First published 2013
Michel Foucault challenges the medical establishment's authority over mental illness. Digging into the history of psychiatric institutions, he reveals how "madness" has been shaped by social, political, and economic forces. From the chained lunatics of the Middle Ages to the rise of the asylum, Foucault uncovers the power dynamics that have pathologized the human experience. Blending philosophy, history, and social critique, "History of Madness" dismantles the myth of objective mental health diagnosis, leaving readers to question the very nature of sanity.
Genres: history, philosophy, mental-health, 20th-century, non-fiction, academia
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-analysis, social-commentary
Period: Middle Ages, Rise of the Asylum
736 pages · Kindle Edition · Routledge