I came across the book through bizarre circumstances. Three years ago, I picked up an old literary journal from a used bookshop I frequent. Inside it was a letter from a Dr. William Sargant. When I did more research, I discovered that he was a prominent figure; a nightmarish one to the actress, Celia Imrie.

Jon Stock’s The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal is a well-researched piece of non-fiction that exposes the evil in early ‘treatments’ for mental illness. While a little dry at times, Stock builds a large picture of the man that was William Sargant.

My one criticism would be the structure of the book. There perhaps could have been a little more reshuffling as the narrative has a tendency to be quite jumpy.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those interested in the mind. While Sargant was certainly an evil man, his practices piqued interest and development in the world of psychology.

Interesting and nightmare inducing, this look into the life and practices of Dr William Sergeant, said by some to be the father of ECT and other barbaric treatments for mental health in the 30s-80s, has left me reeling.

Hearing the testimonies of ex patients and colleagues about practices which took place within the confines of a NHS hospital (in the main, though he also had his private practice and access to other treatment areas) makes horrific and anger inducing listening as the man, who clearly had a god complex (like many of his ilk at that time) seemed to strive for infamy and self satisfaction rather than actually wanting to help his patients.

The blurred line that seems to have existed between his work to help patients and work to help secret services to control undesirables raises questions about the funding of research and the need for it to be subject to strong ethics and impartiality.

While some of the concerns about Sergeant and others like him may have brought change in the Mental Health Act, mainly about the need for patient consent - it was mind boggling to hear of children being sent to hospital without their parents knowing or young woman being subjected to treatment with no say over their own bodies. It's sad to hear that loopholes may still exist and those who were treated have lost so much and often been left with greater issues than those which initially led to them being sent for treatment.

Richard Armitage excellently narrates the audiobook edition with his clear, precise diction.

Sleep is a particular interest of mine but I'd never heard of Dr. Sargant's experiments prior to encountering this audiobook. It's hard to come to terms with the fact this isn't the plot of a dystopian novel but is instead a nightmarish reality for all of those patients who were under Dr. Sargant's "care".
The case studies in this book are equal parts fascinating and disturbing. However, I felt I didn't fully engage with the audiobook because of the way the book was structured. I would recommend it to fans of true crime. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fascinating but bone chilling medical history/biography. I believe most people are aware of the horrors of lobotomies and ECT, I know I certainly was but to hear it through this audiobook was unbelievably shocking.

I found the narration came across really well. It was a hard listen and breaking it down with different narrators, including a former patient Celia Imrie, really helped to stay engaged.

I’m not sure enjoyed would be the right word for this audiobook but it was gripping and well written so I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in psychiatric medical history who is wanting a heavy thought provoking read.

Thank you to Hachette UK Audio and NetGalley for offering this audiobook in exchange for my personal thoughts.

Part biography, part medical history and part true crime, The Sleep Room is an expose of controversial psychiatrist William Sargant and the impact his treatments had on his patients.

Stock's descriptions of the sleep room are dark and evocative, shocking in content whilst remaining sensitive to the experiences of past patients and nurses. But while the individual components are compelling - particularly the first-hand accounts from patients - the book is let down by its chaotic structure. The narrative seems to jump all over the place, across time and topics, rather than picking up a thread and following it. Stock's premise centres around how the different elements of Sargant's career intersect, so it is disappointing that his account is so disjointed.

The audiobook narration is excellent, and the use of alternative narrators for the patients' stories, including Celia Imrie herself, is effective.

The Sleep Room is a well-researched and intriguing read: it's just in need of a serious restructure.

I’m trying to read more non-fiction and the cover of this book caught my eye. It’s publishing on 3rd April.

I had never heard about the ‘Sleep Room’ and the controversy surrounding the Psychiatrist William Sargant in the 60s. He championed treatments such as insulin coma therapy, repeated lobotomies and ECT, often without the patient’s consent.

‘Some people think I’m a marvellous doctor, others think I’m the work of the devil’

I chose the audiobook and the narration is very good, it’s clear and engaging throughout.

