety, to the quest for meaning in life... His writing is frequently almost poetic, yet he is capable of being crisply definitive... Ultimately this is a work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world. --Medical Journalists' Association
Review
Most books on mental disorder are either polemical or over-technical. This remarkable book by contrast provides a highly readable and at the same time authoritative account that by combining literary, philosophical and scientific sources, shows the deep connections between 'madness' and some of our most important attributes as human beings.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important book,
By
This review is from: The Meaning of Madness (Paperback)
I'm a consultant psychiatrist and I thought that "The Meaning of Madness" was a brilliant read, not only because it's clear and engaging (and at times fascinating) but also because it can be read on so many different levels. On one level it's a very competent primer on mental disorders. On another level it presents an original and compelling theory of mental disorders that reaches far beyond current models. And on yet another level it offers a profound meditation on the human condition by that rare and exotic beast, the part psychiatrist, part philosopher. I especially enjoyed the chapter on depression and the chapter on anxiety, which ultimately explore the problem of meaning, and the chapter on suicide, which ultimately explores whether death should be feared. I would happily recommend this book, particularly to anyone who has been touched by, or is curious about, mental disorder, and more generally to anyone who is a thinking, feeling, and suffering human being.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A life-changing eye-opener,
This review is from: The Meaning of Madness (Paperback)
I read Burton's 'The Meaning of Madness' in no more than two long sittings. I thought it was terrific, full of insights and compassion and, that rarest of qualities, wisdom. My partner read it too, who's very involved in the subject, and thought it extremely accurate in the deepest, emotional sense. Whether you suffer from a mental disorder or not, 'The Meaning of Madness' is definitely going to change the way you see things.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book that gets you thinking...,
By
This review is from: The Meaning of Madness (Paperback)
I'm not a fan of wholly academic texts that are full of jargon and scientific data which is probably why I really liked this one! This book is great because it's fairy compact (about 200 pages) and written in a modern, down-to-earth style. The author is knowledgeable but never patronizing; he covers the basics so this book is perfect if you know nothing of the topics being discussed (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and it's also great as a refresher if for example you studied psychology many years ago.
There is a pretty good introduction at the start of the book and the book is organized extremely well so after the intro it really doesn't matter whether you read the chapters in order or not. Each chapter covers a different condition and you get background information, symptoms and treatment. What is so different about this book is that the exploration of psychological conditions is not approached is the usual textbook manner (these are the symptoms & here's the data) but rather it is interwoven with Greek mythology, philosophy, religion and fascinating quotes from modern literature. This makes the book a satisfying, and genuinely interesting read. Highly recommended!
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