Asylum by William Seabrook (1935)

Asylum by William Seabrook (1935)

A true account of an asylum patient in the 1930s.

Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars

Plot: Author William Seabrook, with the help of his friends, committed himself to a mental hospital for treatment of his alcoholism. Seabrook paints an honest picture of his mental state and the inner workings of an asylum at the time of his writing. The story of his journey during his 8 month stay at the facility is thought of as one of the first modern addiction/recovery memoirs.

Analysis: I enjoyed this nonfiction adventure of the author’s time spent as an asylum patient. It reminded me a lot of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with descriptions of life inside a mental institution and an amusing cast of characters. There was obviously no fictional story arc like a novel would have, but it was still compelling and entertaining.

I found it interesting when the author described advances in “modern” psychology as compared to current practices. This book is nearing a century old, but it still highlights the previous ignorance and cruelties of psychological treatment and the continued progress and increased understanding in the field over the last century.

I’d recommend this book for anyone interested in asylums and/or mental health.