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The Great Pretender

The Undercover Mission that Changed our Understanding of Madness
By Susannah Cahalan
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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 Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan delves into the intriguing world of psychiatric diagnosis. It explores a groundbreaking experiment in the 1970s where a group of healthy people feigned mental illnesses to be admitted to psychiatric hospitals, highlighting the fine line between sanity and insanity. With a focus on the historical and ethical aspects of psychology, the book questions the validity of psychiatric diagnostics and their impact on society.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you are intrigued by the intersection of psychology and journalism, as it explores the boundaries between madness and sanity. With a blend of investigative research and personal engagement, it unravels the mysteries of a groundbreaking psychological study that transformed the mental health field. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy real-life mysteries and the exploration of ethical issues in psychology.

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The Great Pretender

From 'one of America's most courageous young journalists' (NPR) comes a propulsive narrative history investigating the fifty-year-old mystery behind a dramatic experiment that changed the course of modern medicine.

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

In the early 1970s, Stanford professor Dr Rosenhan conducted an experiment, sending sane patients into psychiatric wards; the result of which was a damning paper about psychiatric practises. The ripple effects of this paper helped bring the field of psychiatry to its knees, closing down institutions and changing mental health diagnosis forever.

But what if that ground-breaking and now-famous experiment was itself deeply flawed? And what does that mean for our understanding of mental illness today? These are the questions Susannah Cahalan asks in her completely engrossing investigation into this staggering case, where nothing is quite as it seems.

The Great Pretender delves into the implications of this pivotal study and the mysteries surrounding it, challenging our perceptions of mental health diagnosis.

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 Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan has been praised for its gripping, investigative narrative and is said to resemble a detective story. It offers an insightful look into the anti-psychiatry movement and highlights the challenges psychiatry has faced over the years. Reviewers commend Cahalan for her meticulous research, compelling writing, and the courage to present inconvenient truths, which ultimately contributes immense value as a historical account.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838851446

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 July 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 267g

Pages: 400

Collections

Education & Reference Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Susannah Cahalan

About the Author

Susannah Cahalan is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, a memoir about her struggle with a rare autoimmune disease of the brain. She lives in Brooklyn.

@scahalan | susannahcahalan.com

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