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Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities
Here is the unbelievable yet true story of Sybil Dorsett, a survivor of terrible childhood abuse who as an adult was a victim of sudden and mysterious blackouts. What happened during those blackouts has made Sybil's experience one of the most famous psychological cases in the world.
481 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
Flora Rheta Schreiber
8 books397 followersFlora Rheta Schreiber (April 24, 1918 - November 3, 1988), an American journalist, was the author of the 1973 bestseller Sybil, the story of a woman (identified years later as Shirley Ardell Mason) who suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,710 reviews
May 29, 2013
This book is one of the most disgusting books ever written. For all of you about to read this book, thinking it's a true story, please read the following:
This book was the brainchild of three women: Cornelia Wilbur, Shirley Mason, and Flora Schreiber. Shirley, or "Sybil" as she's known, did not suffer from DID. She actually had Pernicious Anemia. Extensive research has been done on Sybil's case, and it has been proven that the entire book was fictious.
Shirley developed all of her "personalities" after working with Dr. Wilbur. In fact, when talking to another theripest, Shirley asked if he wanted her to "act like Marcia," and when he said no, she said, "Oh, Connie is always telling me to act like Peggy or Tim, or...."
It is not entirely Dr. Wilburs fault however. Flora was doubting SHirley's story, and to make her stay with the project, Shirley gave her a journal from 1941, with proof that she had been switching personalities before meeting Connie. It was later proven to be written in 1945, because Shirley said she had been reading a book not published in 1941, and the journal was written in ballpoint...which didn't exist in 1941.
Instead of reading Sybil, read Sybil Exposed. It's the true story, of the three womens lives, and is factual and much more interesting.
This book was the brainchild of three women: Cornelia Wilbur, Shirley Mason, and Flora Schreiber. Shirley, or "Sybil" as she's known, did not suffer from DID. She actually had Pernicious Anemia. Extensive research has been done on Sybil's case, and it has been proven that the entire book was fictious.
Shirley developed all of her "personalities" after working with Dr. Wilbur. In fact, when talking to another theripest, Shirley asked if he wanted her to "act like Marcia," and when he said no, she said, "Oh, Connie is always telling me to act like Peggy or Tim, or...."
It is not entirely Dr. Wilburs fault however. Flora was doubting SHirley's story, and to make her stay with the project, Shirley gave her a journal from 1941, with proof that she had been switching personalities before meeting Connie. It was later proven to be written in 1945, because Shirley said she had been reading a book not published in 1941, and the journal was written in ballpoint...which didn't exist in 1941.
Instead of reading Sybil, read Sybil Exposed. It's the true story, of the three womens lives, and is factual and much more interesting.
October 2, 2007
Another old book review from my blog:
This was one seriously fucked up book. I have never seen the movie but, of course, knew what I was in for when I got the book. The name "Sybil" is very well known, and carries some stigma, in pop culture.
However, I had no concept of the extent or the perversity of Sybil's mother's abuse which had been the prime instigation for Sybil's dissociations. When I was reading the sections describing what she had done to her daughter, I was literally beating my head with the book and saying "That's so fucked up!" out loud. (Good thing there was nobody around to hear me except for Magnum).
As far as writing style, I wouldn't say it was the best. A little too clinical in the language, and a little lacking in the dramatic elements. I am sure this is mostly due to the fact that the author (Flora Rheta Schreiber) was a psychiatrist, and this was one of her first (only?) novels. Not to mention that most of the conversations in the book were probably transcribed from tapes.
But despite slightly distracting writing quality imperfections, this book was completely absorbing. The more I got to know about Sybil and the strange ways her unconscious had devised to help her cope with her abusive childhood, the more I felt like I was losing my own mind. It was strange, to ponder upon the potential psychoses that our brains/minds are capable of. It seems that no matter how normal we might tell ourselves we are, there are so many things we can't remember....so many events in our childhoods that can only be known through other people telling us...it's frightening to wonder where those memories are, and if there is some unconscious self lying beneath our conscious personality that is hoarding those memories from us, or, from a different perspective, is protecting those memories...and yet they are inaccessible to our waking self.
These are the kind of things I found myself thinking about on the bus, or walking down the street, while reading this book. Also, it was my first step away from sci fi/fantasy in some time, and it opened my mind up to new knowledge of psychology and psychoanalysis that I found fascinating and plenty of food for thought.
I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the mysteries of the human mind.
This was one seriously fucked up book. I have never seen the movie but, of course, knew what I was in for when I got the book. The name "Sybil" is very well known, and carries some stigma, in pop culture.
However, I had no concept of the extent or the perversity of Sybil's mother's abuse which had been the prime instigation for Sybil's dissociations. When I was reading the sections describing what she had done to her daughter, I was literally beating my head with the book and saying "That's so fucked up!" out loud. (Good thing there was nobody around to hear me except for Magnum).
As far as writing style, I wouldn't say it was the best. A little too clinical in the language, and a little lacking in the dramatic elements. I am sure this is mostly due to the fact that the author (Flora Rheta Schreiber) was a psychiatrist, and this was one of her first (only?) novels. Not to mention that most of the conversations in the book were probably transcribed from tapes.
But despite slightly distracting writing quality imperfections, this book was completely absorbing. The more I got to know about Sybil and the strange ways her unconscious had devised to help her cope with her abusive childhood, the more I felt like I was losing my own mind. It was strange, to ponder upon the potential psychoses that our brains/minds are capable of. It seems that no matter how normal we might tell ourselves we are, there are so many things we can't remember....so many events in our childhoods that can only be known through other people telling us...it's frightening to wonder where those memories are, and if there is some unconscious self lying beneath our conscious personality that is hoarding those memories from us, or, from a different perspective, is protecting those memories...and yet they are inaccessible to our waking self.
These are the kind of things I found myself thinking about on the bus, or walking down the street, while reading this book. Also, it was my first step away from sci fi/fantasy in some time, and it opened my mind up to new knowledge of psychology and psychoanalysis that I found fascinating and plenty of food for thought.
I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the mysteries of the human mind.
October 30, 2011
A nasty piece of work. What's worse is it's a fraud. "Sibyl's" doctor manipulated her with drug dependency and emotional blackmail into agreeing with the doctor's pet theories about multiple personalities, which had catastrophic effects on psychology for decades.
It's like reading a transcript of a witch trial confession.
This book does a serious disservice to abuse victims.
It's like reading a transcript of a witch trial confession.
This book does a serious disservice to abuse victims.
November 30, 2015
I had to read this in high school for my Psychology class. I'd never heard of Sybil or multiple personalities. I was so skeptical about all of it that when I read the book I had a hard time stopping with the class. We weren't allowed to read ahead and I was chomping at the bit to read the ending. Great book and side note... the movie is just as good. Sally Field was superb in it.
