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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Lost Connections in Books
Mar 19, 2018
Sentiment is worthy but not cohesive
Johann Hari has delved into the world of depression and psychiatry, revealing his own battles with the condition and attempting to debunk approaches towards mental health. His intentions are worthy as it is a dense topic of discussion, and absolutely essential, but unfortunately Hari only focuses on one side.
His views on overprescription are completely accurate as many mental health professionals have a tendency to equate behaviour as a science, therefore looking towards traditional methods of treatment. However, his views that depression is totally reactive to environment is incorrect as many with other serious conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar, would have "endogenous" depression ie. where something goes wrong in the brain.
Much of this book concentrates on the disconnection from vital human requirements such as neighbourliness, professional fulfillment, acknowledgement of trauma and so on. His approach suggests that reconnecting may help the malaise. While I agree with half of his argument, others may find it oversimplified. But no doubt we do need a more compassionate attitude towards mental health.
His views on overprescription are completely accurate as many mental health professionals have a tendency to equate behaviour as a science, therefore looking towards traditional methods of treatment. However, his views that depression is totally reactive to environment is incorrect as many with other serious conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar, would have "endogenous" depression ie. where something goes wrong in the brain.
Much of this book concentrates on the disconnection from vital human requirements such as neighbourliness, professional fulfillment, acknowledgement of trauma and so on. His approach suggests that reconnecting may help the malaise. While I agree with half of his argument, others may find it oversimplified. But no doubt we do need a more compassionate attitude towards mental health.
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated Cards Against Humanity in Tabletop Games
Apr 22, 2021
Fun the first couple of times
It gets old pretty quickly but it is quite an icebreaker. I first played it at a local munch and it was a lot of fun but the novelty wears off after a while. This is not a game to play with your aunt or anyone who clutches their pearls on the regular unless those pearls are anal beads, and then all bets are off. It's dirty, graphic, full of sexual situations, and lots of things that will offend the average citizen. This game is only for the immature or dirty-minded (in a good way.) I mentioned it to my psychiatrist and she immediately bought a deck and played it with her friends and family then bought all the extensions. The cool kids (my psychiatrist and those like her) play it at the psychiatry practice meetings sometimes.
But how many times can you really answer a question with, "A 3-ft long black double-sided dildo" before it gets old?
But how many times can you really answer a question with, "A 3-ft long black double-sided dildo" before it gets old?
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Devil You Know: Stories of Human Cruelty and Compassion in Books
Jul 16, 2021
This book is a fantastic read into the real life work of a psychiatrist and the struggles that she faces with both the system and her clients.
Throughout, Dr Adshead tells us of different cases she has dealt with throughout her career but also intersperses it with facts and makes sure that they are backed up with sources too.
We follow her as she deals with murderers, arsonists, sex offenders and stalkers, and we get a rare insight into why they committed these offences. We also are able to read her own thoughts into the offenders and the difference that extra funding into health care would make.
This is definitely a book that anyone with an interest into mental health and those currently working in mental health would benefit from, even if it’s just for the reason that someone agrees that mental health services in the UK are completely underfunded and at crisis point, and have been that way for years.
Thank you so much to Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne for writing this insightful look into the world of psychiatry and mental health and to the team at Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
Throughout, Dr Adshead tells us of different cases she has dealt with throughout her career but also intersperses it with facts and makes sure that they are backed up with sources too.
We follow her as she deals with murderers, arsonists, sex offenders and stalkers, and we get a rare insight into why they committed these offences. We also are able to read her own thoughts into the offenders and the difference that extra funding into health care would make.
This is definitely a book that anyone with an interest into mental health and those currently working in mental health would benefit from, even if it’s just for the reason that someone agrees that mental health services in the UK are completely underfunded and at crisis point, and have been that way for years.
