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Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness
Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness | Susannah Cahalan
From "one of America's most courageous young journalists" (NPR) comes a propulsive narrative history investigating the 50-year-old mystery behind a dramatic experiment that changed the course of modern medicine. For centuries, doctors have struggled to define mental illness-how do you diagnose it, how do you treat it, how do you even know what it is? In search of an answer, in the 1970s a Stanford psychologist named David Rosenhan and seven other people -- sane, normal, well-adjusted members of society -- went undercover into asylums around America to test the legitimacy of psychiatry's labels. Forced to remain inside until they'd "proven" themselves sane, all eight emerged with alarming diagnoses and even more troubling stories of their treatment. Rosenhan's watershed study broke open the field of psychiatry, closing down institutions and changing mental health diagnosis forever. But, as Cahalan's explosive new research shows, very little in this saga is exactly as it seems. What really happened behind those closed asylum doors, and what does it mean for our understanding of mental illness today?
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she.hearts.horror
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🧐

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ghandigl

We do not appreciate abstractions, they argued, without direct experience with the substances that form them.

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OrangeMooseReads
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Pickpick

This centers on a study conducted in the 70s in which people presented themselves as having mental health issues and get themselves committed to institutions for various lengths of time. The study was published and over the years affected other areas of mental health studies including the DSM 3rd Edition.
It‘s clear why this case would interest Cahalan if you have read her previous book.
It is a deeply researched book. ⬇️

OrangeMooseReads It brings up a lot of interesting points about mental health and the diagnosis of different disorders. All of the information is presented in an easy to understand manner Cahalan does a great job of that. Cahalan is a great storyteller and the way she makes this book flow is excellent. 2y
TheBookHippie One of my top reads last year. Such a necessary read! 2y
OrangeMooseReads @TheBookHippie I agree it‘s a necessary read 2y
44 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Trying this one again. I don‘t remember why I didn‘t really even start it last time.

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Rissa1
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Pickpick

I feel like this image perfectly describes me reading this book. I had highlighted things, notebooks, tablets, and a cat while reading this. It was heavy but so interesting. I have more questions than I started with, a distrust in our system, but also a glimpse of hope for the future.
Every once in a while I want a book that makes me dig deeper, this was that book.

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Rissa1
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My morning. Time to switch books. The heavy subject matter of this has me reading for shorter amounts of time.

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage It looks like your Care Bear is giving you the side-eye! 😒 2y
Rissa1 @BookHoarder32 🤣 I hadn't even notice. 2y
Reggie Grumpy bear!!! 2y
Rissa1 @Reggie Grumpy and Funshine were my favorite. 2y
18 likes4 comments
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
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Pickpick

A very thought-provoking book about how we understand, diagnose and treat mental illness. Cahalan has a unique perspective given her history of “madness” detailed in her first book “Brain On Fire.” What she discovers about a pivotal psychological experiment from the 1970s will leave you wondering if we really know anything about mental illness at all. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

10 likes1 stack add
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DieAReader
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Pickpick

#Challenge2021 #Recommendsday

5⭐️

🤯Wow! Lots of food for thought🤔💭 This is one that I look forward to re-reading. There are also a number of other mentioned writings that I may also check out.

LoverOfLearning I just bought this one today from Barnes and Noble. Hoping to read it soon. 3y
Crazeedi I have this on my shelf tbr 3y
DieAReader @LoverOfLearning @Crazeedi Not gonna lie, my mind is 🧠💥🤯 & still reeling. So much of this will stay with me forever & I‘m so glad I read/own it. 3y
See All 7 Comments
LoverOfLearning @DieAReader And it being true makes it even more crazier I'm sure! 3y
DieAReader @LoverOfLearning Yes!🥺😬🤔 3y
CoverToCoverGirl Adding! Happy to see that your reading slump is now passed. 👏🏻🙂 (edited) 3y
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl Me too! Just gonna be a little choosier on genres & topics for a while. Break things up a bit so I‘m not bogging myself down (if this even makes sense to anyone other than me🤣🤷🏻‍♀️). 3y
34 likes7 comments
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DieAReader
This post contains spoilers
show me
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“The two spent hours talking and playing card - of all games, crazy eights.”🤪🃏

One_With_Books I loved this book! And I giggled at that part too 😂 3y
DieAReader I‘m loving it so far! 3y
8 likes2 comments
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CassieT
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️
It took me a long time to finish this book, despite the fascinating premise. The first 2/3 of the book are dry, repetitive, and are just a retelling of Rosenhan‘s study. The last 1/3 or so picked up the pace and it evolved into more of an exposé. I wish there was more information on other problematic studies, as well as their effects on the field. I only recommend this book to those concerned with the issues in modern mental health fields.