December 12, 2017
Sybil, Flora Rheta Schreiber
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: بیست و یکم ماه فوریه سال 1985 میلادی
عنوان: سی بل؛ نویسنده: فلورا ریتل شرایبر؛ مترجم: عباس داوری؛ تهران، کاج، 1363؛ در 308 ص؛ چاپ دوم 1364؛ چاپ سوم 1365؛ چاپ چهارم تهران، خامه، 1369؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، مهتاب، نغمه، 1376، شابک: 9649124840؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، نغمه، 1384، در 358 ص، چاپ دیگر: تهران، نغمه، 1395، در 320 ص؛ شابک: 9789649134840؛ موضوع: سرگذشتنامه بیماران چند شخصیتی - قرن 20 م
زندگی یک دانشجوی هنر در دانشگاه کلمبیا به نام «سیبل آن دورست» است که از اختلال هویت رنج میبرد. در این داستان اختلالی که در نتیجه تجارب دردناک دوران کودکی این دختر جوان منجر به شکل گیری چهارده شخصیت متفاوت در او شده بود، به تصویر کشیده شده است. کتاب «سی بل» در سال 1974 میلادی منتشر شد؛ که در آن شرح نحوه ی تشخیص یک مورد از حالت چند شخصیتی به صورت مشروح در مورد خانمی با نام مستعار «سی بل میلا» شرح داده شده است. در حدود شش سال پس از انتشار کتاب، موضوع حقانیت و علمی بودنِ تشخیص بیماران چند شخصیتی، که مورد قبول و تائید محافل پزشکی قرار گرفته بود، با عنوان اختلال چند شخصیتی، در کتاب تشخیص بیماریهای روانی چاپ شد. تضادها و اختلافهای زیادی هنوز در مورد چهره های شاخص و مشهور چند شخصیتی از جمله: «سی بل»، وجود داشته و هنوز هم وجود دارند. برخی حتی هنوز هم بر این باور هستند و تشخیص بیماری این فرد را؛ نتیجه ی روشهای تشخیصی و درمانی، پزشک درمانگر او میدانند. این در حالی ست که گروهی دیگر از صاحب نظران روش تشخیصی و درمانی موجود در کتاب «سی بل» را کاملاً علمی و واقعی میپدارند، و پزشک معالج او دکتر «کرنلیا ب ویلبر» را تحسین، و روش کار او را تائید میکنند. ا. شربیانی
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: بیست و یکم ماه فوریه سال 1985 میلادی
عنوان: سی بل؛ نویسنده: فلورا ریتل شرایبر؛ مترجم: عباس داوری؛ تهران، کاج، 1363؛ در 308 ص؛ چاپ دوم 1364؛ چاپ سوم 1365؛ چاپ چهارم تهران، خامه، 1369؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، مهتاب، نغمه، 1376، شابک: 9649124840؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، نغمه، 1384، در 358 ص، چاپ دیگر: تهران، نغمه، 1395، در 320 ص؛ شابک: 9789649134840؛ موضوع: سرگذشتنامه بیماران چند شخصیتی - قرن 20 م
زندگی یک دانشجوی هنر در دانشگاه کلمبیا به نام «سیبل آن دورست» است که از اختلال هویت رنج میبرد. در این داستان اختلالی که در نتیجه تجارب دردناک دوران کودکی این دختر جوان منجر به شکل گیری چهارده شخصیت متفاوت در او شده بود، به تصویر کشیده شده است. کتاب «سی بل» در سال 1974 میلادی منتشر شد؛ که در آن شرح نحوه ی تشخیص یک مورد از حالت چند شخصیتی به صورت مشروح در مورد خانمی با نام مستعار «سی بل میلا» شرح داده شده است. در حدود شش سال پس از انتشار کتاب، موضوع حقانیت و علمی بودنِ تشخیص بیماران چند شخصیتی، که مورد قبول و تائید محافل پزشکی قرار گرفته بود، با عنوان اختلال چند شخصیتی، در کتاب تشخیص بیماریهای روانی چاپ شد. تضادها و اختلافهای زیادی هنوز در مورد چهره های شاخص و مشهور چند شخصیتی از جمله: «سی بل»، وجود داشته و هنوز هم وجود دارند. برخی حتی هنوز هم بر این باور هستند و تشخیص بیماری این فرد را؛ نتیجه ی روشهای تشخیصی و درمانی، پزشک درمانگر او میدانند. این در حالی ست که گروهی دیگر از صاحب نظران روش تشخیصی و درمانی موجود در کتاب «سی بل» را کاملاً علمی و واقعی میپدارند، و پزشک معالج او دکتر «کرنلیا ب ویلبر» را تحسین، و روش کار او را تائید میکنند. ا. شربیانی
April 13, 2008
This was a very fascinating and at times very disturbing book. I probably would have given it 4 stars, but I made the mistake of looking up details about this woman online prior to finishing the book which really changed my feelings about the actual author and doctor involved. Apparently this woman's story is very controversial in the mental health field. Had I known that, I would have finished the book prior to looking up details online (more on this under "spoiler"), and I would suggest that if you read this book, don't look up stuff online until you finish it.
***SPOILER***
Ok, this spoiler isn't really about things in the book itself, but about the book's publication. Apparently it's not really clear if this woman actually had multiple personalities. Supposedly another doctor was asked if he wanted to be involved in this book, and he said no because he did not consider Sybil a multiple personality - he thought Sybil's main doctor led Sybil to believe she had multiple personalities. The author supposedly stated that the publisher wanted a book about a multiple personality, so they had to write it that way. Regardless of what is true, it really changed my perception of the book. What started out as fascinating to me suddenly looked like it was exploiting this poor, sick woman. It's even in the book that Sybil's main doctor introduces her to the author, and it seems like they wanted to write a book about Sybil before they even consulted her. By the end, I just felt like the doctor and author were trying to make a quick buck off of Sybil which was really sad because she trusted them (the profits of the book were apparently split three ways amongst the doctor, author and patient). In addition, the book has a "happy ending" finish, but that's not really how things turned out (although, in defense of the author, things may have been really good when the book was published - Sybil lived about another 25 years, so the sadder things I read about her may have occurred after the book came out).
***SPOILER***
Ok, this spoiler isn't really about things in the book itself, but about the book's publication. Apparently it's not really clear if this woman actually had multiple personalities. Supposedly another doctor was asked if he wanted to be involved in this book, and he said no because he did not consider Sybil a multiple personality - he thought Sybil's main doctor led Sybil to believe she had multiple personalities. The author supposedly stated that the publisher wanted a book about a multiple personality, so they had to write it that way. Regardless of what is true, it really changed my perception of the book. What started out as fascinating to me suddenly looked like it was exploiting this poor, sick woman. It's even in the book that Sybil's main doctor introduces her to the author, and it seems like they wanted to write a book about Sybil before they even consulted her. By the end, I just felt like the doctor and author were trying to make a quick buck off of Sybil which was really sad because she trusted them (the profits of the book were apparently split three ways amongst the doctor, author and patient). In addition, the book has a "happy ending" finish, but that's not really how things turned out (although, in defense of the author, things may have been really good when the book was published - Sybil lived about another 25 years, so the sadder things I read about her may have occurred after the book came out).
