Mental Health Books

Dr. Barondes makes an incredibly complex subject easy to understand. He packs a great deal of information into a few, well illustrated pages. The book starts in the history of neurology, then explains the structure of neurons and goes on to describe the different brain chemicals and how they work on a molecular level.

Because of its clarity, this book would make an excellent textbook for teaching neurochemistry and its interactions with the mind.

I asked a doctor I respected to recommend a book which was a short synopsis of the biochemical basis of Psychiatry and he said, "Amazon - up on Amazon". He was right.

The book contained some "extras" I hadn't anticipated. It is written by a Psychiatry Department Chairman (Samuel H. Barondes) and was definitely intended to cover the highlights and future of the field.

"Molecules and Mental Illness" is a phenomenal book but it should better be titled "Overview and Future of Modern Psychiatry for Those Having a Background in Science".

It is unfortunate that young doctors these days have no familiarity with the magazine, "Scientific American" for this would be a fine read for senior medical students considering Psychiatry as a specialty, for residents in Psychiatry to be reminded of the scientific, cellular and molecular basis of what they are practicing, or for more senior doctors needing a refresher course or needing an overview of the field.

Starting with an overview of the history of biological psychiatry then gross and molecular genetics, the next third of the book has to do with macro- and micro- biology with great emphasis on neuronal membrane and different receptors, eventually covering known interactions of drugs with the membrane and across a synapse.

The next third of the book delves into the major mental illnesses (schizophrenia, mania and depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder) along with their diagnostic criteria, genetics, and drug therapies (there is scant mention of electroconvulsive therapy and psychotherapy).

This book is loaded with color reproductions of paintings, of chromosomes, of neurons (cross-section intracellular, synaptically, as conductors of electrical signals), of the biochemistry of the nervous system (i.e., membrane dynamics), charts, graphs, etc., etc., etc. It is replete with schematics of relevant molecules (legal and illegal).

The Table of Contents is short, sweet and to the point.

The book itself is concise and readable but comprehensive.

Curiously, the book ends with a "Recapitulation (In Verse)", four subsections: Freud, Drugs, Genes, Stories.

"Since understanding molecules
That drive us to insanity
Provides a giant window on
The nature of humanity."

I recommend it highly to science-oriented persons and to physicians. At its price, it is a "bargain" book.

This book would be ideal for Amazon's "Look Inside" feature.

The text is too enjoyable!! I was hooked! I am a medical graduate interested in Psychiatry and Genetics. This book is now my "bible"! THANK YOU SIR Barondes...thank you for giving me more passion for the field and inspiration for contributing to science in the future. If the Gods are on my side I will meet you someday. Salaam. Hussain

When I was given a copy of Jeffrey Rosen's book, The Most Democratic Branch: How the Courts Serve America, I figured I was in for a hit piece on either the right or the left for damage done to our country through manipulation of the U.S. Supreme Court. But that was not the case.

Instead, Rosen draws on a number of landmark cases and political history to impugn the act of judicial unilateralism. He uses the Dred Scott decision of 1856 and the Civil Rights Cases of 1883 as "cautionary tales" against judicial unilateralism, and employs many other cases to illustrate its inherent dangers.

In Dred Scott, the Supreme Court ruled under Chief Justice Roger Taney that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories. In the Civil Rights Cases, the Supreme Court held that, under the provisions of the 14th Amendment, Congress lacked constitutional authority to outlaw racial discrimination by private individuals and organizations, basically striking down the 1875 Civil Rights Act.

Throughout the book, Rosen's arguments are based on the premise that the power of the people is superior to the will of the legislature when it stands in opposition to the Constitution. In The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton says judges should be governed by that power and Rosen contends that they usually are.

He argues that judges typically do represent the constitutional view - and interests - of the people. When Brown v. Board of Education was decided in 1954, the Court not only "reflected constitutional consensus but helped one to crystallize." Although national opinion regarding public school segregation was fairly evenly divided in 1954, Gallup Polls conducted after Brown was decided showed that over half the country favored the Court's unanimous decision that "separate educational facilities [for black and white children] are inherently unequal."

Making the case for judicial restraint, Rosen cites the Court's recent decision that aliens detained at Guantanamo Bay had the right to habeas corpus. Congress basically overturned the decision. However, if the Court had acted with more restraint and held that "enemy combatants tried before military commissions could challenge the legal basis for their trials but that other detainees captured and held outside the country could not, Congress would likely not have repudiated the decision.

In The Most Democratic Branch, Rosen aruges for bipartisan judicial modesty and restraint in the spirit of Judges Frankfurter, Holmes and Leonard Hand as we approach 21st-century issues such as "genetic selection and enhancement, high-tech brain mapping that can identify criminal suspects with a propensity to violence, the demand for personalized drug and gene therapies, and efforts to patent novel forms of human life."

