{"product_id":"the-meaning-of-madness-1","title":"The Meaning of Madness","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Sane Are You?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe boundary between sanity and madness is not as clear as we like to think.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe traits we admire in artists, visionaries, leaders, and innovators often overlap with those that, in their extreme forms, can lead to mental disorder. Creativity and bipolar disorder. Inspiration and psychosis. Charisma and psychopathy. Where exactly do we draw the line—and why?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this award-winning book, psychiatrist and philosopher Neel Burton explores some of the deepest questions about the human mind. Why do other animals not seem to suffer from schizophrenia? Why do mental disorders appear to be becoming more common? What is the relationship between madness and genius? And what can depression, anxiety, and mental anguish reveal about the human condition?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on psychiatry, psychology, philosophy, history, literature, and evolutionary theory, \u003cem\u003eThe Meaning of Madness\u003c\/em\u003e challenges assumptions about mental illness and normality, showing how mental disorders illuminate some of our most distinctive human capacities—from language and creativity to religion, imagination, and self-awareness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInside, you’ll discover:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe links between bipolar disorder and creativity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow depression may serve an important psychological function.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe difference between successful and unsuccessful psychopaths.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy schizophrenia may hold clues to the origins of language.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat the history of psychiatry reveals about its limits.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy mental disorders appear to be becoming more common.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe differences between psychiatry, antipsychiatry, and critical psychiatry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow Western ideas about mental illness have shaped the rest of the world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eCovering schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, self-harm, and suicide, \u003cem\u003eThe Meaning of Madness\u003c\/em\u003e is both an accessible introduction to mental disorders and a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBecause the boundary between sanity and madness may not be a boundary at all.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist and philosopher. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of multiple literary awards. His work has appeared in \u003cem\u003eAeon\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePsychology Today\u003c\/em\u003e, and has been translated into several languages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEditorial reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eShows the deep connections between madness and some of our most important attributes as human beings.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e—Prof Bill Fulford, editor of the Oxford Textbook of Philosophy of Psychiatry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e—Medical Journalists' Association\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA really accessible and thorough approach to a complex and often impenetrable subject.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e—British Neuroscience Association\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeel 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.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e—British Medical Association Book Awards (Winner, Young Authors' Award)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eA really accessible and thorough approach to a complex and often impenetrable subject. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—British Neuroscience Association\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eUltimately, this is a work of contradictions, an undemanding read that could challenge your view of the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—Medical Journalists' Association\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eNeel 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—British Medical Association Book Awards (Winner, Young Authors' Award)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—Prof Bill Fulford, University of Oxford\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"\u003e????? \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eEminently readable and accessible ... I found it incredibly fascinating.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—Jamie Bee, Amazon.com Top 50 Reviewer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eBurton is never short of an interesting and sharp judgment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—Prof Peter Toohey, Psychology Today\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; caret-color: #0f1111; color: #0f1111; font-family: \" amazon ember arial sans-serif font-size:=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;\"\u003eI've read many Neel Burton books. He's a wonderful writer and able to immerse you lightly in pretty heavy stuff. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;\"\u003e—Adrian Bailey, Vine Voice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Acheron Press","offers":[{"title":"Case Bound - PPC","offer_id":67235972251952,"sku":"9781913260248","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk\/products\/the-meaning-of-madness-1","provider":"The Great British Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}