The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct [Paperback]

50th Anniversary Edition With a New Preface and Two Bonus Essays

The most influential critique of psychiatry ever written, Thomas Szasz's classic book revolutionized thinking about the nature of the psychiatric profession and the moral implications of its practices. By diagnosing unwanted behavior as mental illness, psychiatrists, Szasz argues, absolve individuals of responsibility for their actions and instead blame their alleged illness. He also critiques Freudian psychology as a pseudoscience and warns against the dangerous overreach of psychiatry into all aspects of modern life.

“The landmark book that argued that psychiatry consistently expands its definition of mental illness to impose its authority over moral and cultural conflict.”“Enormously courageous and highly infomative, and it makes fascinating reading . . . bold and often brilliant.”“Controversial and influential . . . an iconoclastic work.”“Szasz’s radical views on mental illness and drug addiction have been presented with great consistency and courage . . . I predict that Dr. Szasz’s work and thought will once again come to the fore: he takes the long view.”“A classic.”“A damning critique of mental illness . . . a classic work.”“Quite probably, Szasz has done more than any other man to alert the American public to the potential dangers of an excessively psychiatrized society.”