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Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-Of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, And The Medicalization Of Ordinary Life (2013)

by Allen Frances(Favorite Author)

3.7 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0062229257 (ISBN13: 9780062229250)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

William Morrow

review 1: This was a really fascinating book, and somewhat saddening. I'm very interested in psychiatric treatment and how we talk about it in our society, so this was a great angle to look at and see how there is dissent even within the industry. If you already distrust corporations, then this book might just push you over the edge into not trusting any medication because it's created by Big Pharma. Remember (as the author reminds us several times) that while the system is being abused by Big Pharma, those medications are necessary in some cases for some people. Don't write them off entirely because of this book. I only give it 4 stars because I began to get annoyed with the author's repetitive "we did the best we could and couldn't have foreseen the abuses" statements. I understan... mored that people against medication have abused his statements, but it was a bit much throughout the book. I still highly recommend it.
review 2: The author’s principal motive for writing this book was the new DSM5 (the “psychiatrists’ bible”), with its tendency to turn healthy, natural behaviour into mental disorders. The implications of this are very serious — even dangerous for our society. While the author presents a strong and valid argument he gets hung up on the concept of “normal”, what it is and isn’t. Had he stayed on target with a straight-down-the-line critique of the DSM5, his argument would have been stronger. Nonetheless, this still remains a valid and penetrating analysis of the problem, one that is written in an easy-to-understand conversational style. less

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