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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
This book is written for the general public - it's very well articulated and covers some of the most interesting and oft misunderstood aspects of psychiatric practice.
It is not a great read for someone working in psychiatry however, because all psychiatrists (even very junior ones) will have experience a lot of what is written about already - so reading about it will be rather tedious.
But for the general public, and even medics in other specialties, I think this is a very good book.
I did find some of the cases interesting and the section on Covid interesting.
I have not given it a star rating because I am not the intended audience of the book...
It is not a great read for someone working in psychiatry however, because all psychiatrists (even very junior ones) will have experience a lot of what is written about already - so reading about it will be rather tedious.
But for the general public, and even medics in other specialties, I think this is a very good book.
I did find some of the cases interesting and the section on Covid interesting.
I have not given it a star rating because I am not the intended audience of the book...
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
When I started listening to the audiobook I really didn't think I'd become so interested in the authors work.
His viewpoint about how what's going on in a person's mind, past or current issues that affect mental health, and how they can affect the body is a revelation. He describes how doctors only see the "outside" of a person and try to treat the physical symptoms, without digging deeper into their mental health, which can cause more harm itself.
The case stories he tells of people suffering for many years are fascinating. They are constantly returning to the doctors with physical issues that could be quickly and accurately diagnosed, if only there was more time and knowledge to dig into that person's life.
His viewpoint about how what's going on in a person's mind, past or current issues that affect mental health, and how they can affect the body is a revelation. He describes how doctors only see the "outside" of a person and try to treat the physical symptoms, without digging deeper into their mental health, which can cause more harm itself.
The case stories he tells of people suffering for many years are fascinating. They are constantly returning to the doctors with physical issues that could be quickly and accurately diagnosed, if only there was more time and knowledge to dig into that person's life.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
I was very disappointed by this book. The description says "eminent psychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse draws on his experience of treating thousands of hospital patients to show how our emotions are inextricably linked to our physical wellbeing." I eagerly anticipated reading about all the insights he had gained from this experience, notably his insights into treating psychosomatic problems.
Unfortunately, the 'insight' stops there. Yes, the mind and the body are connected and troubles in the mind cause trouble in the body. Boom. No further information about what to do about this (apart from the implied 'see a psychiatrist'). I have the greatest respect for psychiatry and psychology professionals and their role in treating the mind and psychosomatic illness, but I expect a book on this topic to go a lot deeper than this.
Early in the book, the author decries the fact that modern [mainstream] medicine separates the mind and body ('Cartesian dualism') and fails to recognise that the mind and body are deeply connected.
Then he scornfully dismisses all forms of alternative medicine.:
"Alternative health beliefs are part of a mindset that at one end of the spectrum is a benign and harmless addition to standard medical care, and at the other end merges into overt conspiracy theory and paranoia. [...] many alternative health conceptualizations of how the body works are at odds with accepted science. Illnesses are thought of in simplistic ways that fit the particular alternative medical theory [...] Sometimes [alternative health theories] appeal to common sense in the way that it is common sense to think the earth is flat if you look as far as you can along a sandy beach."
Wow. That's tarring with a broad brush indeed, and it displays a huge degree of ignorance of a whole range of alternative health theories.
Then the rest of the book is just lots of examples to demonstrate that many health issues are actually rooted in people's minds; their traumatic life histories, their unhappiness, their loneliness, etc. Since this very 'insight', the mind-body connection, is at the heart of many, if not most, so-called 'alternative health theories', it is astonishing to see the theme treated like this. He writes the whole book as if the mind-body connection was a 'new' idea that he came up with thanks to his years of experience.
If you are interested in genuinely helpful books about the mind-body connection, psychosomatic illness and - most importantly - how to get relief from or even cure your symptoms, I highly recommend looking into books by Dr John Sarno, Steven Ray Ozanich, Suzanne O'Sullivan, Dr David Clarke or Dr Howard Schubiner, and other books on mind-body syndrome. Or just google mind-body medicine, mind-body syndrome or psychophysiologic disorders. There's a wealth of information out there. And while some might consider it 'alternative medicine' it is certainly not quackery written by flat-earthers.
Like this review? You can find all my reviews on my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews
Unfortunately, the 'insight' stops there. Yes, the mind and the body are connected and troubles in the mind cause trouble in the body. Boom. No further information about what to do about this (apart from the implied 'see a psychiatrist'). I have the greatest respect for psychiatry and psychology professionals and their role in treating the mind and psychosomatic illness, but I expect a book on this topic to go a lot deeper than this.
Early in the book, the author decries the fact that modern [mainstream] medicine separates the mind and body ('Cartesian dualism') and fails to recognise that the mind and body are deeply connected.
Then he scornfully dismisses all forms of alternative medicine.:
"Alternative health beliefs are part of a mindset that at one end of the spectrum is a benign and harmless addition to standard medical care, and at the other end merges into overt conspiracy theory and paranoia. [...] many alternative health conceptualizations of how the body works are at odds with accepted science. Illnesses are thought of in simplistic ways that fit the particular alternative medical theory [...] Sometimes [alternative health theories] appeal to common sense in the way that it is common sense to think the earth is flat if you look as far as you can along a sandy beach."
Wow. That's tarring with a broad brush indeed, and it displays a huge degree of ignorance of a whole range of alternative health theories.
Then the rest of the book is just lots of examples to demonstrate that many health issues are actually rooted in people's minds; their traumatic life histories, their unhappiness, their loneliness, etc. Since this very 'insight', the mind-body connection, is at the heart of many, if not most, so-called 'alternative health theories', it is astonishing to see the theme treated like this. He writes the whole book as if the mind-body connection was a 'new' idea that he came up with thanks to his years of experience.
If you are interested in genuinely helpful books about the mind-body connection, psychosomatic illness and - most importantly - how to get relief from or even cure your symptoms, I highly recommend looking into books by Dr John Sarno, Steven Ray Ozanich, Suzanne O'Sullivan, Dr David Clarke or Dr Howard Schubiner, and other books on mind-body syndrome. Or just google mind-body medicine, mind-body syndrome or psychophysiologic disorders. There's a wealth of information out there. And while some might consider it 'alternative medicine' it is certainly not quackery written by flat-earthers.
Like this review? You can find all my reviews on my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews
This book had lots of potential. The author seems like an empathic therapist, who likes to reflect about his work. What made it mediocre in my opinion was the lack of a read thread. It jumped from subject to subject without natural transition. It felt more like a meandering down a hallway with different doors where you peeked in before walking to the next, never really studying it. I also thought there was too many comments about how the system don’t work or the doctors don’t ask the right question. The author was an interesting character, both being able to know he can also make wrong decision at the same time as he is implying that he sees what other don’t. For example he writes: Even I didn’t see it. The free association sometimes made me irritated as he was originally describing an interesting case. I also felt there was too many details randomly inserted that didn’t add anything to the content.
hopeful
informative
slow-paced