Book: Empire of Normality – Robert Chapman

By: Lucia Sarmiento Verano

What is this book about?

This book powerfully argues against current models of ability and disability. It covers:

• The history of how disability was seen in the West through the industrial revolution and beyond
• How the eugenics movement and anti-psychiatry are linked to today’s mental health fields and the harm they enact
• More recent developments: how society disables people

What is radical/new/different about it?

This is not just a book that advocates for more education on neurodiversity and disability, or that calls for initiatives for equality and inclusion. The author takes a truly radical approach and explores the origins of social harms, how society disables people, and the changes needed. He is not afraid to call for dismantling the system.

Why you should read this book:

This book is very well researched and present a coherent argument and narrative that is easy to follow and understand. It will provide:

• The history of ableism and ableist ideas
• Links between the above histories and social contexts at different times
• A clear argument on why normativity harms
• Robust challenges to the psychiatric and psychological professions (and also to the anti-psychiatry movement!)

I would recommend it if you are interested in a detailed (but still easy to read) historical view on ableism to understand how it is connected to capitalism.

Limitations:

This book is thorough and detailed about the history which can make it a bit of a dry read sometimes, especially when it gets into the details of a particular idea.

I would personally be interested in seeing some links between what the author writes about and the applications of ableist mental health principles in colonial contexts, plus how it might affect people holding other marginalised identities. The book centres the West so I understand this is outside of its scope.

Have you read this text? If so, what did you think? Please share below.