Thank you so much to Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne for writing this insightful look into the world of psychiatry and mental health and to the team at Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Every Fifteen Minutes in Books
May 10, 2018
Dr. Eric Parrish is the chief of psychiatry at HGH. When he receives a patient consult from his friend Dr. Fortunado in the Emergency Department, he is eager to help. Dr. Parrish meets Max who he takes on as his private patient. He is determined to help Max with his OCD. When Max's grandmother dies, Dr. Parrish is worried for his safety. When a girl that Max is fond of ends up murdered, Dr. Parrish gets even more worried. Will Dr. Parrish be able to find out if Max is behind the murder or find the real killer before it is too late?
Lisa Scottoline had me on the edge of my seat again, literally, since I listened to this book on my way back and forth from work. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist is thrown right at me. Twists and turns all over the place. I loved it. Lisa Scottoline is becoming one of my favorites, with her thrillers. I first read one of her books last year and quickly I have tried to read them all. This being my fourth of hers. I highly recommend her books to all who are looking for thrillers with great twists!
Lisa Scottoline had me on the edge of my seat again, literally, since I listened to this book on my way back and forth from work. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist is thrown right at me. Twists and turns all over the place. I loved it. Lisa Scottoline is becoming one of my favorites, with her thrillers. I first read one of her books last year and quickly I have tried to read them all. This being my fourth of hers. I highly recommend her books to all who are looking for thrillers with great twists!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Every Fifteen Minutes in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Dr. Eric Parrish is the chief of psychiatry at HGH. When he receives a patient consult from his friend Dr. Fortunado in the Emergency Department, he is eager to help. Dr. Parrish meets Max who he takes on as his private patient. He is determined to help Max with his OCD. When Max's grandmother dies, Dr. Parrish is worried for his safety. When a girl that Max is fond of ends up murdered, Dr. Parrish gets even more worried. Will Dr. Parrish be able to find out if Max is behind the murder or find the real killer before it is too late?
Lisa Scottoline had me on the edge of my seat again, literally, since I listened to this book on my way back and forth from work. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist is thrown right at me. Twists and turns all over the place. I loved it. Lisa Scottoline is becoming one of my favorites, with her thrillers. I first read one of her books last year and quickly I have tried to read them all. This being my fourth of hers. I highly recommend her books to all who are looking for thrillers with great twists!
Lisa Scottoline had me on the edge of my seat again, literally, since I listened to this book on my way back and forth from work. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist is thrown right at me. Twists and turns all over the place. I loved it. Lisa Scottoline is becoming one of my favorites, with her thrillers. I first read one of her books last year and quickly I have tried to read them all. This being my fourth of hers. I highly recommend her books to all who are looking for thrillers with great twists!
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/beyond-belief-my-secret-life-inside-scientology-and-my-harrowing-escape-by-jenna-miscavige
<i>3.5 stars</i>
<b><i>The problem is that Scientology is a system that makes it nearly impossible for you to think for yourself.</b></i>
What is Scientology? Is it a religion or is it just a way of life? I can’t quite get my head around it. I also can’t get my head around the fact that Scientology has become such a widely followed… thing. L. Ron Hubbard, was a sci-fi author, an adulterer (he eloped with his 2nd wife while still married to his first wife), an abuser, a hypocrite and a criminal. Did you know, when he <i>kidnapped</i> his 2nd wife, he told her she would never see her baby again if she didn’t go with him. He then, obviously, retracted this statement and told her that he’d “chopped the child into little pieces and watched them float down a river” and it was her fault he had done so, because she had left him. What kind of sick maniac was this man, and <i>why</i> do people follow his beliefs? No wonder he thinks psychiatry is evil, they obviously all told him he was medically insane and he refused to believe it because his ego was so big.
Scientology is just a big manipulation machine. Do as you’re told or you get humiliated - it’s disgusting.
<b><i>Anyway,</b></i> on to a review of the actual novel, not just the religion/following (which clearly I have some issues with).
Reading all about Jenna’s life in Scientology from such a young age is certainly eye opening and while a lot of people are saying she gives us too much information, I actually thinks it’s great that she’s included so much of what she did day in and day out throughout her progression in Scientology because it really gives us an insight into how messed up being in the Sea Org is and Scientology as a whole.
