Fugitive Minds: The Anatomy of Altered States

by Antonio Melechi

A remarkably original exploration of the abnormal functioning of the brain, ranging from the effects of mental illness and depression, to drugs, alien abduction, sleepwalking and migraines.

Genres: Psychology

368 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2003

Reviews

[Quiver · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Fugitive Minds' is full of interesting tidbits of information and perspective into the various afflictions, imagined and real, of the human mind. It reviews more than fifty different types of mental disorders in a very wide range. Melichi draws on a number of sources, some of which are scientific, others of a more literary and subjective nature. His argument is that while science and laboratory work has brought us some insight into the condition of the human mind, there is much to be gleaned from a more 'naturalistic' perspective. He provides ample sources and discussion about each ailment, but keeps the chapters short so one can hardly become bored.

Overall a good book, with short chapters especially amenable to reading before bed, followed by introspection on the salient aspect of human nature while dropping off to sleep.

[Stephen Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up second hand in Hay-on-Wye because it looked interesting, and parts of it certainly are... but alas not the whole thing. For all the fascinating cases described in Melechi's tour of mental maladies and conditions, the book is essentially a list of them (most of the chapters are really short) with no overall thesis or even much by way of the author's character. Adding shame and love at the end was a step too far. Though written in 2003, the majority of the cases hark back to the nineteenth century, though a few more recent are mentioned. I enjoyed a few chapters of this book, but I finished it wondering what the point was.