April 2, 2008
As a YA librarian I get tons upon tons of requests for A Child Called It, a fantastically horrible memoir about a childhood spent living with an abusive mother. I frequently get questions from other librarians that go something like "why do teens like to read that junk?" Well, it wasn't that long ago that adults all over the country were caught up in Sybil, a book that is the grandfather of the tragic childhood memoir.
When Sybil came to Dr. Wilbur for analysis, there wasn't a lot of material on multiple personalities (now called dissociative identity disorder). Part of the way through the process of analysis, the doctor invited a writer to come and document the case since it was both rare and scarcely written about in the literature. The result is this book.
Schreiber does a so-so job of elucidating the psychoanalytic process between Wilber and Sybil for the reader. You get to hear about the details of Sybil's childhood including some pretty nasty bits about her abusive mother and absent father. Meeting all sixteen of her personalities and learning about the doctor's various hypotheses about their emergence is pretty interesting too. However the process of Sybil's integration will seem dated to today's reader. Dr. Wilbur's has a Freudian approach to psychoanalysis, which finds her focusing mostly on events in Sybil's childhood that she comes to believe are responsible for personality splits that began as early as age 2 1/2. Finally, it's only with hypnosis that the doctor is able to achieve any semblance of integration.
One of the weirdest aspects of the book are the passages in which the author refers to herself in the third person. During the course of writing the book, Schreiber, like Dr. Wilber, became friendly with her subject. While it's probably natural to become close to a subject during the course of what were probably intense interviews, it does through a certain light on the written material presented in the book.
I would recommend this book to people with a penchant for reading memoirs or for those that like to read about abnormal psychology. As a case study, Sybil remains one of the most controversial written accounts. It will probably remain controversial, as it is unlikely that her psychiatric files will be released and, I think, people will always be reluctant to believe that parents are capable of doing great harm to their own children if so inclined.
When Sybil came to Dr. Wilbur for analysis, there wasn't a lot of material on multiple personalities (now called dissociative identity disorder). Part of the way through the process of analysis, the doctor invited a writer to come and document the case since it was both rare and scarcely written about in the literature. The result is this book.
Schreiber does a so-so job of elucidating the psychoanalytic process between Wilber and Sybil for the reader. You get to hear about the details of Sybil's childhood including some pretty nasty bits about her abusive mother and absent father. Meeting all sixteen of her personalities and learning about the doctor's various hypotheses about their emergence is pretty interesting too. However the process of Sybil's integration will seem dated to today's reader. Dr. Wilbur's has a Freudian approach to psychoanalysis, which finds her focusing mostly on events in Sybil's childhood that she comes to believe are responsible for personality splits that began as early as age 2 1/2. Finally, it's only with hypnosis that the doctor is able to achieve any semblance of integration.
One of the weirdest aspects of the book are the passages in which the author refers to herself in the third person. During the course of writing the book, Schreiber, like Dr. Wilber, became friendly with her subject. While it's probably natural to become close to a subject during the course of what were probably intense interviews, it does through a certain light on the written material presented in the book.
I would recommend this book to people with a penchant for reading memoirs or for those that like to read about abnormal psychology. As a case study, Sybil remains one of the most controversial written accounts. It will probably remain controversial, as it is unlikely that her psychiatric files will be released and, I think, people will always be reluctant to believe that parents are capable of doing great harm to their own children if so inclined.
November 15, 2022
“Isolated, she managed somehow to feel free—albeit with a freedom that made her want to smash a hole in the very center of the universe.”
― Flora Rheta Schreiber, Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities
Unforgettable story that drew me in. This is a true story.
Sybil supposedly had many different personalities and in this book, you meet them all. I know controversy exists today as to whether this really happened or not.
All I can say is that my mom used to work with MPD'S. (Multiple Personality Disorders). They are real. I cannot say with assurance that Sybil was one of them but the book is fascinating whether you choose to believe it or not.
My mom worked with many MPD'S and there is the school of thought out there now that this is a real illness. I'd encourage everyone to read this for themselves and make up their own mind. regardless of where you come down on the issue it is a fascinating read.
― Flora Rheta Schreiber, Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities
Unforgettable story that drew me in. This is a true story.
Sybil supposedly had many different personalities and in this book, you meet them all. I know controversy exists today as to whether this really happened or not.
All I can say is that my mom used to work with MPD'S. (Multiple Personality Disorders). They are real. I cannot say with assurance that Sybil was one of them but the book is fascinating whether you choose to believe it or not.
My mom worked with many MPD'S and there is the school of thought out there now that this is a real illness. I'd encourage everyone to read this for themselves and make up their own mind. regardless of where you come down on the issue it is a fascinating read.
May 22, 2020
شاید فیلم اسپل��ت رو دیده باشین.
الان که کتاب سی بل رو تموم کردم به این نتیجه رسیدم که یه کتاب میتونه خیلی بهتر و قوی تر از یه فیلم با همون مضمون باشه
حدود سه ماه پیش بود دوستم که دانشجوی روانشناسیه این کتاب رو بهم معرفی کرد اولش فک میکردم یه کتاب سنگین با کلی اصطلاحات روانشناسیه و بیشتر درسیه ولی یه پیش زمینه توی اینترنت خوندم یه جورایی جذبش شدم و وقتی که تمومش کردم جز چند کتاب خوبی شد که تا حالا خوندم
داستان سی بل درباره دختر تک فرزند از یه خانواده است که مادرش شیزوفرنیک و پدرش کم اهمیته.
مادر، دختر رو از ۶ ماهگی تا ۹ سالگی شکنجه میده و سبب تمام مشکلات روحی و جسمی و تجزیه شخصیت اصلی میشه و باعث به وجود اومدن شخصیت هایی که نسبت به هر احساس، رفتار جداگانه ای دارن.
.
.
به نظر من شاهکاره
من شیفته این کتاب شدم چون داستان این شکلی تا حالا نخونده بودم
خیلی زیبا و جذاب دنبال میشد و توی یه بخش هایی واقعا بغض میکردم و ناراحت میشدم چون داستان واقعی بود و میدیدم چه چیزای ناراحت کننده ای میتونه برای یه بچه اتفاق بیوفته و چقدر محیط زندگی و خونواده توی شخصیت یه کودک مهم هستن.
