Havana Syndrome

Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria

By: Robert E. Bartholomew, Robert W. Baloh

Narrated by: George Newbern

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness. The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks.

It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the “attack” on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome”.

This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11 chapters which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness. A lively and enthralling listen, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th-century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th-century cases of “telephone shock”, and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints. The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks.

Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness.

©2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Weak on facts, strong on personal opinion

This book spends approximately 40 minutes poorly describing the studies, and immediately attempting to discredit them. The authors spend the next 8+ hours bloviating on their HYPOTHESIS.

(Note: Mass psychogenic illness (MPI)is a known phenomenon that admittedly could be the answer, but the authors lack any evidence beyond conjecture and colloquialisms.)

At best, this book wreaks of self righteous opportunism. At worst, it is a legitimate attempt to convince the masses to ignore salient facts, and renowned professionals, while denying the capabilities of the enemies of the United States.

Robert Bartholomew is a medical sociology professional and Robert Barlow is a neurology professional. They absolutely have a perspective from their areas of expertise, but this book flippantly disregards theories originating from fields outside their areas of expertise. They regularly cite the laws of physics, while they seem to lack credentials or expertise in the field. I do not know if either holds a security clearance to see additional information. I also do not know if either has any first hand knowledge of a single data point.

At the end of the day, this is a hypothesis, with a whole lot of historical examples of MPI. If you are looking to learn about Havana Syndrome, read the studies. At least the studies contain first hand, quantifiable facts and an explanation of their scientific findings.