Alastair Santhouse is a consultant psychiatrist at both Guy's Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital in London. He was Vice Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry between 2013 and 2017, and in 2016 was elected President of the Psychiatry Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. His clinical work focusses on the intersection of physical and mental health.
Incredibly moving... As you would expect from a psychiatrist, Santhouse's wonderful descriptions of his patients focus on the minutiae, the tiny details of appearance, speech and demeanour, details that often go unnoticed, but which are far more telling than anything you might find in a thick folder of patient medical notes. A wise, timely and eloquent book... A joy to read. * Guardian * Santhouse brilliantly illuminates the extraordinary and mysterious ways that our personal stories affect both our mental and our physical health. Compassionate, insightful, and riveting. * Lori Gottlieb, author of the New York Times bestseller Maybe You Should Talk to Someone * A wonderful and humane look inside and outside the head by an experienced psychiatrist. Santhouse's deep dive into how the mind shapes an individual's perception of their body and illness is a welcome retreat, particularly in the age of self . * Allen Ropper, author of the Sunday Times bestseller Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole * Thought-provoking... it's evident throughout that Santhouse is an intensely sympathetic physician. * Times Literary Supplement * Alastair Santhouse is a superb storyteller...it is a rewarding experience throughout to read, not just about the medicine but also Santhouse's colourful tales, his own life and his vast case-book. * The Jewish Chronicle *