Taking up most of this volume is the “Politics of Experience” – an investigation into some aspects of alienation – between members of a society, between individuals and material reality, between individuals and spiritual matters, and even between an individual and aspects of their own mind. The latter of these is particularly important in its implications for the Schizophrenic – a favourite subject for Laing.

As he does in his book the Undivided Self, he takes on an existential approach to madness. To do this he wants to understand how those labelled as mad experience the world, how they think, how they are treated, and how these differ from other members of society. The internal logic of the “mad”, and the validity, poetry, revelation, and creativity within their experience are what he writes about most enthusiastically.

This is not the best beginner’s introduction to Laing’s thought, lacking the systematic presentation of his ideas found in his main works. However as a supplement for those already familiar with, and keen on his other writing, this adds in some extra colour with the provocative riffing hand of the jazz master of psychology. ( )

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