"Weekends at Bellevue"

[OldPsychDoc]

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Just caught part of this on NPR's "Fresh Air" tonight.
Sounded like something those of you contemplating psychiatry may want to listen to, or to read the book.

[edit--Whoa...after reading the reviews at amazon, I'm not so sure about reading it anymore! Even the 4-star reviews accuse her of lots of self-serving narcissism. Then again, does anyone without that trait ever get around to actually writing a book?]

 

[erg923]

I listend to the interview on Fresh Air as well. I found it interesting (obviously), although rather cliche and self-serving.

 

[billypilgrim37]

I saw this last week at B&N, and while initially drawn, a quick read of the back cover/inside jacket convinced me that my time would be better spent facebook-chatting my friend at NYU for 20 minutes or so.

 

[jena2lsu]

I actually finished the book yesterday. It was an excellent book. The book covers her time at the Bellevue Hospital in NYC. I would give it five stars.

 

[CaptainBluebear]

I finished this last weekend. It was an interesting read, quite honest, brutal and revealing in places - moreso about the author than her patients. I don't know that I could recommend it to people who already worked in the field, but it gives a little peek into what it is like in emergency psychiatry.

It made me wonder whether I'm cut out for psychiatry, but then I don't really relate to how she interacts with patients on the page (I'm far more relaxed and passive), and I wouldn't spent all of my time in an acute setting - I like follow-up and ongoing care. That said, it brought back some interesting memories of my psych rotation in medical school. 🙂

 

[PsyDGrrrl]

I finished this last weekend. It was an interesting read, quite honest, brutal and revealing in places - moreso about the author than her patients.

I got it the other day and read the whole thing in 2 days. It was very engaging, but I agree with others here, a lot of cliche, self-serving, etc. etc. (but as the OP noted, aren't most memoirs a little heavy on the narcissism by their very nature?) What struck me is, as you said, how much she said about herself that I as a mental health professional would not be putting in print for the world (and potentially, numerous former, current or prospective patients) to see.

 

[Heathcliff]

Looks like another book is out about the experiences of an ER psychiatrist:
Danger to Self by Paul Linde

It was not supposed to be published until January 7, 2010, but it is available now. Wonder if "Weekends at Bellevue" had any influence on this.

 

[PsyDGrrrl]

Looks like another book is out about the experiences of an ER psychiatrist:
Danger to Self by Paul Linde

It was not supposed to be published until January 7, 2010, but it is available now. Wonder if "Weekends at Bellevue" had any influence on this.

hahaha, I can't help but think of Paul Lynde

 

[zenman]

Looks like another book is out about the experiences of an ER psychiatrist:
Danger to Self by Paul Linde

It was not supposed to be published until January 7, 2010, but it is available now. Wonder if "Weekends at Bellevue" had any influence on this.

Dammit quit posting book links...I just bought both of Linde's books, lol!