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DieAReader
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🔮I predict...there will be many to quotes to come. I‘m sorry (in advance)😬🤣

29 likes1 stack add
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TheBookHippie
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Chrissyreadit That‘s awesome! I love when authors interact and engage with their readers 💜💜💜 3y
Texreader So cool!! 3y
dariazeoli Your review/story was well deserving of author engagement! 👍 3y
UwannaPublishme How cool! 3y
54 likes1 stack add4 comments
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TheBookHippie
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#nonfictionnerds

In between (during) zoom today reading choices

dariazeoli I‘ve got my first Zoom of the year this afternoon. Hang in there! 3y
Reviewsbylola The Reason I Jump is great! 3y
cathysaid “In between (during)...” 😂😂😂 SO TRUE 3y
See All 6 Comments
Sargar114 The Great Pretender is a “crazy” ride...see what I did there... bah dum tssss...but I found it interesting 3y
TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I just started it!! I worked in locked units before the state shut them down then I worked in the group homes so I am really interested in the story!!! 3y
TheBookHippie @cathysaid RIGHT?! Shhhhhhhh. (during) 3y
73 likes1 stack add6 comments
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One_With_Books
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Pickpick

“Taunted by death, chilled by the unknown, reproached by ambiguity, we doctors defy the dark, brandishing whatever truthiness we might have at our disposal. Humours, meridians, alchemy, or molecular biology, our scientific beliefs themselves are not as important as is the slim and ultimately betraying comfort they provide.” -Rita Charon and Peter Wyer “The Art of Medicine,” Lancert

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One_With_Books
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It‘s been a a good minute since I‘ve picked up a book and was extremely invested in it. I am currently reading every article this book mentions so I can get a “behind the scenes” look at what it‘s truly about. Psychiatry has always interested me and it‘s a major field I have always wanted to get into and this just makes that interest intensify! It‘s so cool to see how over the course of years how, one man, changed so much in what mental health is.

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mcctrish
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Pickpick

It was a busy day getting the Christmas decorations down from the attic and put out around the house. My hubby did the outside and now we just need a tree 🌲 perfect way to finish this book. I loved this book!! SC is a great and thorough writer! I read her first one “Brain on Fire” and listened to this one, read by her. We have come so far with mental health but we have so far to go ❤️

ReadingRachael Your house looks beautiful!
3y
mcctrish @ReadingRachael thank you so much ☺️ the spotlights on the ornaments is a new thing this year and we are still debating it. Wondering if we should use coloured spotlights, get more ornaments, bail ? 🤣 3y
ReadingRachael It looks great as is :) I like putting sparkly oraments in our tree as they look pretty when its a little windy and the light reflects off them. I never thought to put ornaments in a tree like this until a neighbour asked us if we would mind if they put ornaments on their half of a tree we share....so now we both add a few more ornaments to the tree every year 😊 3y
mcctrish @ReadingRachael thank you and maybe more ornaments is the way 🤣👏🏻👍🏻 3y
43 likes4 comments
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mcctrish
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Happy Fry-Yay Littens! Did you do any BF book shopping? I did not. We did buy all these fries tonight to support Ronald McDonald House, from November 10-30 fry sales support RMHC so we have made it a habit to buy them on Fry-days as part of our dinner. I‘m going to be sad next week 🤣 ( I‘m 71% done this book and tomorrow is my last day, that‘s the one drawback to borrowed audio books, the auto returning 😢)

Prairiegirl_reading Online yes. I ordered seven actually. I have no idea where I‘ll put them but 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
mcctrish @Prairiegirl_reading 👏🏻👏🏻 good luck 3y
48 likes2 comments
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mcctrish
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Waiting in the mall parking lot for the teenager to finish his Christmas shopping. I‘m impressed that he is this organized to shop early. Also I am loving this book

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mcctrish
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I loved Brain on Fire

KristenDuck I need to read this!! 3y
mcctrish @KristenDuck the author is reading it and I‘m right into it immediately 3y
42 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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DieAReader
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Late again, but here we go! Thanks for the tag @Andrew65

1. I‘ve amassed a cute little collection😏 over the years. I‘ve got an electric one (2019🎄🎁), a 12lbs (5.44kg) weighted one, a quilted one, knit ones, some created by friends & family & others I‘ve been gifted. I use them year round😝

2. Tagged book has been screaming😱 at me for months.

TheSpineView Never too late to play! 🤩😊🥰 3y
23 likes1 comment
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wideeyedreader
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Bailedbailed

....yikes.

