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A review by bookreader_nix
The Sleep Room by Jon Stock
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio/Abrams Press for providing a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Dr. William Sargant was a revered psychiatrist in post war London and ran Ward 5 at the Royal Waterloo Hospital. Knows as the Sleep Room, Sargant conducted experiments on women that became one of the most important and disturbing chapter in the field of psychiatry. He subjected his patients to chemically-induced comas, electroconvulsive therapies, as well as force fed them. Due to the chemically-induced sleep, these women often experienced memory loss and identity transformations. This book examines the motives behind Sargant's practices - were they based on science or based off of state-sanctioned motivations? This book includes chapters that are in the point of view of some of Sargant's prior patients that survived the Sleep Room in Ward 5.
This scared the living daylights out of me. This is a disturbing account of Dr. William Sargant and how he conditioned his patients using inhumane means. It was heart-wrenching to hear some of the women's experiences during their stay in the Sleep Room, but it was also empowering to hear how they survived, how their lives turned out, and where they are now. Many women died during their time under Sargant's "care." Some developed further health issues. Some of their families didn't even recognize them. It's terrifying to know that the field of psychiatry went through harrowing times in order to be where it is now. In all honesty, I was hesitant about this book because the thought of psychiatric hospitals terrifies me (no thanks to people like Sargant). And also hearing what conditions women were brought there for (anorexia, anxiety, depression, and even mania) is astounding. Sargant based all of his practices on the idea of brainwashing - he took Pavlov to another level and basically tried to brainwash his patients.
John Stock does a wonderful job outlining Sargant's history, societal events that coexisted with the times of the Sleep Room as well as evidence of Sargant's connection to the CIA, which opens up a whole other can of worms that I'm sure would be an interesting read (*ahem, John, ahem*)
If you like true crime and learning the history behind psychiatry and psychiatric practices from the time where mental illness wasn't really understood, this is definitely a read for you.
Dr. William Sargant was a revered psychiatrist in post war London and ran Ward 5 at the Royal Waterloo Hospital. Knows as the Sleep Room, Sargant conducted experiments on women that became one of the most important and disturbing chapter in the field of psychiatry. He subjected his patients to chemically-induced comas, electroconvulsive therapies, as well as force fed them. Due to the chemically-induced sleep, these women often experienced memory loss and identity transformations. This book examines the motives behind Sargant's practices - were they based on science or based off of state-sanctioned motivations? This book includes chapters that are in the point of view of some of Sargant's prior patients that survived the Sleep Room in Ward 5.
This scared the living daylights out of me. This is a disturbing account of Dr. William Sargant and how he conditioned his patients using inhumane means. It was heart-wrenching to hear some of the women's experiences during their stay in the Sleep Room, but it was also empowering to hear how they survived, how their lives turned out, and where they are now. Many women died during their time under Sargant's "care." Some developed further health issues. Some of their families didn't even recognize them. It's terrifying to know that the field of psychiatry went through harrowing times in order to be where it is now. In all honesty, I was hesitant about this book because the thought of psychiatric hospitals terrifies me (no thanks to people like Sargant). And also hearing what conditions women were brought there for (anorexia, anxiety, depression, and even mania) is astounding. Sargant based all of his practices on the idea of brainwashing - he took Pavlov to another level and basically tried to brainwash his patients.
John Stock does a wonderful job outlining Sargant's history, societal events that coexisted with the times of the Sleep Room as well as evidence of Sargant's connection to the CIA, which opens up a whole other can of worms that I'm sure would be an interesting read (*ahem, John, ahem*)
If you like true crime and learning the history behind psychiatry and psychiatric practices from the time where mental illness wasn't really understood, this is definitely a read for you.