Saints and Madmen: How Pioneering Psychiatrists Are Creating a New Science of the Soul

by Russell Shorto

Psychiatry, once famously opposed to religion, has done an about-face. Like the legendary explorers of a century ago, some psychiatrists have set off into what they see as the last frontier: the spiritual self. In this moving and impeccably researched narrative, Russell Shorto tells remarkable stories of people suffering from what once were deemed spiritual afflictions, then came to be seen as purely medical disorders, and now are being treated as both.

In the process, Shorto brings to bear issues from the cutting edge of consciousness studies. He explores the shared territory of psychosis and mysticism; the changing meaning of "self," "soul," "mind," and "brain"; the theory that psychotropic drugs have a spiritual dimension; the meaning of religious terrorism; and the possibility that addiction and depression are spiritual conditions.

In weaving his case studies into a single story, Shorto delivers a concise update on the science of the mind and the newest efforts to probe the deepest meaning of human existence.

Genres: Psychology, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Science

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 1999

About the author

Russell Shorto is the author, most recently, of Revolution Song, a new narrative of the American Revolution, which the New York Times called a "remarkable" achievement and the Chicago Tribune described as "an engaging piece of historical detective work and narrative craft." He is also the author of The Island at the Center of the World, a national bestseller about the Dutch founding of New York. Shorto is senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute and was formerly the director of the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam.

Reviews

[Darius Rips]

Is a person who experiences the direct physical presence of the divine blessed or insane? In an earlier time, such people were considered visionaries, and some were canonized. But nowadays, they are more likely to be regarded as insane, and confined to institutions or at least given a regimen of strong psychoactive drugs. Russell Shorto describes here an emerging branch of psychiatry that takes these patients mystical experiences seriously, and devises treatment that includes dealing with the spiritual component of the patient's experience in a way that honors their religious beliefs. Shorto odes this by interspersing case histories with profiles of practitioners in the field. He addresses some of the difficult questions, like the compassionate treatment of those whose religious mania inclines them towards acts of violence. It would be perfectly possible to write a book like this that gets bogged down in technical jargon, but that never happens here. Shorto is a wonderful writer who gets to the human heart of his subject, and the result is a fascinating account.

My one reservation about this book is that it emphasizes a Judeo-Christian viewpoint. I would have liked to learn from Shorto about therapists who are using tarot in their practice. It would also have been interesting to hear what he had to say about alternative religions and spiritualities, and whether there are psychiatrists dealing with these patients. A whole host of issues arise when a person's spiritual path is not widely accepted by society, and this book does not address these. But I missed this because Shorto is such a good writer that I wanted the book to be longer in a meaningful way. So, in saying that I wished these issues to be addressed, I am also saying that this book was so fascinating and good that I didn't want to stop reading it.

[adllto]

I've been reading this book on and off for a year mainly because I need to write a paper on the difference between the authentic religious experience and an episode in mental ill-health. The book examines widely the narrowing chasm between psychology/psychiatry and spirituality.

A few things stick out at the moment from the book.

"One of the tip-offs to psychotic delusion, which has been known since William James's time is grandiosity: a mystic is humbled by his experience, a psychotic inflated" (71)"Volition... the difference between a mystic and someone with mental illness is that the former can choose to move into or out of the state." (172) "There is, however, a marked difference between mystics and psychotics in terms of "personality structure and maturity."" (173)

[Pat]

I loved this book. It's a little heavy in names/organizations, but Shorto tells a unique story of how religion and psychology are used together to help people. His history of psychology is very readable.

[Ed Smiley]

The subject is an interesting one.
The author is all over the map, but I think it raises some interesting issues.
A person with mental health issues has a right to have values and ideals as well as anyone else.
There is a subtle difference between being deluded and having delusions in the psychiatric sense.
One may have ideas that are incorrect as to points of fact or assertions of dogma, or one may exhibit truly disordered thinking.

It covers a variety of approaches some interesting, and some disreputable.

[Luís Branco]

I have deeply enjoyed reading this book. There are many interesting parts, only for me, as a writer on the subject of spirituality, this book gave me very good insights about the biological view of spirituality and the spiritual view of biology. It is a must read book for spiritual leaders and psychologists.

[Laurence]

Excellent survey of the psychology of religion from William James onward...striking discussion of the psychedelic era and use of drugs as a religious substitute/sacrament...amazing to read today when so little discussion of inner life...

[Phineas]

Journalistic tour of the connection between insanity and mysticism and their common ground. Read it if you like William James.

[Gabe Coon]

recommend it!!!

[Airin Wolf]

It was a really informative book.

[Amy]

Fascinating, illuminating, gripping. Loved it.