American Violence and Public Policy: An Update of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. Edited by Lynn A. Curtis. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1985. Pp. xi + 263. $23.00.)

Abstract

as it clearly demonstrates that the dualism found in Western medicine that derived from the Eleatic school of Greek philosophy is an artifact and that the psyche and soma are indivisi¬ ble. Another strength of the book is that its chapters are written by dif¬ ferent authors, resulting in some being quite theoretical and technical and others more down-to-earth and easy to read; thus, the novice will find chapters that are informative and useful, as will those physicians who are better read in this field of study. A weakness of the multiple author¬ ship is that there are some repetitions and differences in viewpoint and in writing style. In conclusion, it is the rare book that will hold the interest of both the psychiatrist and the internist, but this is one of them.