من که این کتاب رو خیلی دوس داشتم و پیشنهادم اینه که حتما توی لیست کتاباتون بزاریدش
الان که کتاب سی بل رو تموم کردم به این نتیجه رسیدم که یه کتاب میتونه خیلی بهتر و قوی تر از یه فیلم با همون مضمون باشه
حدود سه ماه پیش بود دوستم که دانشجوی روانشناسیه این کتاب رو بهم معرفی کرد اولش فک میکردم یه کتاب سنگین با کلی اصطلاحات روانشناسیه و بیشتر درسیه ولی یه پیش زمینه توی اینترنت خوندم یه جورایی جذبش شدم و وقتی که تمومش کردم جز چند کتاب خوبی شد که تا حالا خوندم
داستان سی بل درباره دختر تک فرزند از یه خانواده است که مادرش شیزوفرنیک و پدرش کم اهمیته.
مادر، دختر رو از ۶ ماهگی تا ۹ سالگی شکنجه میده و سبب تمام مشکلات روحی و جسمی و تجزیه شخصیت اصلی میشه و باعث به وجود اومدن شخصیت هایی که نسبت به هر احساس، رفتار جداگانه ای دارن.
.
.
به نظر من شاهکاره
من شیفته این کتاب شدم چون داستان این شکلی تا حالا نخونده بودم
خیلی زیبا و جذاب دنبال میشد و توی یه بخش هایی واقعا بغض میکردم و ناراحت میشدم چون داستان واقعی بود و میدیدم چه چیزای ناراحت کننده ای میتونه برای یه بچه اتفاق بیوفته و چقدر محیط زندگی و خونواده توی شخصیت یه کودک مهم هستن.
من که این کتاب رو خیلی دوس داشتم و پیشنهادم اینه که حتما توی لیست کتاباتون بزاریدش
August 25, 2016
10/8 - I have been wanting to read this for nearly two decades, since I first heard about the 'case' when I was 12 or 13. In those intervening 18 years I've seen the Sally Field movie and learned the truth behind this story, but I'm still fascinated by the idea of true DID and even if I have to treat it as a fictional account of DID I'm excited to start reading it tonight. To be continued...
Later - The fraudulent nature of this book aside, the writing is annoying the hell out of me - it's way too flowery. In the preface Schreiber talks about her other publications, most of which are psychiatry journal articles (and the like), and it's plain to see that this was her first full length novel. She knows she needs to engage the reading public, who aren't her normal audience of fellow doctors, and she knows she can't do that with the dry language of a medical journal. Unfortunately she goes way too far in her attempt to not be dry. Sentences like
"The key to room 1113 was the engine that drove her, the motor on which her panic turned."
and
She was ready to go wherever the bus would take her, anywhere, everywhere, world beyond, world without end - anywhere."
smack of trying too hard. I mean what on earth does "...world beyond, world without end..." mean in he context of the situation Sybil has found herself in (she's 'woken up' in an unknown city with no idea how she got there, she walks for ages through deserted streets till finally finding a bus which she gets on figuring it'll take her towards civilisation)? I can suspend my sense of injustice at what the patient was coerced into believing, but I'm not sure I can suspend my annoyance with the writing at the same time.
As I said before, I've wanted to read this for ages and it's a gigantic disappointment to be feeling this negatively verbose only nine pages in (not counting numerous pages of preface). I feel like this is where Multiple Personality Disorder, now Dissociative Identity Disorder, became known to the wider public. Despite being revealed to be fake this book brought a real, though in truth very rare, disorder out of the stuff of myths and legends, something of a silver lining (in that despite none of this book being true, the disorder was no longer completely unheard of) for real suffers. To be continued...
12/8 - On page 45 - Why do we care that her bra is tiny? And if there's a good reason for knowing this inconsequential fact, why isn't it followed up with more information relating to the size of her bra? I don't know, I just found the fact that Schreiber took the time to comment on such a silly little thing strange.
13/8 - This book seems to have a DID of its own. The first chapter was the immature child who tried too hard for affection (using stupid, nonsensical, flowery phrases in a medical true story, pseudo or not, doesn't endear the reading public), but from the second chapter on (where Schreiber begins to detail Sybil's experience with Dr Wilbur from the beginning) we've been reading from a much more assured and confident writer.
The idea that you could experience an emotional moment at the funeral of a loved one, and then wake up at school two years later is terrifying. I can't imagine what that would have been like for a sufferer who actually went through something similar. I don't know how anyone could go through that alone without any understanding of what was happening, without believing that they had truly gone crazy. To be continued...
14/8 - The atrocities that are described here, that were perpetrated on Sybil, are beyond belief, beyond my imagining. The description of the cold water enema was very disturbing. If you haven't got a strong tolerance for unsanitised descriptions of extreme child (and I mean toddler) abuse there are a couple of chapters you should definitely skip - 14 and 15 will not be good for your mental health. All I can say is I hope to God Wilbur didn't hypnotise 'Sybil' into believing this happened to her (if indeed, none of this story is true. The thought that a patient might be 'given' these memories because the doctor didn't know what she was doing and was over-eager at the possibility of discovering a 'modern' sufferer of DID, makes me sick.
Every time Schreiber writes about what Dr Wilbur was thinking after a session with Sybil I can clearly hear Wilbur's excitement at exploring the personalities, being successful in her treatment of Sybil, becoming world famous as the psychoanalyst who 'cured' the most extreme case of DID ever documented. Every time I imagine her I see her eyes with dollar signs spinning in them, like in the cartoons. I don't see her as doing any of this altruistically (despite her claim of feeling like a friend towards Sybil during their trip to the country), she just wants to publish journal articles on the fascinating case of 'Sybil'.
Later - The fraudulent nature of this book aside, the writing is annoying the hell out of me - it's way too flowery. In the preface Schreiber talks about her other publications, most of which are psychiatry journal articles (and the like), and it's plain to see that this was her first full length novel. She knows she needs to engage the reading public, who aren't her normal audience of fellow doctors, and she knows she can't do that with the dry language of a medical journal. Unfortunately she goes way too far in her attempt to not be dry. Sentences like
"The key to room 1113 was the engine that drove her, the motor on which her panic turned."
and
She was ready to go wherever the bus would take her, anywhere, everywhere, world beyond, world without end - anywhere."
smack of trying too hard. I mean what on earth does "...world beyond, world without end..." mean in he context of the situation Sybil has found herself in (she's 'woken up' in an unknown city with no idea how she got there, she walks for ages through deserted streets till finally finding a bus which she gets on figuring it'll take her towards civilisation)? I can suspend my sense of injustice at what the patient was coerced into believing, but I'm not sure I can suspend my annoyance with the writing at the same time.
