cover image The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry

The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry

Gary Greenberg, read by David Drummond. Tantor Media, unabridged, 11 CDs, 14 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4526-1349-9

Greenberg delivers a detailed and critical account of the history of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the go-to resource for psychiatrists and other professionals in the mental health field. In particular, the author identifies the various problems, shortcomings, and questionable motivations (such as the overwhelming influence of the pharmaceutical industry) that have plagued the DSM up through its most recent edition. Throughout the book, Greenberg draws upon interviews and research within the field of psychiatry and beyond to make a comprehensive case that will have many raising an eyebrow at psychiatric diagnoses. Narrator David Drummond%E2%80%99s deep%E2%80%94almost foreboding%E2%80%94voice matches up well with Greenberg%E2%80%99s prose. And Drummond%E2%80%99s tone, timing, and emphasis help clarify points for listeners and keep them engaged during the more information-heavy sections of text. A Blue Rider hardcover. (May)