This book really surprised me. I expected the general history of psychiatry (necessary to write about an event like this) and of course information about Dr. Rosenhan and the experiment; but the information the author tracks down not only changes how the experiment is seen today, but also potential ramifications that may have changed institutions and how society sees/treats them. The "surprises" kept me interested until the very end.

Cahalan's eventual criticisms of Rosenhan's experiment is not so shocking, as many of the "hallmark" psychological experiments of the past have been called into question in recent years (also briefly discussed in the book). The only issue I had was her combining a lot of general history information in the same paragraphs as information specific to the experiment/psuedopatients which made it easy to conflate. I wish they were separated more clearly. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this.