As I said before, I've wanted to read this for ages and it's a gigantic disappointment to be feeling this negatively verbose only nine pages in (not counting numerous pages of preface). I feel like this is where Multiple Personality Disorder, now Dissociative Identity Disorder, became known to the wider public. Despite being revealed to be fake this book brought a real, though in truth very rare, disorder out of the stuff of myths and legends, something of a silver lining (in that despite none of this book being true, the disorder was no longer completely unheard of) for real suffers. To be continued...
12/8 - On page 45 - Why do we care that her bra is tiny? And if there's a good reason for knowing this inconsequential fact, why isn't it followed up with more information relating to the size of her bra? I don't know, I just found the fact that Schreiber took the time to comment on such a silly little thing strange.
13/8 - This book seems to have a DID of its own. The first chapter was the immature child who tried too hard for affection (using stupid, nonsensical, flowery phrases in a medical true story, pseudo or not, doesn't endear the reading public), but from the second chapter on (where Schreiber begins to detail Sybil's experience with Dr Wilbur from the beginning) we've been reading from a much more assured and confident writer.
The idea that you could experience an emotional moment at the funeral of a loved one, and then wake up at school two years later is terrifying. I can't imagine what that would have been like for a sufferer who actually went through something similar. I don't know how anyone could go through that alone without any understanding of what was happening, without believing that they had truly gone crazy. To be continued...
14/8 - The atrocities that are described here, that were perpetrated on Sybil, are beyond belief, beyond my imagining. The description of the cold water enema was very disturbing. If you haven't got a strong tolerance for unsanitised descriptions of extreme child (and I mean toddler) abuse there are a couple of chapters you should definitely skip - 14 and 15 will not be good for your mental health. All I can say is I hope to God Wilbur didn't hypnotise 'Sybil' into believing this happened to her (if indeed, none of this story is true. The thought that a patient might be 'given' these memories because the doctor didn't know what she was doing and was over-eager at the possibility of discovering a 'modern' sufferer of DID, makes me sick.
Every time Schreiber writes about what Dr Wilbur was thinking after a session with Sybil I can clearly hear Wilbur's excitement at exploring the personalities, being successful in her treatment of Sybil, becoming world famous as the psychoanalyst who 'cured' the most extreme case of DID ever documented. Every time I imagine her I see her eyes with dollar signs spinning in them, like in the cartoons. I don't see her as doing any of this altruistically (despite her claim of feeling like a friend towards Sybil during their trip to the country), she just wants to publish journal articles on the fascinating case of 'Sybil'.
March 31, 2018
I read this at 17, doing work training at aa psychiatric hospital and imagining that I had found out what I wanted to do. I liked the book fine - although I struggled with the narrative. One thing I had issues with was that Sybild, being obviously severely so disturbed, could pose as quite balanced and 'normal' in her everyday life. The was certainly not what I saw in the patients I met and interacted with every day. At about half the book I made the mistake of asking a professor about it and he told me that the account of the book was not true. This kind of brought the second half down a notch.
I did follow this one up with When Rabbit Howls (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), however, noting that Truddi Chas was up to 92 personalities from Sybil's 16, I had a nagging feeling that the would either topped by someone with a few hundred - or be discredited at some point...
I did follow this one up with When Rabbit Howls (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), however, noting that Truddi Chas was up to 92 personalities from Sybil's 16, I had a nagging feeling that the would either topped by someone with a few hundred - or be discredited at some point...
September 23, 2012
I don't know if I can give this a fair review. I only picked it up because I was curious to read "Sybil Exposed" and thought I should read the original "Sybil" first. As such, I went in with preconceived skepticism which, according to goodreads trolls, is a mortal sin and means I have no moral right to review this book. So feel free to skip my review if that bothers you, or read on and take it from who it comes.
The story of "Sybil" is certainly dramatic but not particularly credible. The book describes Sybil, a woman who has survived mind-bogglingly horrific physical and sexual abuse by her allegedly schizophrenic mother (disturbingly dated notions of schizophrenia and the doctor's presumed ability to diagnose an unmet person are just the tip of the iceberg here), including episodes as a six-month-old infant and two-and-a-half-year-old toddler recounted by the author in detail. Sybil has learned to cope with her abuse by dissociating and having other personalities, sixteen in total, overtake her body.
Reading between the lines, there are glaring breaches of boundaries by Sybil's doctor which, if acknowledged at all by the author, are framed positively. There are plot holes and numerous questions about the sources for this level of detail. Of course, I may have been looking for reasons to be skeptical but they weren't hard to find.
I suspect that "Sybil Exposed" will simply confirm and flesh out what I'm saying here, but I will read it anyway.
The story of "Sybil" is certainly dramatic but not particularly credible. The book describes Sybil, a woman who has survived mind-bogglingly horrific physical and sexual abuse by her allegedly schizophrenic mother (disturbingly dated notions of schizophrenia and the doctor's presumed ability to diagnose an unmet person are just the tip of the iceberg here), including episodes as a six-month-old infant and two-and-a-half-year-old toddler recounted by the author in detail. Sybil has learned to cope with her abuse by dissociating and having other personalities, sixteen in total, overtake her body.
Reading between the lines, there are glaring breaches of boundaries by Sybil's doctor which, if acknowledged at all by the author, are framed positively. There are plot holes and numerous questions about the sources for this level of detail. Of course, I may have been looking for reasons to be skeptical but they weren't hard to find.
I suspect that "Sybil Exposed" will simply confirm and flesh out what I'm saying here, but I will read it anyway.
July 21, 2014
Sometimes when my kids are really pushing my buttons, I remind them if they don't want the "mean" mommy to make an appearance they had better knock it off. And to be sure, the "mean" mommy, the one who loses her composure and who feels as if she could literally pull her hair out, is far removed from the the loving and patient mommy I identify with, the mommy who also happens to be fascinated by the science of brain and behavior and the origin and experience of consciousness.
So this true story (which happens to read a little too much like fiction for my tastes) of a woman who possessed sixteen personalities was at the very least intriguing.
Interestingly, I chose to read this in prep for reading Sybil Exposed, the book that suggests the real Sybil and the doctor who treated her is/was a fraud.
I should add that I've read a lot on the topic of brain science and some on the condition once known as multiple personality disorder but since renamed dissociative identity disorder and much of this book seemed in line with/consistent with what I've read in other more scientific and less sensationalized sources.
I think the mode of storytelling chosen and the hype that surrounded the story leaves itself wide open to criticism for obvious reasons, so I'll be interested to see what evidence is revealed in Sybil Exposed.
So this true story (which happens to read a little too much like fiction for my tastes) of a woman who possessed sixteen personalities was at the very least intriguing.
Interestingly, I chose to read this in prep for reading Sybil Exposed, the book that suggests the real Sybil and the doctor who treated her is/was a fraud.
