The Lobotomy Letters

The Lobotomy Letters explores the controversial history of lobotomy, a psychiatric surgical intervention that was widely accepted in the mid-20th century.

Drawing from original correspondence and professional papers, the book examines why lobotomy was sanctioned by psychiatrists and doctors, despite its later criticism as devastating and unscientific.

By the late 1950s, tens of thousands of Americans had undergone the procedure, with some reporting improvements.