Diagnosing people as mad has more to do with social control than therapy. Many of those labeled as schizophrenic, bipolar, and other kinds of “mad” are not ill but simply seeing and feeling what is wrong with society and what needs to be done to change it. Exploring the rise of Mad Pride and the theories of psychologist R. D. Laing, this book proposes that it is impossible for society to change as long as the mad are suppressed since they are our catalysts of social change. By reclaiming their rightful role as prophets of spiritual and cultural revitalization, the mad—by seeding new visions for our future—can help humanity overcome the crises that endanger our survival.
SPIRITUALITY / PSYCHIATRY «An articulate, informed, and lucid exploration of the nature of madness, the Mad Pride movement, and ultimately what it is like to be deemed 'mad' by society. Seth Farber's extensive interviews with leaders of the Mad Pride movement are particularly engaging and…