The humiliation and abuse she was put through, all because she did something as trivial as fancying a guy with a lower title than her or wanting to call her parents, is absolutely horrid and I’m amazed she’s come out of this life long experience rather normally. That being said, this isn’t as juicy as I was hoping it would be. I’m glad she wasn’t beaten and physically harmed in anyway, but I was lead to believe this was going a bit more terrifying by the “My Harrowing Escape” part of the title. Don’t get me wrong, Jenna went through some awful, awful stuff, I’m not discounting that at all, but… I don’t know, it just wasn’t macabre enough for me, as horrible as that sounds.
This is definitely a great book if you want to get a better look into life as a Scientologist, it gives you plenty of insider info, but I wouldn’t say it was the best of these kinds of book that I’ve read, though it’s probably the best about Scientology.
<i>3.5 stars</i>
<b><i>The problem is that Scientology is a system that makes it nearly impossible for you to think for yourself.</b></i>
What is Scientology? Is it a religion or is it just a way of life? I can’t quite get my head around it. I also can’t get my head around the fact that Scientology has become such a widely followed… thing. L. Ron Hubbard, was a sci-fi author, an adulterer (he eloped with his 2nd wife while still married to his first wife), an abuser, a hypocrite and a criminal. Did you know, when he <i>kidnapped</i> his 2nd wife, he told her she would never see her baby again if she didn’t go with him. He then, obviously, retracted this statement and told her that he’d “chopped the child into little pieces and watched them float down a river” and it was her fault he had done so, because she had left him. What kind of sick maniac was this man, and <i>why</i> do people follow his beliefs? No wonder he thinks psychiatry is evil, they obviously all told him he was medically insane and he refused to believe it because his ego was so big.
Scientology is just a big manipulation machine. Do as you’re told or you get humiliated - it’s disgusting.
<b><i>Anyway,</b></i> on to a review of the actual novel, not just the religion/following (which clearly I have some issues with).
Reading all about Jenna’s life in Scientology from such a young age is certainly eye opening and while a lot of people are saying she gives us too much information, I actually thinks it’s great that she’s included so much of what she did day in and day out throughout her progression in Scientology because it really gives us an insight into how messed up being in the Sea Org is and Scientology as a whole.
The humiliation and abuse she was put through, all because she did something as trivial as fancying a guy with a lower title than her or wanting to call her parents, is absolutely horrid and I’m amazed she’s come out of this life long experience rather normally. That being said, this isn’t as juicy as I was hoping it would be. I’m glad she wasn’t beaten and physically harmed in anyway, but I was lead to believe this was going a bit more terrifying by the “My Harrowing Escape” part of the title. Don’t get me wrong, Jenna went through some awful, awful stuff, I’m not discounting that at all, but… I don’t know, it just wasn’t macabre enough for me, as horrible as that sounds.
This is definitely a great book if you want to get a better look into life as a Scientologist, it gives you plenty of insider info, but I wouldn’t say it was the best of these kinds of book that I’ve read, though it’s probably the best about Scientology.
Lucy Buglass (45 KP) rated Mad To Be Normal (2018) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Mental Health in the 60s
I’ll admit, whenever I see David Tennant’s name on a cast list I get excited. As a long time fan, I’ve watched him play a variety of roles brilliantly. So when I was given the opportunity to review Mad To Be Normal and I learned what the plot was, how could I refuse? Set in the 60s, the film follows Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing and his unconventional approach to mental health treatment, causing controversy within the psychiatry field.
Although I don’t know much about Laing, Tennant really shone in the central role and delivered a truly captivating character who was riddled with his own underlying issues. He’s a tricky one because sometimes you really sympathise and agree with him, but other times he’s so utterly frustrating. The film showed us many different sides to him, and created a well-rounded exploration of the man in question. He’s compassionate but also terribly naive, and that’s a dangerous combination indeed. Tennant is joined by Elisabeth Moss, Michael Gambon and Gabriel Byrne which is an excellent line up.