I should add that I've read a lot on the topic of brain science and some on the condition once known as multiple personality disorder but since renamed dissociative identity disorder and much of this book seemed in line with/consistent with what I've read in other more scientific and less sensationalized sources.
I think the mode of storytelling chosen and the hype that surrounded the story leaves itself wide open to criticism for obvious reasons, so I'll be interested to see what evidence is revealed in Sybil Exposed.
November 5, 2019
Whether or not this story is true, it still remains an absolutely fascinating and thoroughly chilling read! At times I actually shuddered because the thought of losing days at a time and having no idea what had happened or what you had done is absolutely terrifying. I really felt so much sympathy towards Sybil, I can only imagine the utter terror she felt. The author does a really good job of making you feel what Sybil is going through and I think that’s what makes this book so riveting. My only minor complaint is that it was a bit long at times and would have packed more punch if it was a bit shorter.
September 5, 2019
سی بل
فلورا ریتا شرایبر-ترجمه عباس داوری
ناشر:نغمه
چاپ اول-۱۳۸۵
۳۲۰صفحه
کتاب سی بل بیانگر داستان واقعی دختری هست که دچار بیماری چند شخصیتیه و به گفته نویسنده کتاب نتیجهی تحقیقات و مطالعه و تلاش زیادیه که به نظرم به ارزشش اضافه میکنه توصیفاتش خیلی خوب و دقیقه و داستان کشش زیادی داره و خیلی از جاها از خوندنش متاثر و ناراحت میشدم و میگفتم واقعا چطور ممکنه؟؟ :)
کتاب سال ۱۹۷۳ چاپ شد و سال ۱۹۷۶ فیلمی بر اساسش ساخته شده که به نظرم دیدنش بعد کتاب میتونه جالب باشه یه فیلم هم سال ۲۰۰۷ ازش ساختن.
خوندن کتاب بهم کمک کرد که دلیلی منطقی برای یه سری چیزایی که شنیده بودم پیدا کنم و همینطور من رو یاد کتاب نیمه تاریک وجود از دبی فورد انداخت وقت هایی که سی بل مجبور بود با یه سری از وقایع زندگیش روبرو شه و اونارو بپذیره تا از زیر بار رنجی که میکشه نجات پیدا کنه
توی کتاب دبی فورد هم راه حل هایی که ارائه میده برای پذیرفتن برخی از جنبه های تاریک وجودمون شبیه کارهایی بود که دکتر ویبلر انجام میداد تا بتونه سی بل رو درمان کنه.
در کل پذیرفتن و رها کردن تجربه و خاطرات بد بهمون کمک میکنه خودمون باشیم و احساس آرامش و راحتی بیشتری تو زندگی داشته باشیم و از اون انرژی محبوس تو وجودمون برای چیزهای بهتری تو زندگی استفاده کنیم.
فلورا ریتا شرایبر-ترجمه عباس داوری
ناشر:نغمه
چاپ اول-۱۳۸۵
۳۲۰صفحه
کتاب سی بل بیانگر داستان واقعی دختری هست که دچار بیماری چند شخصیتیه و به گفته نویسنده کتاب نتیجهی تحقیقات و مطالعه و تلاش زیادیه که به نظرم به ارزشش اضافه میکنه توصیفاتش خیلی خوب و دقیقه و داستان کشش زیادی داره و خیلی از جاها از خوندنش متاثر و ناراحت میشدم و میگفتم واقعا چطور ممکنه؟؟ :)
کتاب سال ۱۹۷۳ چاپ شد و سال ۱۹۷۶ فیلمی بر اساسش ساخته شده که به نظرم دیدنش بعد کتاب میتونه جالب باشه یه فیلم هم سال ۲۰۰۷ ازش ساختن.
خوندن کتاب بهم کمک کرد که دلیلی منطقی برای یه سری چیزایی که شنیده بودم پیدا کنم و همینطور من رو یاد کتاب نیمه تاریک وجود از دبی فورد انداخت وقت هایی که سی بل مجبور بود با یه سری از وقایع زندگیش روبرو شه و اونارو بپذیره تا از زیر بار رنجی که میکشه نجات پیدا کنه
توی کتاب دبی فورد هم راه حل هایی که ارائه میده برای پذیرفتن برخی از جنبه های تاریک وجودمون شبیه کارهایی بود که دکتر ویبلر انجام میداد تا بتونه سی بل رو درمان کنه.
در کل پذیرفتن و رها کردن تجربه و خاطرات بد بهمون کمک میکنه خودمون باشیم و احساس آرامش و راحتی بیشتری تو زندگی داشته باشیم و از اون انرژی محبوس تو وجودمون برای چیزهای بهتری تو زندگی استفاده کنیم.
November 21, 2018
This is such a classic. One of the best piece of literature, or one can also say one of the finest example one could find about the beauty, the complexity and the vulnerability of a human mind and heart, and how far we can go to protect ourselves.
A must, must read so as to understand humans better.
A must, must read so as to understand humans better.
September 13, 2017
با خواندن این کتاب بیشتر به تاثیر سلامت روان پدر و مادر بر روح و روان فرزند پی بردم. و واقعابه نظرم خیلی جالب اومد یه فردی 17 شخصیت داشته باشه و بتونه زندگی کنه. شکنجه هایی که بر سی بل اعمال میشد،باعث شد از خودم سوال بپرسم واقعا همچنین مادرهایی هم وجود دارند؟ در حقی��ت این تعدد شخصیت ناشی از جنون مادر سی بل بود
March 31, 2019
كتابي كه ابتدايش جذاب، ميانه اش فوق العاده تلخ و انتهايش اميدواركننده بود! من با اين كتاب ترسيدم و آرام شدم، برايم جذاب بود بخصوص اينكه داستاني واقعي را در بر مي گرفت!
August 7, 2007
I read this book in the mid 70s and I reread it a few times throughout the next decade or so. It tells a heartbreaking, fascinating and absorbing story of a woman with multiple personality disorder, which is a dissociative disorder. I’ve heard over the years that the story is more fiction than non-fiction, but I still like the book just as much as I did when I believed it was 100% true. A really sobering look at how childhood trauma can seriously affect one’s mental health. Extremely disturbing passages about child abuse.
June 3, 2012
I read this in my freshman year of college, and it gave me nightmares, and really made me think I was going crazy. I saw the movie first in psychology class in high school. Then, when I took psychology in college, this book was brought up, and I was intrigued.
I have heard some say this isn't a true story, but even if it isn't, it is still frightening. The whole idea is just....beyond bizarre.
If you are looking for an interesting, can be scary to some, just....crazy story, this might just be the book for you. I actually had a hard time reading it at times, especially at night because I just got weirded out.
I have heard some say this isn't a true story, but even if it isn't, it is still frightening. The whole idea is just....beyond bizarre.