"This book will be, and should be, widely read. The proper relationship of constitutional law to politics is one of the most controversial issues in American life today, and Rosen understands that relationship better than anyone. Filled with important insights--and real wisdom--The Most Democratic Branch is simply terrific. For those seeking a path out of the judicial polarization of the past decade, you need look no farther: Rosen shows the way." -- William J. Stuntz, Harvard Law School

"Jeffrey Rosen defies everything you think you know about the court with a counter-intuitive argument of great power concerning both how the court has behaved in the past and how it should behave in the future. He attacks our heroic visions of the Supreme Court as a grand check against majority rule and recasts its general history as one of deference to the constitutional vision of majorities. Rosen's is a theory of adjudication for grown-ups; those at once concerned to limit judicial power and impatient with shrill doctrinal prescriptions for doing so. An important and impressive work from one of America's most insightful legal commentators." -- Benjamin Wittes, Editorial Writer, The Washington Post

"Jeffrey Rosen is America's most insightful public commentator on the Supreme Court and the Constitution. Beautifully written and persuasively argued, The Most Democratic Branch makes constitutional law accessible to ordinary citizens while simultaneously challenging legal experts to rethink their views on the Court's role in American democracy." -- Michael J. Klarman, author of the Bancroft Prize-winning, From Jim Crow to Civil Rights

"Jeffrey Rosen makes a powerful and accessible case for a restrained judicial role, one that will challenge liberal proponents of Warren Court activism and conservative proponents of Rehnquist Court activism. His work combines sound historical scholarship with important prescriptions for contemporary constitutional politics." -- Mark A. Graber, University of Maryland

Given all the hoopla about whether the federal courts have exceeded their proper boundaries, including recent threats by House and Senate Republicans to retaliate for the Terri Schiavo decisions, it seems an opportune time to consider what is the appropriate role for the Supreme Court in our democratic pollitical system. Jeffrey Rosen's book should contribute mightily toward that end. Rosen writes as a George Washington University law professor for the law reviews; serves as legal editor of "The New Republic"; and manages to write important articles for general publications, such as his recent article in "The Atlantic" entitled "The Day After Roe." So he is very effective at explaining legal concepts for a general audience, for whom this book is designed.

Rosen's solution to the so-called "counter-majoritarian difficulty" is generally for the Court to avoid making decisions that are not supported by public consensus. This position raises a number of immediate difficulties--two name two: (1) how is the Court qualified to make such determinations?; and (2) what good is the Supreme Court if all it does is go with the majority? Rosen then spends five chapters recounting situations in which the Court did not comply with this mandate (what we used to refer to as "self-inflicted wounds"), such as Dred Scott, Roe and (of course) Bush v. Gore, where the Court paid the price for attempting to lead rather than reflect public opinion. One can, of course, think of cases where the Court did successfully lead, e.g., Miranda, but nonetheless Rosen's position here is a well-recognized one. My only complaint is that he covers so many cases under a variety of topics that I would assume the general reader might find his head spinning after ingesting this huge dose of con law.

It is in the final chapter ("Constitutional Futurology, or What are the Courts Good For?") that Rosen makes his most substantial contribution. Here he neatly summarizes some of the most cogent arguments (Holmes, Hand, Frankfurter, and others) for meaningful judicial restraint. Particularly important in this regard are the benefits stemming from Bickel's concept of a constitutional dialogue between the Court and the policy-making branches, as contrasted with the adverse consequences of "judicial unilaterism." Rosen has some insightful comments on how judicial restraint should be exercised. I ended up feeling that had Rosen devoted more space to this kind of analysis, rather than running through so many con law cases, the book would have been stronger. Nonetheless, a fine introduction to this complicated issue for the general reader, who -- like the rest of us -- clearly needs to become better informed on this important topic.

I wish I had this book when my kids were younger! S.K. Joun presents wonderfully creative ideas on how to deal with age old problems...all with charming humor and insight. It also gave me comfort knowing I'm not the only one with these experiences. It's a quick read and I know I will reference it again and again for the great ideas. From start to end, a fabulous book and one I highly recommend it!!!

Since the birth of my first child 10 years ago, I must've bought dozens of parenting guides. I can honestly say this one goes to the top of my list for any parent. Now, why wasn't this book around 10 years ago when I realy could've used it? This is not a book by so-called experts - the doctors, the psychiatrists, the behaviorists, etc., etc. This is by another parent who found what worked for her and what I think will work for any parent. It did for me.

I'm amazed how creative some of the solutions are in this book about getting the baby to sleep through the night, getting my older ones to listen without sounding like a nag, and creating time with my husband too! It is so easy to read, so easy to understand, and so easy to use every day.

