Skip to main content

Pharmakon by Dirk Wittenborn

"An interesting look at the fields of Psychology/Psychiatry in the 1950s and the startling, ripple effect that the consequences to our actions can have in every aspect of our lives."

3 Stars

Pros: An interesting look at a time when Mental Health was not as prevalent a subject as it is today and it was still very much stigmatized/The generational differences between the fifties/sixties so and so forth. 

Cons: Frightening to think of how unregulated everything was back in the fifties/I wish the author would have gone into more detail as to what exactly it was that caused Casper Gedsic to decline so dramatically/Though Friedrich's reactions are understandable, he's kind of a controlling jerk as a Father. 

Full Review: 

In the 1950s, the field of Psychology was in its infancy. Most people who exhibited possible mental illnesses were quickly locked away into asylums and left to rot. William Friedrich is an untenured Psychology Professor at Yale who is trying to stumble upon that big break that will make him famous. When he begins a study with a fellow Professor to monitor the effects of a natural herb found in New Guinea that are used in tribes to alleviate the stress of battle etc, they think they've found their breakthrough. 

Most of the participants who receive the drug are able to change their lives around and seem to be happier, more fulfilled people. Though no one has such a drastic transformation as Casper Gedsic. Before the study, he was an awkward, quiet, unnoticed, grunt in the offices of the Yale student Newspaper. He's frighteningly intelligent, disturbingly so and its that intelligence and his inability to relate to people on a basic level that makes him miserable. 

He agrees to take part in the study and the transformation is astonishing. But it all comes crashing down. Ten days after the study is concluded and Casper is no longer taking the herb, he has a psychotic break and Friedrich's life is changed forever. The rest of the novel follows the resounding repercussions of Friedrich's actions, Casper's actions and how the consequences will follow Friedrich through the years. It has a profound effect on his wife, children; every aspect of his life. 

Pharmakon, in itself, is a study of how all of our actions have consequences and how we must be so very careful with how we treat others because we don't know what kind of ripple effect it could have in our lives. 

It was an interesting read. It had its good parts, its bad parts, but all in all it was an interesting look at Psychopharmacology in the 1950s and how things have evolved. There are now regulations, Institutional Review Boards, strict guidelines that must be adhered to whenever a study of a new drug is proposed. The lackadaisical attitude Friedrich had towards the possible side effects of his study and its consequences was startling to read but it made me grateful how far the field of Psychology and Psychiatry have come. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end."    ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific.  Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd.  Full Review:  Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments.  Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man.  Full Review:  The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...
Post a Comment
Read more