A fascinating narrative history of our major psychotropic drugs and the way in which they have shaped us from the author of Opening Skinner's Box.
Lauren Slater Books
March 21, 1963
Lauren Slater is an American psychotherapist and writer whose works delve into the complexities of the human psyche and ethical dilemmas. Through her practice as a psychotherapist, she gained profound insights into the human experience, which she then translates into compelling literary works. Her writing is known for its introspective nature and willingness to explore the darker, often uncharted territories of the mind. Slater brings a unique perspective that examines the boundaries between reality and metaphor.
"Slater explores a mind, a body and a life under siege. Diagnosed as a child with a strange illness, brought up in a family given to fantasy and ambition, Lauren Slater developed seizures, auras, neurological disturbances - and an ability to lie. In Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir, Slater blends a coming-of-age story with an electrifying exploration of the nature of truth, and of whether it is ever possible to tell - or to know - the facts about a self, a human being, a life."--BOOK JACKET.
Lauren Slater, a brilliant writer who is a young therapist, takes us on a mesmerizing personal and professional journey in this remarkable memoir about her work with mental and emotional illness. The territory of the mind and of madness can seem a foreign, even frightening place-until you read Welcome to My Country. Writing in a powerful and original voice, Lauren Slater closes the distance between "us" and "them," transporting us into the country of Lenny, Moxi, Oscar, and Marie. She lets us watch as she interacts with and strives to understand patients suffering from mental and emotional distress-the schizophrenic, the depressed, the suicidal. As the young psychologist responds to, reflects on, and re-creates her interactions with the inner realities of the dispossessed, she moves us to a deeper understanding of the complexities of the human mind and spirit. And then, in a stunning final chapter, the psychologist confronts herself, when she is asked to treat a young woman, bulimic and suicidal, who is on the same ward where Slater herself was once such a patient. Like An Unquiet Mind, Listening to Prozac and Girl, Interrupted, Welcome to My Country is a beautifully written, captivating, and revealing book, an unusual personal and professional memoir that brings us closer to understanding ourselves, one another, and the human condition.
Blue Dreams
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Explores the discovery, invention, science, and people behind today's major psychotropic drugs, from the earliest, Thorazine and Lithium, through Prozac and Ecstasy, to today's most cutting-edge memory drugs and neural implants
Opening Skinner´s Box : Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
A century can be understood in many ways - in terms of its inventions, its crimes or its art. In Opening Skinner's Box, Lauren Slater sets out to investigate the twentieth century through a series of ten fascinating, witty and sometimes shocking accounts of its key psychological experiments. Starting with the founder of modern scientific experimentation, B.F. Skinner, Slater traces the evolution of the last hundred years' most pressing concerns - free will, authoritarianism, violence, conformity and morality. Previously buried in academic textbooks, these often daring experiments are now seen in their full context and told as stories, rich in plot, wit and character.
Prozac Diary
- 203 pages
- 8 hours of reading
In 1988, at age 26, Lauren Slater lived alone in a basement apartment in Cambridge, depressed, suicidal, unemployed. Ten years later, she is a psychologist running her own clinic, an award-winning writer, and happily married. The transformation in her life was brought about by Prozac. Prozac Diary is Lauren Slater's incisive account of a life restored to productivity, creativity, and love. When she wakes up one morning and finds that her demons no longer have a hold on her, Slater struggles with the strange state of being well after a lifetime of craziness. Yet this is no hymn to a miracle pharmaceutical. It is a frankly ambivalent quest for the truth of self behind an ongoing reliance on a drug. Slater also addresses Prozac's notorious "poop-out" effect and its devastating attack on her libido. This is the first memoir to reflect on long-term Prozac use, and reviewers agree that no one has written about Prozac with such beauty, honesty, and insight.
The $60,000 Dog
- 264 pages
- 10 hours of reading
"Slater explores the fierce bonds she has formed with various animals ... finding that as even those who outfit their Pomeranians in rain boots and parkas well know, what really matters are the emotions these beasts evoke."--Allison P. Davis, Elle --Book Jacket
Exploring the intricate dynamics of familial relationships, Lauren Slater delves into the essence of what constitutes a family. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, she examines the bonds that connect us, the complexities of love and loyalty, and the impact of shared experiences. Her insightful narrative invites readers to contemplate their own connections and the significance of family in shaping identity and understanding.
The Sixty-Thousand Dollar Dog: My Life with Animals
- 264 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Exploring the profound connections between humans and animals, this book delves into the various roles that animals play in our lives. Through engaging narratives and insightful reflections, the acclaimed author examines themes of companionship, empathy, and the impact of animals on our well-being. The work invites readers to reconsider their relationships with the animal kingdom and highlights the emotional and spiritual bonds that enrich our existence.
Die zehn bedeutendsten psychologischen Experimente des 20. Jahrhunderts haben die tiefsten Fragen des menschlichen Lebens unserer Zeit berührt. Lauren Slater erweckt sie in ihrem preisgekrönten Buch zu neuem Leben. Brillant erzählt und spannend von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite beschreibt die amerikanische Psychologin das, was in der Schilderung wissenschaftlicher Experimente meist zu kurz kommt: die Menschen, die dahinter stehen. »Wissenschaftsbuch des Jahres 2005« Bild der Wissenschaft