I've only had the book for two weeks and I've seen so much improvement at home. I'm finally getting some sleep! I've shared some of the tips with my sister, parents of other students at my son's school and at these mothers support groups. They think I'm some sort of an expert! I'd recommend this book to anyone.

I read the WHOLE book in one train ride! Great tips - esp the one about getting the child to sleep on his own! Fun read.

Concise to the point. Simple to understand and to apply. Infomation that can change your life! This book has been long over due.It is written by the best in thier field. Dont miss the chance to read this book.If not for yourself than do it for someone else and pass it on, its to valuable to be ignored.

For information on treating schizophrenia with alternative medicine, this book has been most helpful. Written in very clear terms, understandable by persons with little, or no, medical training. Explains the main "bio-types" of those who suffer from schizophrenia, and what can be done to correct the imbalance/s.
Few practitioners are willing and able to treat schizophenia by means of balancing the chemistry of the brain with natural supplements. This book can guide both the practioner and patient in the quest for a successful alternative treatment of mental illness. It explains various deficiencies that may cause particular symptoms, which sources of supplements help most, which blood tests are useful, etc. This book has helped my son, who was psychotic -- in and out of hospitals -- to successfully wean off almost all medication.
He continues to improve, and hopes to be drug free soon.

For information on treating schizophrenia with alternative medicine, this book is most helpful. Written in very clear terms, understandable by persons with little, or no, medical training. Explains the main "bio-types" of those who suffer from schizophrenia, and what can be done to correct the imbalance/s.
Few practitioners are willing and able to treat schizophenia by means of balancing the chemistry of the brain with natural supplements. This book can guide both the practioner and patient in the quest for a successful alternative treatment of mental illness. It explains various deficiencies that may cause particular symptoms, which sources of supplements help most, which blood tests are useful, etc. This book has helped my son, who was psychotic -- in and out of hospitals -- to successfully wean off almost all prescription medication.
He continues to improve, and hopes to be drug free soon.

Simply an excellent book with lots of information in a small package. Great coverage of the biobases of different psychopathology. Great overview of neuroscience for psychologists or other mental health workers.

"A truly valuable contribution to the neuroscience and mental health research literature. It is a formidable task to cogently explain underlying mechanisms of brain function and the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders; however Dr. Pliszka's book delivers in being both replete with citations while being written in a very engaging style. His articulate explanation of the role of catecholamines in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is just one of many noteworthy examples. This book should be a required psychopathology text for all mental health clinicians-in-training."--David R. DeLorenzo, PhD, Private Practice

I cannot recommend this text highly enough. It was easy to see that
the author had put a lot of work into this project. His writing was excellent and this
was good, because the subject matter demanded focus, attention, concentration and rereading.
This is a good place to begin, and return to again, when the one wants to get a foothold in the neurobiology of the mind.

I would highly recommend this book to every student of personality, psychology, and/or human character. Essentially the book is about neurotic styles. Earlier this week I read an article saying that Freudianism is dead; this cannot really be true, because Horney's books describe reality. She has a very lucid prose style that's all the more impressive considering that German is her native language. I plan to read her books over for the rest of my life. I will say that if you are TOO neurotic, you may find this painful to read.

Although the importance of the work of Karen Horney is sometimes downplayed, this is one of the best books I have read in my life. Far from incomprehensible language and theories that seem much more far from reality that the ones they are supposed to apply to, this book is an easy read for everyone, and I could understand simple mechanisms that therapists take years to reveal. Karen Horney does not try to place sex as an explanation for everything that you do or think.

Horney revolutionalized analysis. She found societal roots for neurotic behavior and detailed how the intrapsychic processes get projected onto others in a way that could be understood. She changed the language of psychoanalysis -- she made it make sense and so helped thousands and thousands make sense of their lives. Cognitive therapy really started here.

I challenge anybody to read this book, which is entertaining, carefully argued and original, and believe the established orthodoxy in Western society (really feminist propaganda) that there exists a "patriachy". Hypocrisy in social,legal, economic and sexual matters is so deep-rooted in us and socialized at such an early stage that even recognizing that hypocrisy deserves an award. Ought to be essential reading in all college courses and for anybody interested in hearing someone finally tell it like it is and still retain his humour (take a lesson from this feminists!). But it won't for reasons Thomas knows only to well; nobody will have heard of it due to the feminist orthodoxy's unwarranted self-righteousness and old male fools outdated chivalrous beliefs (described expertly). Can't say it changed my life as I've never swallowed the established British/American orthodoxy but if most people read it with an open mind it would change their understanding of fundamental issues immensely and for the better.

