Talk with Tenney: A Conversation with Dr. Seth Farber: Spirtuality, Madness

Seth Farber, PhD Author of: The Spiritual Gift of Madness: The Failure of Psychiatry and the Rise of the Mad Pride Movement (Innedr Traditions, 2012) Foreword by Kate Millett

“Farber critically considers the role of madness in culture and sees it as a positive force for change rather than a disease needing treatment. At the same time he does not play down the difficulties encountered by those experiencing such ‘initiations,’ but believes we need to cherish them and appreciate their visionary role in a world gone insane.” (Robert Black, New Dawn, January 2013)

Dr. Seth Farber is a writer, social critic, dissident psychologist (he received his doctorate in 1984),visionary, activist (in the human rights, Green and anti-war movements -- and a supporter of animal rights) and co-founder of the Network Against Coercive Psychiatry (1988). His newest and most important book was just released in May,The Spiritual Gift of Madness:The Failure of Psychiatry and the Rise of the Mad Pride Movement. (The Foreword is written by internationally renowned writer, feminist and human rights advocate Kate Millett, author of Sexual Politics and The Loony Bin Trip.)
Dr Farber has had four books published previously, including a book on Jewish critics of Israel, and numerous essays and articles. A critic of the mental health system, he has been a guest on many television and radio shows. His first book Madness, Heresy and the Rumor of Angels: The Revolt Against the Mental Health System (Open Court, Chicago, 1993) contained a foreword by Thomas Szasz. The publication of his memoir Lunching with Lunatics: Adventures of a Renegade Psychologist has been postponed until the time is propitious.(See excerpts below right.) Dr Farber is also an editor of the pioneering scholarly review The Journal of Mind and Behavior. He can be reached at seth17279@?aol.com