Scott Alexander reviews 'The Gervais Principle', a book offering insights into organizational dynamics through a classification of three personality types, finding it thought-provoking but not entirely convincing. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'The Gervais Principle' by Venkatesh Rao, a book that claims to offer insights into organizational dynamics and human behavior through a classification system of three types: Sociopaths, Losers, and Clueless. The book combines elements of psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, and status economics to explain workplace dynamics and personal development. Scott finds the typology interesting but not entirely convincing, appreciating the book's ability to provoke thought and provide a framework for understanding organizational behavior, while questioning its universal applicability and some of its core claims. Shorter summary

Scott reviews a book on Lacanian psychoanalysis, discussing its theories on desire and human development while expressing both skepticism and interest in some of its ideas. Longer summary

Scott reviews 'A Clinical Introduction To Lacanian Psychoanalysis' by Bruce Fink, exploring Lacan's theories on desire, psychoanalysis, and human development. He discusses Lacan's concepts of the Other, the paternal function, and the three diagnostic categories: psychosis, perversion, and neurosis. Scott expresses skepticism about many of Lacan's claims but finds some value in the ideas of desire as ego defense and the complexity of human sexuality. He compares psychoanalysis to superstring theory - an attempt to explain complex phenomena that may not fully work but represents a valiant effort. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents and discusses diverse reader reactions to his review of 'Sadly, Porn', touching on the book's controversial ideas and writing style. Longer summary

Scott Alexander highlights and responds to various comments on his book review of 'Sadly, Porn' by The Last Psychiatrist. The comments cover a wide range of reactions, from strong praise to harsh criticism of the book and its ideas. Topics discussed include the book's obscurantism, its psychoanalytic perspective, the nature of advertising, people's thoughts on compliments, and various interpretations of the book's central themes. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews the obscure psychoanalytic book 'Sadly, Porn', attempting to decipher its core ideas about human psychology and society. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'Sadly, Porn' by Edward Teach, a complex and obscure psychoanalytic work. He attempts to decipher the book's core ideas about human psychology, desire, and societal structures, while grappling with its intentionally difficult style and controversial claims. The review explores themes of envy, status-seeking, and the modern psyche's relationship with corporations and technology, as well as the book's critique of contemporary politics and culture. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to various comments on his review of 'The Secret of Our Success', covering topics from language evolution to cultural practices and critiques of the book's claims. Longer summary

This post highlights comments on Scott Alexander's review of 'The Secret of Our Success'. It covers various topics including language creation, human strength compared to apes, cultural evolution, traditional practices, and the interplay between tradition and rationality. The post also touches on critiques of the book's claims, discussions on illegible preferences, and parallels with psychoanalytic concepts. It ends with perspectives on labor practices in Dubai and insights from StarCraft 2 strategies as metaphors for cultural evolution. Shorter summary

Scott reviews 'Mount Misery' by Samuel Shem, a critique of psychiatric practices that emphasizes the importance of human connection in treatment. Longer summary

Scott reviews Samuel Shem's book 'Mount Misery', a sequel to 'House of God', which follows Dr. Roy Basch's psychiatric residency at Mount Misery hospital. The book critiques psychiatric practices, especially psychoanalysis, portraying most treatments as harmful and dehumanizing. It contrasts these with more humanistic approaches, praising Alcoholics Anonymous for its emphasis on human connection. Scott discusses the book's themes of narcissism in psychiatry, the potential harm of psychoanalysis, and the importance of genuine human connection in treatment, while also noting some limitations in Shem's proposed solutions. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares his experiences and reflections as a final-year psychiatric resident, discussing communication techniques, challenges in psychotherapy, and the anxiety of managing patient risks. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reflects on his experiences as a final-year psychiatric resident. He discusses the differences between resident years, the challenges of dealing with patients and attendings, and the techniques he's learned for effective communication. He also shares his struggles with psychotherapy, his frustrations with psychoanalysis, and the constant anxiety of managing suicide risk among patients. The post ends with Scott contemplating the 'reverse lottery' nature of psychiatric practice and how a patient's suicide attempt has affected his approach to patient care. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents and humorously critiques a series of strange psychiatric drug advertisements from the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting their peculiar imagery and messaging. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares a collection of psychiatric drug advertisements from the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting their peculiar and often creepy nature. He comments on various aspects of these ads, including the evolution of psychiatric terminology, the relationship between drug therapy and psychoanalysis, and the bizarre imagery used to market antipsychotics. The post humorously critiques the ads' visual elements, puns, and implied messages, while also noting how they reflect changing attitudes in psychiatry over time. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines a study showing no significant difference between CBT and psychodynamic therapy, challenging the idea that CBT is superior and exploring the possibility that most psychotherapies work through non-specific factors. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses a recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry comparing the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy for depression. The study found no significant difference between the two therapies, challenging the common belief that CBT is superior. Scott reflects on how this contradicts the 'foundation myth' of psychiatry, which claims that evidence-based therapies like CBT replaced less scientific approaches like Freudian psychoanalysis. He explores the possibility that most psychotherapies work through non-specific factors rather than their specific theories or techniques, a concept known as the Dodo Bird Verdict. Scott suggests that CBT's reputation as evidence-based may be due to its proponents conducting more studies, rather than superior efficacy. He concludes by stating his belief that only very basic, targeted therapies have specific effects, while more complex theories of the mind likely rely on non-specific factors. Shorter summary