Why people recommend it
Madness in Civilization is a comprehensive historical examination of how societies have perceived, categorized, and treated mental illness from biblical times through the era of Sigmund Freud and into the advent of modern psychiatric medicine. On the Lex Fridman Podcast episode #502 – Psychiatry, Insane Asylums, Mental Illness, ECT, Lobotomies, Freud & Jung, released on September 17, 2026, host Lex Fridman recommended the book during his introductory remarks. Fridman addressed his audience by noting that the author, Andrew Scull, had written multiple books that he strongly encouraged listeners to explore. He specifically cited Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity from the Bible to Freud, from the Madhouse to Modern Medicine as an essential text for understanding the historical context of psychiatric care. Fridman's endorsement framed the book as a vital resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the long and often turbulent history of how human societies have handled psychological distress, institutionalization, and medical interventions over the centuries.
Who recommended it
- Lex Fridman Recommended
Lex Fridman — 1 mention
“He has authored many books that I highly recommend including Madness in Civilization: A Cultural History of Insanity from the Bible to Freud, from the Madhouse to Modern Medicine”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Beautiful Mind
- Asylum
- Desperate Remedies
- Fat and Blood
- Flowers for Algernon
- On Being Sane in Insane Places
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and I wrote a big book called Madness in Civilization about from the ancient Greeks and ancient China to now -- in every society I've studied they have to cope with this.”