Agnes's Jacket: A psychologist's search for the meanings of madness

From trauma and recovery, spirituality and outsider art to the pernicious, profiteering influence of the pharmacological industry, Agnes's Jacket provides an enthralling, imaginative and, at times, shocking exploration into psychiatric systems past and present. Impeccably researched over the course of several years, the result is a profound, original and extremely important piece of work. Hornstein's humility, grace and wisdom and insight of the numerous people who share their personal stories with her.  As Patrick McGrath recommends it, Agnes's Jacket 'is a true literature of protest'. This book is too full of wisdom, hope and humanity to keep to yourself. Buy it, read it, absorb it, then give it to someone you really love. Eleanor Longden, reviewed in Asylum Magazine 18.2 Summer 2011.

Agnes' Jacket is a very relevant and important book … In it, Gail Hornstein explores and debunks many existing myths concerning the nature and origins of madness … A lot of her focus in the book is on the enormous amount of informal research she has done, going to … numberous meetings of the Hearing Voices Network in the UK. She gives case history after case history of people who have made much better sense of the voices they hear than the psychiatrists/psychologists who have been 'treating' them. I would definitely recommend this book to colleagues … Cordelia Galgut, BPS chartered psychologist, HCPC registered counselling psychologist, BACP senior accredited counsellor/psychotherapist

Agnes's Jacket provides a fascinating and rich resource for those seeking meanings in madness. Dr Helen Barrett, Developmental Psychologist