Library News

New books, upcoming events, archival research and ongoing projects are described in the Fall 2020 issue of the library newsletter. The library is closed to public and visitors due to Covid-19, but we are operating remotely. Email library@bpsi.org to request online resources. Library books can be mailed to BPSI members and partners by request.

Recent video interviews with noted book authors, senior analysts, and Kravitz Award recipients are posted here. Recent publications by BPSI Authors are featured on the Recent Work and BPSI Authors blogs and publicized on BPSI’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Check out the Library Corner of the BPSI Blog for recently posted film and book reviews.

Virtual Meet the Author – John Martin-Joy, MD – Jan 11, 2021 at 7:30pm EST

John Martin-Joy, MD, a BPSI Candidate Member, will discuss his new book Diagnosing from a Distance: Debates over Libel Law, Media, and Psychiatric Ethics from Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump (Cambridge University Press, 2020) via a Webinar on Mon, Jan 11, 2021, at 7:30pm EST. The discussion will be co-moderated by the Library Committee Members, Jim Barron, PhD, Shari Thurer, ScD. The online audience will have a chance to ask questions via a Q&A chat or “on camera”.

Please register to attend. All registrants will receive a unique Webinar Meeting Link.

About the Book:

Ever since the rise of Adolf Hitler, mental health professionals have sought to use their knowledge of human psychology to understand – and intervene in – political developments. From Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump, psychiatrists have commented, sometimes brashly, on public figures’ mental health. But is the practice ethical? While the American Psychiatric Association prohibits psychiatric comment on public figures under its ‘Goldwater Rule’, others disagree. Diagnosing from a Distance is the first in-depth exploration of this controversy. Making extensive use of archival sources and original interviews, John Martin-Joy reconstructs the historical debates between psychiatrists, journalists, and politicians in an era when libel law and professional standards have undergone dramatic change. Charting the Goldwater Rule’s crucial role in the current furor over Trump’s fitness for office, Martin-Joy assesses the Rule’s impact and offers a more liberal alternative. This remarkable book will change the way we think about psychiatric ethics and public life.

About the Author:

John Martin-Joy, MD is a psychiatrist in Cambridge, MA, and a part-time instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is a BPSI Candidate in psychoanalytic training and the author of many articles on the history and ethics of the Goldwater Rule. His recent blog Politics, Psychiatry, and Psychoanalysis explored the history and ethics of psychiatric comment on public figures. Dr. Martin-Joy is scheduled to present a paper on Erik Erikson and the 1960s at the 2021 APsaA meetings.

Book Sale

We have several copies of AUTOGRAPHED books on sale. You can pre-order a signed copy with your registration for $25 while the supply lasts: Select “Register and Purchase a Signed Book” option from the drop-down menu. Pay online with any credit card and provide your shipping address. The book will be shipped to you before the event, shipping cost is included in the price.You can also order a paperback, hardcover or ebook directly from the Cambrige University Press website (enter a special promotion code MARTIN30 at the check-out to get 30% off by Dec 31, 2020).