Being a long-time fan of Warren Farrell's (and other's) work in this area, I've known of this book for quite awhile. It took me several years to get around to scaring up a copy, but it was well worth it. This is one really great book! My only regret was that it was nearly a decade old by the time I got to it, not that things have changed that much. For me, it's one of the three best men's books of the 90's ("Myth of Male Power" and "A Man's World" being the other two).

The Kirkus review above is pretty much right on the money with its description of the book. I'd add that there's a quite interesting chapter on images of masculinity in the media (John Wayne to Clint Eastwood to WWF), in which Thomas even works in some very interesting ideas on the real meaning cross-dressing. The book is that wide-ranging and philosophical at times -- the powerful insights snuck up on me all the way through the book. I really liked Thomas's writing style: very understated, and all the more convincing because of that.

I might also add that even though Thomas is a Brit, the book is balanced fairly evenly between this side of the Atlantic and the other. So other American readers shouldn't fear irrelevancy.

This is a gem of a book. Highly recommended for those interested in the topic.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to write the in depth review that this book deserves, but I do want anyone who is contemplating the purchase of this book to BUY IT. This book is a must have for anyone truly interested in EQUAL rights. If you enjoy Warren Farrell, you will love David Thomas. If you see TRUE EQUALITY in the same light that I do, you will never put this book out of arm's reach...and you will read it again...and again...and again.

Jeff

Naturally, this is a brilliant book. But this is the second time I've asked you to get the author's name right. Why can't you correct an obviously goofed up author's name? I can only communicate with Amazon this way since the normal email address of Amazon is incomplete according to my computer.

The correct name of the book is "The Odd Brain: Mysteries of Our Weird and Wonderful Brains Explained"

"The Odd Brain" is hip. Double thumbs up. It's afascinating book about what Woody Allen calls his "second favorite organ". This book looks at recent research findings about what we know about the human brain. It relates the findings to behavior and daily life. It's funny what can happen when the brain goes awry in a positive sense. For example, foreign accent syndrome (read more about it). It's sad what can happen when the brain goes awry in a negative sense. For example, schizophrenia (again, read more about it). The author, Dr. Stephen Juan, is a legend in Australia where he teaches at the University of Sydney and appears on radio and television explaining just about everything about being a human being. If you want to know about the brain but don't want to dive deeply into heavy neuroscience, this is your book. Recommended for 12 year olds up.

This is an excellent book, reading through other women experiences helped me so much, I felt like I wasn't the only weird one feeling like that, and there's other people out there feeling like me. It's a wonderful book, I always pick it up now and then, when I'm starting to feel the panic coming back and the unreasonable thoughts. I highly recomend it. For everybody out there struggling with any kind of panic disorder, be patient with yourself, you'll feel better!

Gives women,young or 'senior' a genuine feeling of hope. Fromthe very first pages of Lorna Weinstock and Eleanor Gilman'scomforting and comprehensive book about dealing with anxiety disorders,the reader experiences a renewed sense of optimism and immense relief. For those of us who have labored with anxiety,the 'fear of fear',the case studies ring familiar and are a great comfort. Information re medications and'current practice' therapies afford one the chance to make informed choices and participate in self recovery with a growing sense of control. I highly recommend this thoughtfully written guide to WELLNESS!

This book made it very comforting to know that panic disorder is not uncommon. All the experiences the women felt in the book, I too felt and was able to relate to. This definately helps you self heel yourself from this disease. Highly recommened for women suffering from panic disorder or anxiety attacks.

Like so many other autism books that may be too technical to understand, this book is easier to relate to. This book gives practical solutions to unexplainable behaviors and gives suggestions in turning negatives into positives.

There are many examples from real families. A MUST READ for parents who want to modify certain behaviors of their autistic child.

Practical, honest and realistic, this book recognizes that before they can do anything else, parents have got to prevent their autistic child from running into the middle of the road or flushing all the household's soap down the toilet.

It's designed to be easy to read, with accounts of common (and uncommon) problems organized into sections (e.g. on agression, eating, or hygiene), so that it's possible for an exhausted parent to look up a specific problem without reading the whole book from start to finish. Each sections features accounts by parents of how they found a solution to a particular problem. Although the book is grounded in the wise and humane approach evolved by Dr Schopler and his colleagues over decades of research and practice, the emphasis throughout is on finding what works for a particular child or adult with autism, not imposing a rigid theory.

Any parent of a child with an autistic spectrum condition (not to mention teachers and other professionals) will find something that they recognize here, and get advice from the true experts - other parents in the same boat.

This book is an excellent, easy to read book on the subject of "challenging" behaviours in people with Autism/PDD. It provides both possible causes and solutions. Co-written by many behaviour therapists & parents and edited by Eric Scholper, it is solidly based, reputable and a wonderful aid for families who are dealing with "challenging behaviours". Highly recommended