The book appears to be well researched and is quite accessibly written. I don’t know much about Psychiatry but felt I understood the terms and it was well explained. At times it was a difficult listen as the patients were having horrendous treatments given to them without their consent. Some are still affected by it now and it seems Sargant never admitted the horrors of what happened in the hospital. Some of the patients relate their experiences in the book and there are also views from professionals who worked with Sargant at the time.

At times I did feel the book was a bit all over the place, it could have benefitted from more of a structure. Nonetheless it was interesting and I will be reading more about Sargant.

Thanks to Hachette UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This was a detailed and harrowing tale of what happens when you allow someone absolute authority. It was so powerful to hear the words of one of his patients spoken by the actual patient, as it showed how she was affected by her treatment but also how she was able to thrive in spite of it. My only criticism is that there were a couple of sections focusing on the connection with the intelligence services that felt out of place. But overall this was a well researched book and was well presented by the actors reading it.

Jon Stock has written a fascinating book about the true story of Dr William Sargant and his horrendous treatment at the sleep clinic in London during his career. He treated hundreds of patients, mainly women, by very unacceptable methods, for decades. His methods were horrendous and many patients remain scarred to date.
Jon Stock has throughly researched this, and although at times was hindered by non disclosure and the passage of time, presents a well rounded and fully digestible book (on what could be a very dry subject) and is helped by a number of first hand accounts by those who worked with, and some who were treated by, Sargant (including Celia Imrie and Linda Keith).
I highly recommend this book. It is important for matters like this to be out in the open and learned from to try to ensure that people in positions of authority cannot abuse their power in this way in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sleep Room is a shocking expose of a so-called "doctor" whose conduct and arrogance was nothing shorty of shocking. I'm surprised to have never heard of this scandal before, but I'm glad this book can bring it into the light and get people talking about what outrages happened to people who are still around. I'm glad this book gave them chance to tell their story and I hope it helps them process what happened.

Oh my goodness. This is one of the most chilling and disturbing accounts of medical (mal)practice I’ve ever encountered. Some parts are truly the stuff of grisly dystopian horror films. I’d like to think I find it diff to believe it’s true, but sadly it confirms my worst suspicions that much medical experimentation is carried out in plain sight. What’s particularly awful about this account is the fact that events are so recent and are confirmed by the likes of Celia Imrie, an unwitting subject.

Most of the content is barbaric. It clearly shows the way in which people are manipulated and persuaded by a medic with apparently little charm, but enormous presence. It made my blood run cold more than once and it’s going to haunt and remain with me for some time. I was unaware if this medical scandal and found the account compelling and repellant at the same time. It’s very well narrated and I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in medical history but also secret programs such as MKUltra where mind control is the objective. This is astonishing . Trust no one.

3.75🌟 I desperately wanted to rate a 4 but the writing was a little clunky for my liking. I have to admit to having already known much of what was written about Sargent in the book, however it was great to hear testimony from actual patients and student nurses who worked alongside him,

Regardless how much of his work I had awareness of it’s still incredibly difficult to read and comprehend, it’s incredible to fathom the power the man held. Budding psychology students or true crime enthusiasts will love this title, as did I, I just would’ve liked some more structure.

The audio narration was great.

Many thanks to Hachette U.K. audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

A chilling exposé of the shocking experimental psychiatric treatment conducted in London in the 1960s by one of the most famous doctors of the era. Dr William Sargant kept woman in a drug induced sleep, interspersed with electroconvulsive shock therapy.

Perhaps I’ve got strange taste in books, I love thrillers set in Psychiatric settings and enjoy Dystopian novels (Dr Sargant was lauded by Aldous Huxley), I’ve enjoyed Jon Robson’s investigative books too so was quite sure I’d find this interesting.

The presentation is fairly dry and very factual, not exactly what I was hoping for. I know there are readers and students of psychology and medical history and scandals who will love this book.

It’s written to inform and document rather than to entertain, not my first choice but very well put together for what it is.

Well worth a look.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette UK Audio