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The Lobotomist

A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness
By Jack El-Hai
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Lobotomist by Jack El-Hai is a compelling biography that delves into the life and controversial career of Dr. Walter Freeman, the American neurologist and psychiatrist who popularised the lobotomy. The book explores Freeman's rise to prominence, his relentless pursuit of medical breakthroughs, and the ethical questions surrounding his work. It offers an intriguing look at the intersection of ambition, science, and the human cost of medical experimentation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by the intersection of medical history and psychology, as it provides a compelling look into the life and controversial career of a pioneering figure in psychiatric treatment. This biography offers a deep dive into the ethical, scientific, and societal implications of medical practices during a pivotal time in mental health care.

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The Lobotomist

Praise for The Lobotomist "Written with such clarity and engaging detail that a reader has difficulty in putting it down. " --The New York Review of Books "One of the many virtues of El-Hai's text is the rich detail he provides about Freeman's life and ideas. " --Los Angeles Times "Fascinating...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms.

Although many patients did not benefit from the thousands of lobotomies Freeman performed, others believed their lobotomies changed them for the better. Drawing on a rich collection of documents Freeman left behind and interviews with Freeman's family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look into the life of this complex scientific genius and traces the physician's fascinating life and work.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Lobotomist by Jack El-Hai delves into the controversial world of lobotomy through the life of Walter Freeman, a physician dedicated to this drastic psychiatric treatment. While modern perspectives view lobotomy as clearly misguided, the book highlights how many significant medical professionals of the time supported Freeman's work. Despite the procedure's harsh criticism, El-Hai presents a nuanced view of Freeman, suggesting that he sometimes acted with his patients' best interests at heart, given the limitations of the era's medical understanding.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780470098301

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 March 2007

Country: United States

Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Illustration: Photos: 2 B&W, 0 Color

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 142.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 415g

Pages: 368

Collections

Biography & Memoir Education & Reference Jack El-Hai Non-Fiction Science & Technology Biographies

About the Author

JACK EL-HAI is the President of the American Society of Journalists and a contributor to the Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post Magazine, American Heritage, and other publications. He is a past winner of the Minnesota Book Award and the June Roth Memorial Award for Medical Journalism.

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