Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - The Great Pretender

I picked up this book after enjoying Cahalan’s previous book and believing I would like the subject. I was so surprised how it weaves through many of my specialist subjects: mental health, social psychology and critical reading of science. Seeing so many of the big names of social psych - that I’ve taught my students about for years - mentioned and/or interviewed felt like exciting cameos. Some frustrations I had about the first few parts of this book were untangled later on. That made for a good narrative but I worry people who didn’t stay for the whole book may have came away with the wrong message. Two big critiques of this book I had come from my own opinions and biases of psychology and psychiatry: Cahalan seemingly used mental illness and madness as terms interchangeably and if she unpicked what madness was - or is seen as - and how not all mental illnesses are seen as madness - I must have missed it. Secondly and most importantly for me:

this book took a social constructionist view of the history of psychology/psychiatry but in the final chapter disappointingly centred a individualist and neoliberal lens of the future of the fields, only superficially discussing more critical deconstruction or changes needed to the field.

. Two final thoughts: this book is a companion piece to Cahalan’s memoir and I think the personal perspective the author weaves into the narrative would be more meaningful to the author if that book was read first. Finally, Cahalan is an incredible researcher and journalist and I look forward to following future works.

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keeganrb's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

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mcfie42's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring tense medium-paced

4.0

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larkken's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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browncoatcristi's review

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challenging informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

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nancydrew's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

3.5

Very interesting and thought provoking read about a well-known study of institutional psychiatry and the modern fall out from the study. Intelligent, but accessible non-fiction writing. Will leave you thinking about the overall condition of our mental health care.

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