Lisa Appignanesi

Lisa Appignanesi is a British-Canadian writer, novelist and cultural commentator known for her work exploring the intersections of psychology, feminism, and social history. Her extensive body of work includes both fiction and non-fiction, with particular focus on topics like the history of psychiatry, women's mental health, and love and relationships in modern society. Her landmark book Mad, Bad and Sad: A History of Women and the Mind Doctors from 1800 received widespread recognition and established her as a leading voice on gender and psychological history. She has also written extensively about Simone de Beauvoir, Sigmund Freud, and other influential figures in psychoanalysis and philosophy. Appignanesi served as Chair of the Royal Society of Literature and Deputy President of English PEN, reflecting her significant influence in literary circles. Her memoir Losing the Dead explored her family's experiences during the Holocaust and their subsequent life as immigrants, adding personal historical narrative to her diverse body of work. As a cultural commentator and academic, she has held positions at several institutions including New York University and the University of London. Her writing regularly appears in major publications including The Guardian and The New York Review of Books.

Readers praise Appignanesi's depth of research and ability to make complex psychological and historical topics accessible. Many note her skill at weaving personal narratives with academic analysis, particularly in "Mad, Bad and Sad" and "Losing the Dead." What readers liked: - Clear explanations of psychological concepts - Thorough historical documentation - Personal touches that humanize academic subjects - Balance between scholarly rigor and readability What readers disliked: - Some find her writing style dense or academic - Occasional repetition of ideas - Length and detail can be overwhelming for casual readers - Some critics note a bias toward psychoanalytic perspectives Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Mad, Bad and Sad": 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) - "Losing the Dead": 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: - Average 4.2/5 across all works - Higher ratings (4.5+) for her historical works - Lower ratings (3.8-4.0) for novels Several readers mention Appignanesi's books as valuable references for academic work, while others appreciate them as thoughtful explorations of women's history and mental health.

Mad, Bad and Sad: A History of Women and the Mind Doctors from 1800 Traces the history of women's mental health treatment and the evolution of psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis through notable case studies.

Losing the Dead A memoir exploring the author's Jewish family's survival during World War II and their subsequent immigration to Canada.

Memory and Desire Examines the relationship between memory, identity, and desire through personal narrative and cultural analysis.

All About Love: Anatomy of an Unruly Emotion An investigation into the nature of love through literature, philosophy, popular culture, and personal experience.

Freud's Women Chronicles Sigmund Freud's professional and personal relationships with women, including patients, family members, and colleagues.

Trials of Passion: Crimes in the Name of Love and Madness Analyzes historical crimes of passion and how they intersected with evolving views of psychology and law in the 19th century.

Fifty Shades of Feminism A collection of fifty contemporary voices reflecting on what feminism means in the twenty-first century.

Paris Requiem A novel set in 1899 Paris following an American lawyer investigating his brother's involvement in a murder case.

The Dead of Winter A psychological thriller about a psychoanalyst who becomes entangled in the investigation of a patient's death.

Free Association: An Autobiography A personal memoir reflecting on the author's life, career, and intellectual journey through the lens of psychoanalytic thought.

Siri Hustvedt writes about psychology, neuroscience, and art while weaving together memoir and cultural criticism. Her work explores gender, identity, and the intersection of science and creativity, similar to Appignanesi's interests in psychology and cultural analysis.

Janet Malcolm focuses on psychoanalysis and biography, examining how we construct narratives about others' lives. Her investigative approach to understanding human behavior and motivation parallels Appignanesi's work on psychology and relationships.

Susan Sontag wrote extensively about culture, politics, and illness through a philosophical lens. Her analysis of how society interprets psychological and physical conditions connects with Appignanesi's exploration of madness and mental health.

Kay Redfield Jamison combines personal experience with scientific research in her writing about mental health and creativity. Her work bridges academic analysis and memoir, examining psychological conditions through both clinical and cultural perspectives.

Darian Leader writes about psychoanalysis and its applications to contemporary life and culture. His work examines how psychological theories help us understand modern relationships and social phenomena, sharing Appignanesi's interest in the intersection of psychology and society.