2 books found
A forceful critique of the social science that has ruled—and damaged—the modern world. The practice of economics, as economists will tell you, is a powerful force for good. Economists are the guardians of the world's economies and financial systems. The applications of economic theory can alleviate poverty, reduce disease, and promote sustainability. While this narrative has been successfully propagated by economists, it belies a more challenging truth: economic interventions, including those economists deem successful, also cause harm. Sometimes the harm is manageable and short-lived. But just as often the harm is deep, enduring, and even irreparable. And too often the harm falls on those least able to survive it. In The Tragic Science, George F. DeMartino says what economists have too long repressed: that economists do great harm even as they aspire to do good. Economist-induced harm, DeMartino shows, results in part from economists' "irreparable ignorance"—from the fact that they know far less than they tend to believe they know—and from disciplinary training that treats the human tolls of economic policies and interventions as simply the costs of promoting social betterment. DeMartino details the complicated nature of economic harm, explores economists' frequent failure to recognize it, and makes a sobering case for professional humility and for genuine respect for those who stand to be harmed by economists' practice. At a moment in history when the economics profession holds enormous power, DeMartino's work demonstrates the downside of its influence and the responsibility facing those who practice the tragic science.
Biological psychiatry has dominated psychiatric thinking for the past 40 years, but the knowledge base of the discipline has increased substantially more recently, particularly with advances in genetics and neuroimaging. The third edition of Biological Psychiatry has been thoroughly updated taking into account these developments. As in the earlier editions of the book, there are comprehensive reviews and explanations of the latest advances in neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, genetics and brain imaging— descriptions not only of methodologies but also of the application of these in clinical settings. It is within this context that there is a considerable emphasis in the book on brain–behaviour relationships both within and without the clinical setting. This edition has been enhanced by the inclusion of new chapters, one on anxiety and another on motivation and the addictions. The chapter that relates to treatments has been extended to include the latest information on brain stimulation techniques. The overall book is well illustrated in order to help with an understanding of the text. For the third edition, Professor Michael Trimble has been joined by Professor Mark George as co-author. These are two of the world's leading biological psychiatrists who both have considerable clinical as well as research experience which they have brought to the book. Unlike multiauthored texts, it has a continuity running through it which aids understanding and prevents repetition. This book is strongly recommended for all practising psychiatrists and trainees wishing for an up-to-date, authoritative, easy to digest and acessible review of the latest advances and conceptualizations in the field. It will also appeal to neurologists interested in neuropsychiatry and biological psychiatry or the psychiatric aspects of neurological disorders, as well as other practising clinicians (psychologists, social workers, nurses) in the mental health field.