Madness: A Brief History Paperback – Import, 13 March 2003

In my PhD yr 1 class, we read this as an introduction to the world of psychiatry. It highlights the history and perception of psychiatry and mental illness from philosophical perspectives that help you ask the right questions and framings. Loved it!

Really good description of how madness has been treated for the past three or four centuries. Good statistics as well.

For a little book Roy Porter knows how to pack in the information. I purchased this book while taking a course about the history of psychology. It really came in handy when it came time to write my final paper. While it is not the most comprehensive book on the market, it is full of useful and well-researched information. Another book that pairs well with this would be Edward Shorter's A History of Psychology A History of Psychiatry: From the Era of the Asylum to the Age of ProzacWhat I liked most about Porter's book was how easy it was to navigate and thumb threw. I could quickly find the information I needed, or use it as a jumping off point. If you're studying psychology and want to know more about its mad history I recommend this book. It's entertaining and easy to read.

I am using this book for my dissertation. It is very informative! A great read if you’re interested in this subject.

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