Reviews - Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping

288 reviews for:

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping

As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life, which led me to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, a major part of my recovery and mental health is understanding what's going on. I've been studying mental health and psychology for years, and this book has been on my list for a while, and I finally read it. This is an excellent book that everyone should read because it covers all of the biology behind stress, anxiety, and depression. Personally, it took me forever to read just because I get bored with biology, but it's still a great book. If you enjoy biology and learning about hormones and neurotransmitters, this book is definitely for you.

juliemsimons's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars

larius's review against another edition

4.0

informative reflective slow-paced

nferraro90's review against another edition

5.0

~Stress is bad~
the end

Ok there’s a bit more to it than that, as detailed over 500+ pages. Robert Sapolsky is one of the best science writers (and scientist’s) of our time, and this is largely considered to be his magnum opus. His witty humor and ability to succinctly explain complex topics is quite apparent through reading this book, as is his expertise on the neurobiology of stress. Don’t go into this expecting solutions to the problems identified by Sapolsky, and nearly 30 years after its original publication, society and medicine are still dealing with the consequences of chronic stress. Nonetheless, while this isn’t the most uplifting read (1 chapter dedicated to solutions, most of which involve being born to the right parents) it’s a fantastic introduction to the world of stress neurobiology, readable for the layperson and clinician alike.

For a more contemporary overview of stress neurobiology, this paper is a good supplement to this book

https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00127/full