Crazy Like Us Audiobook By Ethan Watters cover art

Crazy Like Us

The Globalization of the American Psyche

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Crazy Like Us

By: Ethan Watters
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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It is well known that American culture is a dominant force at home and abroad; our exportation of everything from movies to junk food is a well-documented phenomenon. But is it possible that America's most troubling impact on the globalizing world has yet to be accounted for?

In Crazy Like Us, Ethan Watters reveals that the most devastating consequence of the spread of American culture has not been our golden arches or our bomb craters but our bulldozing of the human psyche itself: We are in the process of homogenizing the way the world goes mad.

America has been the world leader in generating new mental health treatments and modern theories of the human psyche. We export our psychopharmaceuticals packaged with the certainty that our biomedical knowledge will relieve the suffering and stigma of mental illness. We categorize disorders, thereby defining mental illness and health, and then parade these seemingly scientific certainties in front of the world. The blowback from these efforts is just now coming to light: It turns out that we have not only been changing the way the world talks about and treats mental illness - we have been changing the mental illnesses themselves.

©2010 Ethan Watters (P)2016 Tantor International Relations Mental Health Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health Yoga Anatomy

Critic reviews

"Mental-health professionals should pay attention, and shrewd investors in pharmaceuticals may take interest in Watters's guess as to what disorder is likely to be big in the near future." ( Kirkus)
Interesting Stories • Good Research • Great Narration • Engaging Storytelling • Thought-provoking Premise
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A great blend of story and research to examine the role of American psychology and psychiatrics on the rest of the world. Good narrator. I finished this book in just a few days.

Worth listening to

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Why does the narrator change is voice when reading a quote from someone from another country? I find this to be very annoying and somewhat perpetuating stereotypes and a bit racist. There is no need for this. Otherwise very good.

Very good book accept the narrator

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As a mental health professional, I found this book wildly helpful. I think lay people would get a lot out of it as well. it was an emotionally heavy read, and sometimes I had to take breaks to emotionally process the material. I'm so glad I did and not only will this change my practice, but enriched my understanding of humanity.

world-view changing

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Has a first hear grad student in a counseling program O am very greatful for these perspectives.

Every Clinican Has to Rear This

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Excellent breakdown of how mental irregularities are displayed in different cultures. Last part of the book details how companies profit off of exporting the American DSM definition of mental illnesses

Ever wonder?

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As an immigrant studying mental health counseling. it's imperative to recognize the bias that American society has infringed all over the world. this book helps to recognize how this is done and how to appreciate all the culture differences.

Must Read

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I thought this book was excellently written! Well put together and good documentation of research, but told as interesting stories to help the reader understand the issues. Very relevant to understanding American culture of mental health and how it relates to other cultures!

Enlightening Look

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A must read not just for people in the mental health field, but for everyone.

Important information

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My own personal life experience lines up with this book, and what it claims. I am so glad people are starting to speak about it. Great read!

Amazing information

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The narration was very good. Overall, the book makes some very valid and intriguing points. Greater detail and more examples of the premise would have improved the experience markedly.

Worth a listen

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