From The Edge Of The Couch

Mar 21, 2025 10:48 AM

Author:Raj Persaud

You may think that vampires and werewolves were merely the stuff of bad Hollywood films and mysterious legends, but as Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud reveals, there are real people out there who believe they are werewolves and vampires. As a result, they behave in ways beyond our most disturbing dreams and the wildest fantasies of imaginative film producers.

In the tradition of Oliver Sacks' bestselling book, THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT, Dr Persaud uses authentic case studies to explain current thinking on brain function and emotional disorders - such as that of the man who could only get his sexual kicks by being crushed in garbage trucks, the film fan who embedded dozens of needles into his body in order to become a robot, and those who take dieting to the ultimate limit by obsessively giving blood or eating nothing but toilet paper.

Through these and other conditions, such as Alien Hand Syndrome - where suffers believe that one of their own hands is out to harm them - Multiple Personality Disorder, Erotomania and the cases of some women in Turkey whose tears are actually filled with blood, Dr Persaud also suggests that we may not have as much free will and control over our bodies as we would like to believe and provides startling new evidence that these conditions might be more common than sceptical psychiatrists realize.

Reviews

A fascinating, no-holds-barred glimpse into the private lives of more than 200 people.

—— Good Housekeeping

Cheeky, steamy - and shockingly good fun.

—— The Sun

A fascinating, no-holds-barred glimpse into the private lives of more than 200 ordinary people.

—— Good Housekeeping

One of the most candid snapshots of sex lives ever published.

—— Glamour

Poignant and frank... A truly fascinating glimpse into our private lives and longings.

—— Daily Mail

Scintillating reading.

—— Leicester Mercury

[The] ultimate page-turner.

—— Zest

A compulsive collection.

—— Independent on Sunday

Shocking and often moving... An insightful peek at other people's hearts and minds.

—— Good Housekeeping

Captivating...fascinating...His answer to the questions “Nature or nurture?” is both. If that sounds like a hedge, it isn’t: instead, it’s a testament to the author’s close attention to nuance.

—— New York Times

Intelligently, rigorously and politely debunks the "10,000 hours" myth

—— Ed Smith , New Statesman

Perhaps the most fascinating book of the year... Absorbing and full of fascinating detail

—— Chris Maume , Independent

This subtle, enthralling study by the Sports Illustrated writer avoids making excessive claims for genetics

—— Financial Times

David Epstein's The Sports Gene has a discussion that badly needs to happen at all levels in sport; about the relationships between talent, genetics, practice and success in sport

—— Dave MacLeod , Scotsman

Respect is due to Epstein…for injecting some objectivity into the debate with his gripping new tome

—— David Bradford , Cycling Active

The Sports Gene offers a fascinating insight into the topic of nature v nurture…a great read

—— Jason Henderson , Athletics Weekly

A welcome corrective to those who have deliberately underplayed the notion that genetic makeup is relevant

—— Oldie

An illuminating read

—— Sport

Fascinating

—— Rick Broadbent , The Times

Well written and contains important research, and has some wonderful anecdotes

—— Matthew Syed , The Times

The most intriguing sports books of the year, and possibly the best-researched

—— Irish Examiner

An enjoyable mixture of easily digestible science, anecdote and argument

—— Michael Beloff , Times Literary Supplement

This is a book to counter the 10,000-hour rule popularised by Malcolm Gladwell

—— Mark Gallagher , Daily Mail

In a book packed with fascinating anecdotes, it’s hard to pick out highlights … If sport is a passion, The Sports Gene is required reading

—— The Score

Highly entertaining and enlightening

—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on Sunday

The Sports Gene does not try to simplify the nature vs nurture argument, but it does provide a welcome corrective to those who have underplayed the notion that genetic make-up is relevant

—— The Times

Epstein explores this territory with canny verve

—— William Leith , Evening Standard

Interesting reading

—— Alastair Mabbott , Herald

Dazzling and illuminating

—— Richard Moore , Guardian

Epstein is too respectful of the complexity of his subject matter to leap to any grand conclusions. The book was conceived partially as a rebuttal to glib theorising, and it is all the more fascinating as a result

—— Ken Early , Irish Times

Fascinating from start to finish

—— Amanda Khouv , Women's Fitness

Epstein forces us to rethink the very nature of athleticism

—— GrrlScientist , Guardian

Looks at the science of extraordinary athletic performance.

—— Adam Whitehead , Daily Telegraph

Captivating… Dazzling and illuminating

—— Richard Moore , Guardian

Epstein is not afraid to follow science in “trekking deep into the bramble patches of sensitive topics like gender and race"

—— Choice

Captivating… In a particularly fascinating chapter, Epstein investigates an old theory that purports to explain why Jamaica produces so many Olympic sprinters

—— Christie Ashwanden , Scotsman

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