As someone who both is mentally ill (anxiety) and studied psychology, I was rather offended by Cahalan‘s views. She holds the view of psychiatry that stops many people from seeking treatment—that psychiatrists don‘t actually help, that treatment is “dangerous”, cold-hearted, and without actual care for the patients. This is NOT how mental health professionals are trained in the modern era. Continued in comments—

wideeyedreader Cahalan continuously uses the terms “madness” and “insanity” to refer to mental illness. If she had done any amount of research into actual modern mental health practices, she would know that these are not terms used anymore, as they are inaccurate and offensive. Cahalan seems to hold the view that being mentally ill is something to be afraid of, a view that makes me feel ASHAMED of having mental issues. Check yourself, lady. You‘re no expert. (edited) 3y
wideeyedreader In my opinion, Cahalan is dangerously biased against psychiatry/psychology as a discipline, and is woefully unqualified to write about it as a result. I want to learn about this case, but I‘ll take someone who actually knows something about mental health issues instead. 3y
wideeyedreader Here‘s a GR review that articulates these thoughts better: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3087880540 3y
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Megabooks That‘s why I didn‘t read this. I knew of her anti-psychiatry bent and decided that I‘d just save my brain from her. I have seen many excellent, compassionate psychiatrists and counselors. In fact, I‘ve only met one bad guy. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I‘m sorry for the people her axe to grind keeps away from the mostly good to excellent care available these days in the US. 3y
wideeyedreader @Megabooks I‘d only heard about her from my mom, who read both her books and mentioned none of this, so I was taken by surprise! All the psychiatrists and counselors I‘ve seen have been very helpful, and I‘m glad for what they‘ve done for me, which is why I‘m so upset about this view of hers 3y
tenar I‘m especially sad to hear she‘s written with such an ill-informed and prejudicial view of both psychiatry and mental illness, as I‘m someone who has gone through a similar, though less dramatic, experience to hers/the experiment. No professionals in my inpatient setting questioned my (mis)diagnosis; I had to exit psychiatric care to be correctly treated. I wanted to share that, although the specific condition she had is rare, 3y
tenar the way the Goodreads review frames her psychiatric misdiagnosis experience as one-in-a-million is also biased. It‘s unsettlingly too common, particularly for women in America. That‘s why I think it‘s extra important we have clear-headed books, not like this. And no number of misdiagnoses makes mental illness any less deserving of compassionate treatment! So sorry about this book and thank you for saving the rest of us! 3y
wideeyedreader @tenar oh I agree that what happened to her is pretty unsettling! I know very well that women are often misdiagnosed or not taken seriously, but I don‘t think it‘s particularly fair of her to take that out on psychiatry 3y
19 likes8 comments
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AmyK1
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Pickpick

Thanks to @Squidget for bringing this book to my attention.

Psychology has always interested me (forever ago it was my minor in college till I switched it to sociology cause Freud) so I was excited about this one. It was very informative-though not in the way I thought it would be. Really good and highly recommend.

DieAReader So glad you liked it! I still haven‘t gotten to it yet🙄😬 Soon I hope! I just keep getting distracted by other books🤦🏻‍♀️😉 4y
AmyK1 @Squidget That‘s easy to do! It helped that this is a library book and has to be back soon 😉😂 4y
DieAReader @AmyK1 Yes, that does help! Probably why I haven‘t gotten to it yet. Been series binging a lot this year. This is one of them😉 4y
AmyK1 @Squidget Sounds interesting! Enjoy! 4y
DieAReader @AmyK1 😉🥰 4y
40 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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speljamr
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this deep dive into an old study on psychiatric institutions, the look at what really happened to bring about that study, and the real world outcomes we still deal with today. Good read and quality investigative reporting.

Vivlio_Gnosi Adding to my stack now. 4y
nikirtehsuxlol I liked Brain on Fire, didn‘t know she had another book out! 4y
75 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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Somethingwitty
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Go ahead. Try to prove you're sane. I'll wait.

