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Mark

markpoole@books.theunseen.city

Joined 1 year, 7 months ago

Avid reader, mostly sf, but also science, politics, memoir, history, queer studies, cultural studies, literary fiction

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commented on Neurodiversity : discovering the extraordinary gifts of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other brain differences by Thomas Armstrong

Thomas Armstrong: Neurodiversity : discovering the extraordinary gifts of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other brain differences (2010) 5 stars

I love this statement in the chapter on education:

“The neurodiverse classroom contains students with many types of diversities. The neurodiverse classroom includes students with diversities related to culture, race, gender, and sexual orientation. In addition to the forms of neurodiversity covered in this book [Autism spectrum, dyslexia, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, Schizophrenia, mood & anxiety disorders], the neurodiverse classroom includes disabilities such as language and communication delays, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, blindness, deafness, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, stroke, and multiple disabilities. It also includes students labeled as gifted or gifted and talented… The neurodiverse classroom uses multiple intelligences instructional strategies and other universal design for learning methods.”

A lot to unpack — you really have to read this wonderful book!

reviewed Saving Normal by Allen Frances

Allen Frances: Saving Normal (2014, William Morrow Paperbacks) 4 stars

"Anyone living a full, rich life experiences ups and downs, stresses, disappointments, sorrows, and setbacks. …

His predictions 10 years ago have come true in a devastating way

4 stars

From the chair of the DSM-IV task force comes a searing indictment of its successor, the DSM-5. Frances explains what went wrong during the evolution of the DSM, and how big Pharma has abused its relationship to the APA, made no progress at all in developing more effective psychiatric medications, manufactured and then aggressively promoted fad illnesses with useless and sometimes harmful treatment advice, and funded both the AMA and many academic and clinical psychiatrists. Also how most psychiatric diagnoses and meds are now dispensed by primary care doctors with no psychiatric qualifications. He predicted the astonishing explosion in (mis)diagnosis of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder — to the point where the majority of American children and adults qualify for one or more psychiatric disorders. The world hasn’t suddenly gone mad — the APA, drug companies, insurance companies, and complicit practitioners have moved the goalposts …

reviewed The One by Heinrich Päs

Heinrich Päs: The One (2023, Basic Books) 5 stars

Astounding cross-disciplinary work - a feat of true genius

5 stars

This book explores the concept of “The One” (monism) — from both a rigorous scientific perspective grounded in a mastery of quantum physics and cosmology, and a tour de force through the history of oneness as a philosophical, religious and psychological perspective. To quote the author himself, it’s “a wild ride through times and places, topics and theories, including many fascinating sideshows.”