Review of MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES: A FIFTY-YEAR HISTORY

Reviews the book, Mental Health in the United States: A Fifty-Year History by Nina Ridenour (1961). The book provides a concise, delightful, and informative account of important developments in the concepts and practice of mental health procedures in the United States. The reviewer read the book at a single sitting, with an increasing awareness of the editorial difficulty that must have been presented in holding the volume to such a concise size. This, however, is one of the assets of the book. The reader can obtain a broad picture of mental hygiene activities with an appreciation of the manner in which practices and procedures evolved, and can feel a personal acquaintance with many of the individuals who contributed at the planning and working level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)