LoverOfLearning I really want to read this one! 4y
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Pedrocamacho
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Pickpick

If you don‘t know the story of Rosenhan and his study, then saying too much would spoil this book. It has twists and turns. It‘s a bit of a trip. Overall, I enjoyed it and found the material fascinating. Occasionally, when the author spoke about her own circumstances, I found the writing to be tonally bizarre. However, these moments were infrequent.

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DieAReader
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Bookworm problem #1: Choosing your next read. I want to start them all at the same time! Decisions, decisions, decisions! 😬🤯🤦🏻‍♀️📚🎶😻 #LitsyAtoZ #AbecedarianTBR

GHABI4ROSES 🥰I love our problems. And so much for my early bedtime⁉️@SquidgetsRoom (edited) 4y
DieAReader Does that mean you‘re still sprinting? 🧐😜📚 4y
GHABI4ROSES Sprinting to the bathroom, then going to try for bed again😅 4y
See All 6 Comments
DieAReader 🤣 Sweet dreams! 4y
DieAReader I literally cannot decide! I put it off last night so now I need to choose 🤦🏻‍♀️😬😱 4y
26 likes6 comments
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EJsmama0729

Book 3 of 2020

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LauraJ
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Mehso-so

Part rehash of Brain On Fire with some comments on the current state of psychiatry and a lot about an undercover study from 50 years ago. She spends most of the book obsessively trying to track down people who were involved in a Stanford experiment that sent seven healthy people into to various mental hospitals to see what happened. She never finds any of them and seems to annoy everyone she contacts, so it‘s hard to care about her search.

rabbitprincess LOL at her seeming to annoy everyone she contacts 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ 4y
46 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

This book was a bit of a muddle for me. I felt like it couldn‘t decide whether to be an indictment of the current state of mental health care in the US or an exploration of a groundbreaking psychiatric study that may not have been what it seemed. It has some really interesting parts that I enjoyed, but I wanted a clearer thesis.

Crazeedi I have this borrowed on my kindle, but haven't gotten to it yet 4y
39 likes1 comment
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LauraJ
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Audiobooking while crocheting a scarf for my 90 y/o neighbor. Found out he‘s been hesitant to use his heater because he can‘t afford the electricity. Also working with LADWP to get him reduced rates, but that‘s going to take some time. He refuses help from any government services because he fears “socialist commies”. Sigh.

Megabooks That‘s so frustrating. My dad has a grant that works primarily with seniors to find them government services they qualify for and don‘t know about. The average person/family in our eight county area gets over 11k in assistance. It‘s out there for people like him, seniors on a fixed income. I‘m glad you‘re doing something to help! 💜 4y
LauraJ @Megabooks What a great job! I used to work in the emergency dept. at a hospital where most of the patients were low income, so I know there are plenty of resources, but finding any that he‘ll accept is tough. 4y
Megabooks People of that depression-era generation can be really reluctant to ask for/take help. I think a lot of the older people around here relate to my dad because he‘s 70 and a Republican. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I‘m just glad here‘s there for them and enjoys his job. 👍🏻 4y
38 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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caitlynmhastert
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December 2019 - Book 6 // As a daughter of a loving and beautiful, schizophrenic and over-prescribed mother who ultimately committed suicide...I can‘t explain how thrilled I am to read this one!

LoverOfLearning Oh wow. This is a true story? Definitely adding to my TBR! 4y
5 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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catiewithac
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Pickpick

The Great Reading Slump of 2019 has finally ended! I was ambivalent about this book until the final 2 chapters when Cahalan starts preaching about our mental health crisis. And then I was 💯 % on board!! This is a good book for hesitant non-fiction readers because there are detective novel elements but also great narrative memoir and interesting characters/people. The story meanders at times, but the conclusion is strong! Recommended read! #botm

Texreader Yay! I hate slumps!! Glad you found a book to beat it! 4y
Sace I'm glad your slump is over. I generally like NF, but for some reason I this doesn't appeal to me. Maybe I'll see if the library has it. 4y
Bookwormjillk Glad you are out of your slump! 4y
Crazeedi I just borrowed this! 4y
63 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Copwithabook
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Pickpick

I was a fan of her first book, and I‘m now a fan of her second. There is more research on this book, which makes it bit denser read in this one than her first. However, from my own experience as a law enforcement officer, she hit the nail on the head with our current problems with mental illness. I highly encourage everyone to read The Great Pretender.

rachelm Happy Litsyversary!!! 4y
Copwithabook @rachelm thank you! I didn‘t realize it had already been that long! 4y
33 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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DieAReader
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A highly anticipated 2020 read!

