The Sleep Room

by Jon Stock
The Sleep Room cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Investigative Journalism
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Paperback • £10.99 Hardback • £21.99
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  • ID: 2775
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9798887073163
  • Publisher: Abrams
  • Published: 2025-07-22
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

The Sleep Room delves into the disturbing practices of Dr. William Sargant, a celebrated psychiatrist who subjected hundreds of women to continuous narcosis and electroconvulsive therapy without consent. Set in the top floor of the Royal Waterloo Hospital in London, this investigative work uncovers the horrors of Ward Five, where patients were kept in a twilight state for months, emerging with no memory of their ordeal. The book also explores the potential ties to state-sponsored experiments and the ethical questions surrounding psychiatric treatments of the time. Author Jon Stock meticulously investigates the life and work of Sargant, revealing his connections to the CIA and his controversial methods. Through the testimonies of survivors now in their seventies and eighties, the book sheds light on the long-lasting impact of these treatments and the fight for justice and answers.

Reviews
The Guardian · 2025-03-30
haunting 4.50

The book's power lies in the vivid patient testimonies that highlight the unethical treatments inflicted by William Sargant. It's a haunting account of medical abuse that leaves a lasting impact.

This book is a powerful exploration of the unethical medical practices conducted by psychiatrist William Sargant in the 1960s. The reviewer emphasizes the haunting nature of the patient testimonies, which bring to light the grim realities of Sargant's treatments. These accounts are not just historical records but serve as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse within the medical field. The reviewer finds the book to be a compelling and disturbing read, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations in medical practices.

Quick quotes

    A book about psychiatrist William Sargant's unethical treatments at a London hospital in the 1960s is all the more powerful for its vivid patient testimonies.

    It is a horrifying study of medical abuse.

    The Sleep Room is a haunting account of the unethical treatments inflicted by William Sargant.

The Telegraph · 2025-03-29
shocking 4.00

The tale of abused women in a leading British hospital is shocking and reveals the dark side of radical psychiatric treatments. The book sheds light on the disturbing practices of William Sargant.

The Telegraph's review highlights the shocking nature of the abuses that took place in a leading British hospital. The reviewer delves into the disturbing practices of William Sargant, who was once hailed as a pioneer in psychiatry. The book provides a detailed account of the radical treatments that were inflicted on patients, many of whom were women. The reviewer finds the book to be a gripping and disturbing read, emphasizing the importance of understanding the dark history of psychiatric practices. The personal stories of the victims add a human dimension to the narrative, making it all the more impactful.

Quick quotes

    A shocking tale of abused women in a leading British hospital.

    William Sargant's radical psychiatric treatments saw him hailed a pioneer.

    The Sleep Room is a gripping real-life thriller.

Literary Review · Joan Smith · 2025-01-01
chilling 4.75

The book vividly describes the horrifying conditions and treatments endured by patients, likening them to something from a Soviet gulag. It's a chilling account of medical abuse.

Joan Smith's review in the Literary Review paints a vivid picture of the horrifying conditions and treatments endured by patients under William Sargant's care. The reviewer likens the descriptions of patients heavily sedated and subjected to electric shocks to something from a Soviet gulag, highlighting the extreme and inhumane nature of the treatments. Smith finds the book to be a chilling account of medical abuse, emphasizing the importance of exposing such practices to prevent their recurrence. The personal testimonies and detailed descriptions make the book a powerful and disturbing read.

Quick quotes

    A room full of women sleeping in low beds, heavily sedated with drugs and given frequent electric shocks, sounds like something from a Soviet gulag.

    The Sleep Room is a chilling account of medical abuse.

    It is a disturbing true story of an all-powerful British doctor who abused his female patients.

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