One of the best things about this film is the characters, because everyone does such an amazing job of portraying complex characters with equally as complex relationships. Moss plays student Angie who quickly becomes a love interest of Laing’s, and joins him in his work. Much like Laing, she is also well-rounded and has good traits and bad ones, the latter resulting in rather turbulent moments throughout the film.
I especially enjoyed the way mental health was portrayed by characters, as you could tell they were struggling and trying so hard to deal with their illnesses. It was dealt with respectfully and honestly, whilst still showing the risks of untreated mental health conditions. Gabriel Byrne in particular stands out in his portrayal of Jim, going from someone friendly and sentimental to someone violent and dangerous very quickly. It would have been good to learn more about each character and their individual backgrounds for context’s sake, replacing the unnecessary scenes with this. Nevertheless, the insight into mental health in this era was fascinating, particularly scenes involving the inhumane treatment known as electroshock therapy. It shows we have come a long way since then, but we still have a long way to go.
The stellar performances are accompanied with some great set design, which I imagine would provide some welcome nostalgia for those familiar with the era. I loved Laing’s quirky style both in his interior design, behaviour and clothing choices, making him stand out even more. He’s flamboyant in every sense of the word, but not always for the right reasons. For his time, Laing was clearly very open minded, caring and in favour of self-expression, further conflicting with the beliefs of wider society. Although open mindedness is a good thing, his goes too far which ultimately would lead to his eventual downfall.
Robert Mullan has done a great job bringing this important figure to life on screen, putting together a cast that perfectly delivered this story. Whilst I would have liked more context around both the patients and Laing himself, the film still delivered a powerful message in its 1 hour 45 minute run time. It’s definitely worth a watch.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2018/08/04/mental-health-in-the-60s-mad-to-be-normal-review/
Although I don’t know much about Laing, Tennant really shone in the central role and delivered a truly captivating character who was riddled with his own underlying issues. He’s a tricky one because sometimes you really sympathise and agree with him, but other times he’s so utterly frustrating. The film showed us many different sides to him, and created a well-rounded exploration of the man in question. He’s compassionate but also terribly naive, and that’s a dangerous combination indeed. Tennant is joined by Elisabeth Moss, Michael Gambon and Gabriel Byrne which is an excellent line up.
One of the best things about this film is the characters, because everyone does such an amazing job of portraying complex characters with equally as complex relationships. Moss plays student Angie who quickly becomes a love interest of Laing’s, and joins him in his work. Much like Laing, she is also well-rounded and has good traits and bad ones, the latter resulting in rather turbulent moments throughout the film.
I especially enjoyed the way mental health was portrayed by characters, as you could tell they were struggling and trying so hard to deal with their illnesses. It was dealt with respectfully and honestly, whilst still showing the risks of untreated mental health conditions. Gabriel Byrne in particular stands out in his portrayal of Jim, going from someone friendly and sentimental to someone violent and dangerous very quickly. It would have been good to learn more about each character and their individual backgrounds for context’s sake, replacing the unnecessary scenes with this. Nevertheless, the insight into mental health in this era was fascinating, particularly scenes involving the inhumane treatment known as electroshock therapy. It shows we have come a long way since then, but we still have a long way to go.
The stellar performances are accompanied with some great set design, which I imagine would provide some welcome nostalgia for those familiar with the era. I loved Laing’s quirky style both in his interior design, behaviour and clothing choices, making him stand out even more. He’s flamboyant in every sense of the word, but not always for the right reasons. For his time, Laing was clearly very open minded, caring and in favour of self-expression, further conflicting with the beliefs of wider society. Although open mindedness is a good thing, his goes too far which ultimately would lead to his eventual downfall.
Robert Mullan has done a great job bringing this important figure to life on screen, putting together a cast that perfectly delivered this story. Whilst I would have liked more context around both the patients and Laing himself, the film still delivered a powerful message in its 1 hour 45 minute run time. It’s definitely worth a watch.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2018/08/04/mental-health-in-the-60s-mad-to-be-normal-review/