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zhzhang's review
5.0
It is a revolutionary book on a brand new concept to me: evolutionary psychiatry. The six factors: mismatch, infection, constrains, trade-off, reproduction and defensive responses have "doomed" our vulnerability to illness. The perspective that the author has presented is very refreshing and thought-provoking. The beginning of the book is especially gripping. A good read.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
At first, I didn’t think I’d enjoy this book, but I couldn’t stop reading it. This is such an incredible perspective on mental disorders and mental health. I can’t recommend it enough.
nferraro90's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes a good book will answer long standing questions you had about a particular subject, and sometimes it will leave you asking even more than before you started. This book is the latter, as Dr Nesse does a good job of not overstating where the science stands of many of the issues discussed, and distinguishes well between what his beliefs/theories are and what is widely accepted in the field.
The application of evolutionary theory to mental disorders is fascinating to me, as it is a perspective I had no encountered previously. It seems to make sense when applied, and considering the minuscule success we’ve had as a society in years trying to fight mental illness, maybe it is the time to ask new questions.....
Well worth a read if you have any interest in the areas of mental health/psychology
The application of evolutionary theory to mental disorders is fascinating to me, as it is a perspective I had no encountered previously. It seems to make sense when applied, and considering the minuscule success we’ve had as a society in years trying to fight mental illness, maybe it is the time to ask new questions.....
Well worth a read if you have any interest in the areas of mental health/psychology
kentanapages's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 overall
4 for the content, I think the consideration of evolutionary influences as part of a holistic view of psychology and psychiatry is crucial.
2.75 for the writing and tedious examples and built in subtle sexism of the author
Could have been a lot shorter and to the point
4 for the content, I think the consideration of evolutionary influences as part of a holistic view of psychology and psychiatry is crucial.
2.75 for the writing and tedious examples and built in subtle sexism of the author
Could have been a lot shorter and to the point
rick2's review against another edition
4.0
Another book from a psychologist explaining just how little we know about how the brain works. You’d think at some point they would get tired of shooting holes in their profession. But maybe that’s part of what it takes to want to be a head shrink.
Many interesting assumptions and stories about what might be the case. But nothing concrete. I don’t think we’re there yet with anything resembling a reasonably correct model of mental health and illness. Still, this book rings true with my personal anecdotal experience much more than many others. I do think it’s closer to the realm of possibility. Decent food for thought.
Many interesting assumptions and stories about what might be the case. But nothing concrete. I don’t think we’re there yet with anything resembling a reasonably correct model of mental health and illness. Still, this book rings true with my personal anecdotal experience much more than many others. I do think it’s closer to the realm of possibility. Decent food for thought.
sarah25samir's review against another edition
2.0
أولا شكرا لصديقاتي العزيزات داليا نورالدين وايمان خالد على المشاركة في القراءة
ellaep's review against another edition
3.0
informative and well-written, but took a very long time to get through.
entropia9's review against another edition
4.0
For the most part I really loved it and there is a lot of important message here that should be spread to psychologists, health workers and regular people. The book is not without issues though - sometimes it felt like there is not enough space given to alternative explanations, sometimes arguments were not all that convincing, but when such hiccups happen they happen in some minor points.
However, there are two instances questionable/problematic enough for me to deduct one star from the score. I will list them both below:
In Japan and Taiwan mental illnesses are stigmatized, which might be a reason for lower rates reported. If this article is to be believed in survey from 2017 65.3% of respondents didn't have a clue about avaiable mental health services. According to reasearch from 2002 almost two‐thirds of individuals with mental illness in Japan never seek help from a health professional because of stigma (link). Flashing Taiwanese and Japanese rates as some sort of goal to reach without any context as to why rates are lower there seems irresponsible to me.
This sentence though is what prompted me to write a review:
Yeah, fertility is lower during lactation, but it's still possible to get pregnant. I get why that mental shortcut happened here, but "if you're breastfeeding, you won't get pregnant" myth is the reason I have an uncle ;P
However, there are two instances questionable/problematic enough for me to deduct one star from the score. I will list them both below:
While depression rates tend to be stable across decades in a given culture, they vary widely by country. Lifetime rates range from 1.5 percent in Taiwan to 19 percent in Beirut. Another study found rates ranging from 3 percent in Japan to 17 percent in the United States. Why such huge differences? That is the most important unanswered question for mood disorders research. If we could get the rate in every culture down to the 1 to 3 percent rates in Taiwan and Japan, that would reduce depression more than all treatment efforts put together.
In Japan and Taiwan mental illnesses are stigmatized, which might be a reason for lower rates reported. If this article is to be believed in survey from 2017 65.3% of respondents didn't have a clue about avaiable mental health services. According to reasearch from 2002 almost two‐thirds of individuals with mental illness in Japan never seek help from a health professional because of stigma (link). Flashing Taiwanese and Japanese rates as some sort of goal to reach without any context as to why rates are lower there seems irresponsible to me.
This sentence though is what prompted me to write a review:
Couples have sex during pregnancy and lactation, when no babies will result.
Yeah, fertility is lower during lactation, but it's still possible to get pregnant. I get why that mental shortcut happened here, but "if you're breastfeeding, you won't get pregnant" myth is the reason I have an uncle ;P