If you are looking for an interesting, can be scary to some, just....crazy story, this might just be the book for you. I actually had a hard time reading it at times, especially at night because I just got weirded out.
December 7, 2022
I have read this book 50 some odd times. Regardless of truth or not truth it stands as a very good and accurate description of what it's like living with MPD/DID.
October 5, 2022
This sparked me to explore a degree/career in healthcare.
This was a very triggering read, but I really enjoyed this. I honestly was fascinated from the start, but it took me a while to finish due to the nature of the book.
It’s weird to read about something that is very unspoken about in the mental health world (to this day), even weirder that a lot of the terms and facts are outdated and incorrect now. But I do love that her story was shared, it paved the way for a lot of change.
This was a very triggering read, but I really enjoyed this. I honestly was fascinated from the start, but it took me a while to finish due to the nature of the book.
It’s weird to read about something that is very unspoken about in the mental health world (to this day), even weirder that a lot of the terms and facts are outdated and incorrect now. But I do love that her story was shared, it paved the way for a lot of change.
September 4, 2023
This one is “a whodunit of the unconscious”, as a psychiatrist gradually uncovers the reason for Sybil’s disordered mental state and identifies each of her alternate personalities. There are some minor in-text issues, and some major real-world questions about its legitimacy 😬 but it’s still a cracking good read.
My full review of Sybil can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Sybil can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
October 25, 2018
واقعا دوستش داشتم!
اين كتاب رو ٦سال پيش زمانى دانشجو بودم يكى از استاد هاى خوبم بهم معرفى كرد ولى تاكنون فرصت نكرده بودم تهيه كنم و بخونم.
داستان در مورد دختريه كه از اختلال تعدد شخصيت رنج ميبره و شخصيت اصلى از وجود سايرِ شخصيت ها بي اطلاع هستش. اين اختلال ريشه درتجارب دوران كودكيش و از رفتار و شكنجه هاى مادرش سرچشمه ميگيره.همچنين نقش وراثت هم در بروز اين بيمارى بي تاثير نيست. از اونجايي كه هم در خانواده ى مادر و هم در خاندان پدريش نشانه هايى از اين اختلال وجود داشته. اين كتاب روند شناخت بيمارى "سي بل "و درمان آن هستش.
اين كتاب رو ٦سال پيش زمانى دانشجو بودم يكى از استاد هاى خوبم بهم معرفى كرد ولى تاكنون فرصت نكرده بودم تهيه كنم و بخونم.
داستان در مورد دختريه كه از اختلال تعدد شخصيت رنج ميبره و شخصيت اصلى از وجود سايرِ شخصيت ها بي اطلاع هستش. اين اختلال ريشه درتجارب دوران كودكيش و از رفتار و شكنجه هاى مادرش سرچشمه ميگيره.همچنين نقش وراثت هم در بروز اين بيمارى بي تاثير نيست. از اونجايي كه هم در خانواده ى مادر و هم در خاندان پدريش نشانه هايى از اين اختلال وجود داشته. اين كتاب روند شناخت بيمارى "سي بل "و درمان آن هستش.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
TRIGGER WARNING: Dissociative Identity Disorder
When I started reading Sybil by Flora Rhett Schreiber, little did I know of the controversies surrounding this case. I do not know what is true and what is not, nor did I try much to get to the bottom of it, however, as the story of a woman named Sybil, it has left a very deep mark. Before I proceed to talk about this book, let me clarify what I meant by not going to the bottom of the surrounding controversies. First, it is not my area of interest and second, I have made my stance clear. So I really do not think that there is a case of misrepresentation or uninformed writing (if you think it is otherwise, please let me know).
Coming back to the eponymous character of this book, Sybil, she has a dissociative identity disorder. The book talks at length about her childhood, her background, her family history, her interests, so on and so forth. It delves into almost all the nooks and crannies of the aspects a life could be made of. And that, I feel, is the biggest strength of this book. It never leaves you in that in-between state of 'knowing' things: you know Sybil and perhaps, you do not know her at all. Her life's journey comes under scrutiny and the powerful glaze of Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, Sybil's psychoanalyst. Sybil's trust in Dr. Wilbur is perhaps as much reciprocated by the psychoanalyst in the form of the former's medical care. The doctor, never roundabout, yet not hurtful to her patient, had me amazed and also made me realise why a layperson like me could not find the right words to say when confronted by someone so (medically) vulnerable. Although some medical jargons were too much for me, I am glad that I read this book. If nothing else, now I know that I know nothing about so many things in this world and perhaps, it becomes all the more important for me to shut up when faced by something similar (I hope you learn this eventually, Adichie, my heart-breaker!).
When I started reading Sybil by Flora Rhett Schreiber, little did I know of the controversies surrounding this case. I do not know what is true and what is not, nor did I try much to get to the bottom of it, however, as the story of a woman named Sybil, it has left a very deep mark. Before I proceed to talk about this book, let me clarify what I meant by not going to the bottom of the surrounding controversies. First, it is not my area of interest and second, I have made my stance clear. So I really do not think that there is a case of misrepresentation or uninformed writing (if you think it is otherwise, please let me know).
Coming back to the eponymous character of this book, Sybil, she has a dissociative identity disorder. The book talks at length about her childhood, her background, her family history, her interests, so on and so forth. It delves into almost all the nooks and crannies of the aspects a life could be made of. And that, I feel, is the biggest strength of this book. It never leaves you in that in-between state of 'knowing' things: you know Sybil and perhaps, you do not know her at all. Her life's journey comes under scrutiny and the powerful glaze of Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, Sybil's psychoanalyst. Sybil's trust in Dr. Wilbur is perhaps as much reciprocated by the psychoanalyst in the form of the former's medical care. The doctor, never roundabout, yet not hurtful to her patient, had me amazed and also made me realise why a layperson like me could not find the right words to say when confronted by someone so (medically) vulnerable. Although some medical jargons were too much for me, I am glad that I read this book. If nothing else, now I know that I know nothing about so many things in this world and perhaps, it becomes all the more important for me to shut up when faced by something similar (I hope you learn this eventually, Adichie, my heart-breaker!).
March 6, 2008
REALLY INTERESTING if you're at all into psychology or childhood trauma. This book is a true story, but it reads like a science-fiction at times just because it is so so sad and horrible.
If this book were better written and a little quicker paced I think it could easily become one of my favourites.
Only read this if you can stomach reading about horrible things happening to little children... Actually, I think everyone should read this just to realize how hard some people have it due to no fault of their own. A good book to inspire a good nature vs nurture discussion.
