Edward Shorter

Edward Shorter is a Canadian social historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, where he held the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine. His research and writing have focused primarily on the history of psychiatry, psychology, and medicine. Throughout his career, Shorter has published extensively on topics including the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship, the history of psychosomatic illness, and the development of modern psychiatric treatments. His 1997 book "A History of Psychiatry: From the Era of the Asylum to the Age of Prozac" became an influential text in the field. Shorter's work often examines how social and cultural factors have influenced medical practice and the understanding of mental illness over time. He has written critically about psychoanalysis and has advocated for biological approaches to understanding psychiatric disorders. His other notable works include "Written in the Flesh: A History of Desire" (2005) and "Before Prozac: The Troubled History of Mood Disorders in Psychiatry" (2009), which analyze the historical development of treatments for mental illness and society's changing views toward psychological disorders.

Readers note Shorter's clear stance favoring biological psychiatry over psychoanalysis, with some praising his direct critiques while others find him overly dismissive of non-biological approaches. What readers liked: - Clear writing style that makes complex medical history accessible - Thorough research and documentation - Strong historical analysis of how psychiatry evolved - Effective use of case studies and examples What readers disliked: - Perceived bias against psychoanalysis and talk therapy - Some arguments seen as oversimplified - Limited coverage of non-Western psychiatric traditions - Occasional dismissive tone toward alternative viewpoints Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (237 ratings) - Amazon: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) One academic reviewer noted: "Shorter excels at chronicling psychiatry's institutional history but sometimes lets his strong opinions overshadow balanced analysis." A frequent criticism on Goodreads mentions his "reductionist approach to complex psychological phenomena."

A History of Psychiatry: From the Era of the Asylum to the Age of Prozac (1997) Traces psychiatry's development from custodial asylums through biological psychiatry and psychoanalysis to modern psychopharmacology.

Written in the Flesh: A History of Desire (2005) Examines how sexual behavior and attitudes have evolved from the 18th century to modern times.

From Paralysis to Fatigue: A History of Psychosomatic Illness in the Modern Era (1992) Chronicles the changing nature of psychosomatic symptoms and their medical interpretation since 1800.

Women's Bodies: A Social History of Women's Encounter with Health, Ill-Health, and Medicine (1982) Documents women's interactions with medical institutions and practitioners from the 18th century onward.

A History of Women's Bodies (1982) Analyzes how medical understanding and treatment of women's health has evolved over centuries.

The Health Century (1987) Surveys major developments in medicine and public health during the 20th century.

Before Prozac: The Troubled History of Mood Disorders in Psychiatry (2009) Details the history of depression diagnosis and treatment before the advent of modern antidepressants.

Partnership for Excellence: Medicine at the University of Toronto and Academic Hospitals (2013) Chronicles the development of medical education and research at the University of Toronto.

What Psychiatry Left Out of the DSM-5 (2015) Examines diagnostic categories and concepts excluded from the DSM-5 psychiatric manual.

How Everyone Became Depressed: The Rise and Fall of the Nervous Breakdown (2013) Traces the evolution of depression diagnosis from historical "nervous illness" to modern clinical depression.

Roy Porter writes extensively about social history of medicine and psychiatry, focusing on patient experiences and institutional development. His work examines medical practices and cultural attitudes toward health across different time periods.

Charles Rosenberg specializes in the history of medicine with emphasis on disease conceptualization and medical knowledge development. His research covers medical institutions and how societies respond to epidemics and health crises.

Andrew Scull focuses on psychiatry's evolution and the social responses to mental illness through different eras. His work examines psychiatric treatments, institutional care, and the relationship between medicine and society.

David Healy investigates psychopharmacology history and the development of psychiatric medications. He writes about the pharmaceutical industry's influence on psychiatric practice and the changing nature of mental health diagnosis.

Gerald Grob chronicles the development of mental health care systems and institutional psychiatry in America. His research covers asylum history and the shifting approaches to mental illness treatment over time.