This book aims to open up the debate on mental disorders, to get people interested and talking, and to get them thinking. For example, what is schizophrenia? Why is it so common? Why does it affect human beings but not other animals? What might this tell us about our mind and body, language and creativity, music and religion? What are the boundaries between mental disorder and 'normality'? Is there a relationship between mental disorder and genius? These are some of the difficult but important questions that this book confronts, with the overarching aim of exploring what mental disorders can teach us about human nature and the human condition. *Winner of the BMA Young Authors' Award*
CONTENTS:
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
1. Personality and personality disorders
2. Schizophrenia, the price for being human
3. Depression, the curse of the strong
4. Bipolar disorder, that fine madness
5. Anxiety, freedom, and death
6. Suicide and self-harm
Epilogue
Notes
Index
REVIEWS
This book is packed with striking insights... Burton's passion and enthusiasm for the subject never slips. --Remedy Magazine
Ultimately, this is a work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world. --Medical Journalists' Association
A really accessible and thorough approach to a complex and often impenetrable subject. --British Neuroscience Association
An interesting way of looking at things, and one that puts a positive spin on illnesses which are usually portrayed as being nothing but negative. --The Oxford Times
Neel Burton succeeds brilliantly, not only in explaining different types of mental illness in simple terms, but also in the breadth of understanding he brings to aspects of life outside the mental straitjacket. --British Medical Association
This remarkable book ... provides a highly readable and at the same time authoritative account that by combining literary and scientific sources shows the deep connections between madness and some of our most important attributes as human beings. --Prof Bill Fulford, Fellow of St Cross College, University of Oxford
CONTENTS:
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
1. Personality and personality disorders
2. Schizophrenia, the price for being human
3. Depression, the curse of the strong
4. Bipolar disorder, that fine madness
5. Anxiety, freedom, and death
6. Suicide and self-harm
Epilogue
Notes
Index
REVIEWS
This book is packed with striking insights... Burton's passion and enthusiasm for the subject never slips. --Remedy Magazine
Ultimately, this is a work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world. --Medical Journalists' Association
A really accessible and thorough approach to a complex and often impenetrable subject. --British Neuroscience Association
An interesting way of looking at things, and one that puts a positive spin on illnesses which are usually portrayed as being nothing but negative. --The Oxford Times
Neel Burton succeeds brilliantly, not only in explaining different types of mental illness in simple terms, but also in the breadth of understanding he brings to aspects of life outside the mental straitjacket. --British Medical Association
This remarkable book ... provides a highly readable and at the same time authoritative account that by combining literary and scientific sources shows the deep connections between madness and some of our most important attributes as human beings. --Prof Bill Fulford, Fellow of St Cross College, University of Oxford
