The Myth of Psychotherapy

Mental Healing as Religion, Rhetoric, and Repression

By: Thomas Szasz

Narrated by: Robin Lawson

Until recent years, “bad” and “immoral” were the terms used to describe people who are now referred to as “sick” and “in need of treatment.” Moral and religious perspective has been replaced by medical and therapeutic rhetoric. It is little wonder why the world is plagued by legions of rapists, drug users, murderers, thieves, and child abusers, all of whom are now referred to as having one form or another of “addiction” and are thus either “sick” or suffering from “mental illness.” Accordingly, modern psychotherapists claim that these are in need of specialized “therapy” or “treatment” to help them “cope with their disease.” Moral relativism, bolstered by psychotherapy, has prevailed over the traditional ideas of self-control, individual responsibility, and moral culpability. Thomas Szasz moves to demythologize psychotherapy itself in a most provocative manner.

©1988 Thomas Szasz (P)1992 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Szasz’s important book will test the self-insight of anyone involved in the therapeutic process.” ( Publishers Weekly)

A true diagnosis of psychotherapy.

Thank you Dr. Szasz. Your contributions to the field will hopefully someday be a turning point in psychology history. You are greatly missed. This is a must read for all those aspiring to become psychology professionals.

I like this narrator.

This narrator is not whiny & inappropriately over-expressive like other Narrator. His faint southern accent is humanizing without being distracting, snd goes well with Szasz writing. i believe Szasz remains the only honest, competent psychiatrist who ever lived, and the only one worth reading.

Great work, solid performance, hissy mastering

The mastering on the audio is excessively trebly, making for an almost hissy-sounding recording. I could correct this with an eq, but wish I hadn't had to.

Libertarianism & rational thought meets Psychiatry

Where does The Myth of Psychotherapy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This ranks in the Top 10 so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author is the foremost and favourite character as his no-nonsense approach to psychiatry relies on science and drugs and not "talking."

What does Robin Lawson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His presentation is very good and I would not nearly enjoy the book if read. The material is not dry but is far better listened to much like a professorial oratory.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"You're crazy, so what?"

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed Dr. Szasz's rational take-down of the cocaine addict and moronic Freud. How can anyone, after reading this book, take Freudian theory seriously?

Interesting approach

I was a bit skeptical regarding this audiobook but at the end I am quite satisfied. I really enjoyed the part on Jung, I really could understand what separated him from Freud. I recommend it.