Oh also, Dr. Wilbur (Sybil's psychologist) REALLY bothered me with how she pressured Sybil to abandon her religion in order to become well. Sybil was a part of a very restrictive Fundamentalist faith and the doctor lowered herself to Bible bashing and arguing the finer points of religion (GOD didnt say to rest on the Sabbath, MEN/prophets did) when I feel it was more than a little inappropriate. My husband and I had a discussion after I read that chapter about how annoyed we are when therepists make "confining religions" out to be the bad guys and act as if no one would have any mental problems if only God would stop being SO demanding... On the doctor's behalf, however, Sybil's religious upbringing WAS over-the-top.
If this book were better written and a little quicker paced I think it could easily become one of my favourites.
Only read this if you can stomach reading about horrible things happening to little children... Actually, I think everyone should read this just to realize how hard some people have it due to no fault of their own. A good book to inspire a good nature vs nurture discussion.
Oh also, Dr. Wilbur (Sybil's psychologist) REALLY bothered me with how she pressured Sybil to abandon her religion in order to become well. Sybil was a part of a very restrictive Fundamentalist faith and the doctor lowered herself to Bible bashing and arguing the finer points of religion (GOD didnt say to rest on the Sabbath, MEN/prophets did) when I feel it was more than a little inappropriate. My husband and I had a discussion after I read that chapter about how annoyed we are when therepists make "confining religions" out to be the bad guys and act as if no one would have any mental problems if only God would stop being SO demanding... On the doctor's behalf, however, Sybil's religious upbringing WAS over-the-top.
June 19, 2012
I started to read this book many years ago - never finished it as it was undoubtedly a big con. The ingredients were obvious - a disturbed and suggestible young woman, a grossly inadequate fame-seeking psychiatrist, and an unethical journalist. It's amazing that despite its exposure as a fraud (e.g. Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan) the book is still being marketed, read, and believed.
What is particularly sad is that all "Sybil's" psychological problems were easily avoidable. Debbie Nathan, while researching for her book, visited the family doctor that treated "Sybil" as a child. She had suffered from Pernicious anemia, as had her mother, and the GP had successfully kept "Sybil" in her happy family home symptom free with liver extract. Her mother suffered from the same condition. When "Sybil" left the family home to study she stopped the liver extract and over the next year it seems that her psychological symptoms returned. This time, tragically for her, she went to see the incompetent Psychiatrist who did not take a proper Medical history and so misdiagnosed her.
Many of "Sybil's" memories and other personalities were elicited when she was under the influence of pentothal, some when she was literally in bed with her Psychiatrist. I highly recommend Debbie Nathan's book.
What is particularly sad is that all "Sybil's" psychological problems were easily avoidable. Debbie Nathan, while researching for her book, visited the family doctor that treated "Sybil" as a child. She had suffered from Pernicious anemia, as had her mother, and the GP had successfully kept "Sybil" in her happy family home symptom free with liver extract. Her mother suffered from the same condition. When "Sybil" left the family home to study she stopped the liver extract and over the next year it seems that her psychological symptoms returned. This time, tragically for her, she went to see the incompetent Psychiatrist who did not take a proper Medical history and so misdiagnosed her.
Many of "Sybil's" memories and other personalities were elicited when she was under the influence of pentothal, some when she was literally in bed with her Psychiatrist. I highly recommend Debbie Nathan's book.
February 4, 2022
Watching 'Monsters inside - The 24 faces of Billie Milligan' a few days ago with my husband this book was referred to several times and I remembered having first watched the movie when was around 19 years old and later also reading the book because the film made an unforgettable impression on me. To this day I remember the horror of the film and at that age I didn't question its veracity, I just accepted that this was based on a true story. Many years later I remember using the film in my teaching (today I am thinking: Poor students!) but watching the documentary about Billie Milligan made me google Sybil, the book, which the film is loyally based on, and now I can't help feeling being duped. I also feel the netflix series is far too long, 4 long episodes is not warranted in the bulk of the material and the music is not adding anything positive, on the contrary.
Still, the book is cleverly put together and made that lasting impression, so 4 stars it is.
Still, the book is cleverly put together and made that lasting impression, so 4 stars it is.
April 28, 2023
I have had this book for over 25 years. Dragging it with me each house moving I had in my life, to finally read it the last days. From page one I could not put it down. I was never bored with reading this story. Even though it might not be true, I loved every word of this story.
March 18, 2016
The hard work that goes in trying to get your life back on track is heart warming but also heartbreaking.
Rearing a family is hard work and kids never know what their parents will be like.
Will they be abusive as Hattie Dorset was ? Will they be happy people putting in a lot of effort to rear their children with love and concern. Kids never know.
Hattie Dorset may be one of the extremes in society, but to some extent everyone abuses their kids, in benign ways like pushing them for those endless classes, or parents who are not even aware that their kids exist, remember Matilda.
But consciously or unconsciously we do expect the unexpected from our kids, did we have similar parents, maybe.
The resilient do their best and stick on, the less resilient fall down a couple of times.
But everyone tries to get back on track and that is extremely courageous.
I have such tremendous respect for people trying to get back on track.
Coming back to Sybil, Hattie Dorset was not at all a mother as we define a Mother, she was an abusive person.She abused Sybil in every possible way, sexually, physically, mentally and ways we can never ever comprehend. She abused Sybil so much that Sybil escaped into different worlds. That Sybil's father pretended it was not happening and never lifted a finger to help a toddler is much worse. Of course we tend to excuse such behavior in multiple ways, but in whatever way we want to couch it, in whatever way we want to excuse people such as Sybil's parents, one word stands in my mind-EVIL.
I know it is not in fashion to call any person evil these days, there are so many better sounding words but to me they were Evil persons torturing a small defenseless child
Rearing a family is hard work and kids never know what their parents will be like.
Will they be abusive as Hattie Dorset was ? Will they be happy people putting in a lot of effort to rear their children with love and concern. Kids never know.
Hattie Dorset may be one of the extremes in society, but to some extent everyone abuses their kids, in benign ways like pushing them for those endless classes, or parents who are not even aware that their kids exist, remember Matilda.
But consciously or unconsciously we do expect the unexpected from our kids, did we have similar parents, maybe.
The resilient do their best and stick on, the less resilient fall down a couple of times.
But everyone tries to get back on track and that is extremely courageous.
I have such tremendous respect for people trying to get back on track.
Coming back to Sybil, Hattie Dorset was not at all a mother as we define a Mother, she was an abusive person.She abused Sybil in every possible way, sexually, physically, mentally and ways we can never ever comprehend. She abused Sybil so much that Sybil escaped into different worlds. That Sybil's father pretended it was not happening and never lifted a finger to help a toddler is much worse. Of course we tend to excuse such behavior in multiple ways, but in whatever way we want to couch it, in whatever way we want to excuse people such as Sybil's parents, one word stands in my mind-EVIL.
I know it is not in fashion to call any person evil these days, there are so many better sounding words but to me they were Evil persons torturing a small defenseless child
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