THE END OF PERSONALITY? Since it was introduce in 1987, the antidepressant Prozac has been prescribed to nearly five million Americans. But what is Prozac? Reported to turn shy people into social butterflies and to improve work performance, memory, even dexterity, Prozac has changed millions of troubled lives -- but not without raising troubling questions of interest to anyone who has ever tried to improve his or her life. Is Prozac a medication, or a mental steroid...a cure for illness, or a chemical agent for cosmetic character change? In many cases, Prozac can make people more attractive, energetic and socially acceptable -- whether they're "ill" or not. But when a pill can appear to accomplish the work of countless therapy sessions, seminars and self-help books and tapes, have we entered an age where pharmacological advances could make our notions of character, personality and selfhood obsolete? In the bestselling tradition of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for His Hat, psychiatrist Peter Kramer reads his bestselling, critically acclaimed exploration of these and other issues that sparked a national debate. Drawing on both dramatic case studies and the perceptions of a uniquely insightful thinker contemplating a cultural crossroads, Listening to Prozac will forever change the way you think of the human condition.
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""Depression is the opposite of freedom" is a quote from the book. This book is full of thoughts for both the layman and the professional. Kramer begins what needs to become an open dialogue between professionals and consumers. " — Rachel (4 out of 5 stars)
""Depression is the opposite of freedom" is a quote from the book. This book is full of thoughts for both the layman and the professional. Kramer begins what needs to become an open dialogue between professionals and consumers. "
“An intelligent and informative book.”
“Tackles the complicated implications and assumptions of modern psychiatry.”
“A provocative and insightful exploration of Prozac’s dramatic and unforeseen impact on the human psyche, as well as the practice of psychotherapy.”
“Listening to Prozac is a marvelous antidote to suggestions that psychiatric thinking has not progressed much beyond Freud.
“Not only a fascinating and beautifully written overview of the biology and psychology of mood-state, but a richly philosophical meditation upon the basic nature of human nature as well.”
" In the future we will not only dress our bodies every morning; but also take our pill to makeup our minds to go and fit with the society :-( "
" One of the first books I read about the real possibility of designing personality. Full of useful information about depression and antidepressants, too. "
" Highly interesting look at the emergence of Prozac and its possible implications for the history of psychiatry. "
" I still plan to write a broadway musical based on the book. "
" This book created quite a splash when it was published as antidepressants seemed to be all the rage and the author took aim at the most commonly prescribed ones. He describes not only the dangers of the drugs but the effect they are having on our society as a whole. Though this was a bit sensationalistic, I still enjoyed it and learned enough to be wary of these medications. "
" Kramer is a seemingly earnest apologist for the widespread use of SSRIs not only to make people well, but "better than well." He plays up the positives he's observed but doesn't address the negatives very well. "
" This book opened my eyes to a lot about depression, drugs, and the concept of self. It also made me wander around mentally prescribing Prozac to everyone around me, including myself! "
" This exploration of antidepressants was extremely well written and understandable! Glad I read it! "
" Not quite what I was expecting. Way too dry and medical; perhaps better for a psychiatrist than a social worker. I ended up reading, then skimming, then dropping it. It wasn't worth reading after a while. Also a bit out-dated. "
" Kramer turns the psycho-pharma industry on its ear and wonders if we are better off using drugs like prozac to make type-a players out of all of us. A philosophical book, Kramer takes a hard look at what we are doing with designer drugs. "
" More confused than ever, but that's okay. "
" starts of interesting then just gets padded to book length. "
" so far fasckinating. "
" I lost interest and did not finish but liked the beginning a lot "
" This book was really instrumental in the writing of my Honor's Thesis. The author's description of the phenomenon of "kindling" has stuck with me in my work to this day. "
" just started, already fascinating "
" Putting people on prozac produces results the same as 10-20 years of therapy. Guess that's the end of ' the talking cure ' ( ? ) "
" i read the 1993 viking edition. "
Peter D. Kramer is a clinical professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. He often criticizes society for romanticizing depression in the same way that tuberculosis was once romanticized. He is the author of Should You Leave? and the international bestseller Listening to Prozac. He lives and practices in Providence, Rhode Island.
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