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sherri
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Picked this one up at the Hachette Book Club Brunch after listening to Susannah Cahalan's talk. So excited to dive in!

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thereadingowlvina
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Mehso-so

The Great Pretender is an interesting and an eye-opening book about the way we understand mental health. What is mental illness? How do we define and diagnose mental illness? "If sanity and insanity exist, how shall we know them?" This book explores this question by focusing on the 1973 groundbreaking study by Dr. David Rosenhan.

Rating: 3.5⭐

For my full review please visit https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3055117389

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Copwithabook
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This! This right here is what I have been trying to tell people. People don‘t like the idea of institutions but they do not want to run elbows with mental illness when they walk down the street. ERs and police are not the social support system for mental illness that people think they are. The system is broken and those with mental illness are suffering the most

BookDragonNotWorm I agree completely! It creates a domino like problem down the line - the same people cycling through hospitals and circles of care with in-house psych wings over and over getting a temporary fix for a long term problem. 4y
KT1432 That's a really great point. 4y
21 likes2 comments
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Copwithabook
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Spending a super windy fall day curled up in my favorite chair with a book and a cup of coffee. My house is quiet, and I‘ve been reading for three hours straight. This is a rare and beautiful morning.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks That sounds wonderful!! This one is on my never ending list!! 4y
25 likes1 comment
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Skyler
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Cozy rainy Saturday night reading about madness #dogsoflitsy

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KadeLexical
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“naive realism” -a way of viewing the world that refuses to acknowledge that everyone experiences realities differently.

LoverOfLearning I feel like I would enjoy this book. 4y
6 likes1 comment
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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

This was a goodreads win which was awesome as I loved Brain on Fire. Interesting history/study of mental health hospitalizations. #TIL developing the DSM was a mess!
#nfnov @Clwojick @rsteve388

CatLass007 😻 4y
samantharoberts This sounds so good! 4y
Clwojick 9 pt 4y
30 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

Last summer I listened to Brain On Fire and was horrified and riveted while listening. When I saw Calahan‘s latest was a November #BOTM choice, I was so excited to get it! And I was hooked- I think I read it with a pen and a notebook in my hand for most of it- unless someone was (un)lucky enough to be in the room while I read- then I shared passages, anecdotes and facts directly! I can‘t wait to see what she will tackle next!!

AmyG I‘m looking forward to this, too. Brain on Fire was crazy. 4y
TorieStorieS @AmyG I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!! 🤞🤞🤞 4y
Crazeedi This sounds fascinating! Stacking! 4y
See All 10 Comments
Crazeedi I'll have to check out brain on fire 4y
TorieStorieS @Crazeedi Oh you should for sure!! I loved both!! I hope you will too!! 4y
Crazeedi @TorieStorieS I put on hold!! 4y
TorieStorieS @Crazeedi 🥳🥳🥳 4y
Crazeedi Did you open your #litsylove package yet? I'll be home later, I'll open mine tomorrow!! 4y
TorieStorieS @Crazeedi Same!! We have been back and forth between visiting family!! But I‘m planning on opening either late tonight or tomorrow!! 4y
Crazeedi 👍😍 4y
71 likes4 stack adds10 comments
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perfectsinner
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Mehso-so

Pretty good

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Nevertoobusyforbooks
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Current read. I loved Brain on Fire and am excited to start this one!

29 likes1 stack add
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perfectsinner
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Starting book #116

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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

A fascinating look at research that profoundly changed psychiatry researched by the “”Brain on Fire” author so it‘s wonderfully unbiased and well researched.

Amiable I've had my eye on this one since it was released -- good to know that you enjoyed it! 4y
CoffeeK8 @Amiable it was good on audio FYI, if you like audiobooks (edited) 4y
Amiable @CoffeeK8 I have actually not tried audiobooks yet. I‘m not sure how that format would work for me —I‘m definitely a visual learner. I‘ve been listening to podcasts in an effort to boost my auditory attention span, though! 4y
CoffeeK8 @Amiable when I first started I really picked carefully and read a couple books by authors I loved and figured out which voices I liked. If I didn‘t like the voice but liked the book I still stopped 4y
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
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CoffeeK8
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A wonderfully creepy #audiobook on this beautiful fall day

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perfectsinner
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Just picked this up at my library today. It's on my want-to-reads list.