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nvcdesi's review against another edition
5.0
Cognitive therapy, meditative practices, & drug therapy have all come a long way in helping people feel good. To those who claim their goal is to enjoy life, I highly recommend this book! This is from an author that has done the research, understands the statistics, knows how to learn from his mistakes, is honest in his sharing, and has deliberately practiced his craft for decades.
Enjoy & let me know how this has changed your life! :)
Enjoy & let me know how this has changed your life! :)
katyjoturner's review against another edition
3.0
DNF @65%
3 stars because of CBT content
DNF bc the author’s anecdotes and explanations seemed narrow minded and in desperate need of additional insight. So, I like the tool but not the teacher. I did buy the workbook by the same author hoping it would remove his narrative. We’ll see!
3 stars because of CBT content
DNF bc the author’s anecdotes and explanations seemed narrow minded and in desperate need of additional insight. So, I like the tool but not the teacher. I did buy the workbook by the same author hoping it would remove his narrative. We’ll see!
ksbookjunky's review against another edition
5.0
It's a classic for a reason: useable, workable strategies to confront depression and take your life back. Although it's nice to read and highlight on the Kindle, I probably would have been better off with a paperback version. Still, since it's over 400 pages, it's nice to carry it around in its more compact format. I will refer to it again and again in my own therapy process.
sourblanket's review against another edition
4.0
If you are considering reading this book, I highly recommend choosing one of the techniques in it and applying to your situation. If you already have the book look at the pages with tables in it, you don't need to read about it, they are straight forward. Or you can google the names.
Before reading this book I was already familiar (as in applied and saw the benefits) with some of the tecniques ('advantages vs disadvantages') and was also familiar with stoicism which has the same approach: the things themselves doesn't effect you, how you think about them does.
I have mixed feelings, on one hand I think if I wasn't familiar with techniques I wouldn't think they would work, I had this feeling while reading some parts, If I haven't thought about this I wouldn't be convinced. On the other hand, I think this is a pretty good book. So I'm not sure, maybe examples weren't relevant to me or maybe the writing wasn't very convincing because at times it sounds like kind of an advice we all can see truth in it but no idea how to apply to our lives.
Then why it's good? Everything's very simple and easy to understand. There are many many examples. I said some parts were not very convincing but some parts were really good in that way. There was this girl who had depression and she wanted to commit suicide and argued that life weren't worth living. I really liked how Dr. Burns counteracted with some very good points.
'Don't have depression, can I benefit from this book?'
This book is depression centric but it explaines what is CBT and there are chapters (parts?) on self esteem, guilt, anger, being dependant on love or approval etc. See the contents.
Again, I highly recommend trying the writing exercises applying to your own situation. Other than that, even if you don't like this book, don't give up on cbt! It's like human 101. Communicating with yourself. Understanding your negative feelings and by taking a scientist approach, questioning them to see where your thinking failed logically. Sure we can't feel happy all the time, but prolonged negative feelings that cause suffering are probably caused by illogical thinking (at least this is what I got from this book).
Before reading this book I was already familiar (as in applied and saw the benefits) with some of the tecniques ('advantages vs disadvantages') and was also familiar with stoicism which has the same approach: the things themselves doesn't effect you, how you think about them does.
I have mixed feelings, on one hand I think if I wasn't familiar with techniques I wouldn't think they would work, I had this feeling while reading some parts, If I haven't thought about this I wouldn't be convinced. On the other hand, I think this is a pretty good book. So I'm not sure, maybe examples weren't relevant to me or maybe the writing wasn't very convincing because at times it sounds like kind of an advice we all can see truth in it but no idea how to apply to our lives.
Then why it's good? Everything's very simple and easy to understand. There are many many examples. I said some parts were not very convincing but some parts were really good in that way. There was this girl who had depression and she wanted to commit suicide and argued that life weren't worth living. I really liked how Dr. Burns counteracted with some very good points.
'Don't have depression, can I benefit from this book?'
This book is depression centric but it explaines what is CBT and there are chapters (parts?) on self esteem, guilt, anger, being dependant on love or approval etc. See the contents.
Again, I highly recommend trying the writing exercises applying to your own situation. Other than that, even if you don't like this book, don't give up on cbt! It's like human 101. Communicating with yourself. Understanding your negative feelings and by taking a scientist approach, questioning them to see where your thinking failed logically. Sure we can't feel happy all the time, but prolonged negative feelings that cause suffering are probably caused by illogical thinking (at least this is what I got from this book).
heytheredilara's review against another edition
4.0
As a person who struggles with chronic depression, I found this book to be a source of creative solutions that are applicable and not abstract. The writer gives you so many ways to apply what he has taught you and I love that about this book. I have been using the thought exercise from the book for a month now and I see so much improvement in my mental health.
ana_az_books's review against another edition
5.0
...your feelings result from the messages you give yourself. In fact, your thoughts often have much more to do with how you feel than what is actually happening in your life.
This is really helpful, and not just for people with depression. It has a lot of great techniques to cope with our sometimes irrational reactions to the situations that life gives us. This is practically a therapist in book form.
This is really helpful, and not just for people with depression. It has a lot of great techniques to cope with our sometimes irrational reactions to the situations that life gives us. This is practically a therapist in book form.
left_unsupervised's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I feel like some of the book was over my head, like it was meant for a medical professional audience. I did enjoy the stories of clients that were shared. My therapist recommended this book to me, and I do find it helpful. I go to therapy sporadically, twice a week, weekly, bi weekly, etc. I am more likely to go often when I have things to talk out and when I don't go I like to check in every few months just to stay in touch about my goals and concerns.
I think the talk of medications not having to be permanent or even used was interesting. There is a huge mental health stigma and some people do not understand that not all disabilities are visible. Some say to think of mental health like physical health meaning medication is helpful rather than a label saying you are crazy or damaged.
I feel like some of the book was over my head, like it was meant for a medical professional audience. I did enjoy the stories of clients that were shared. My therapist recommended this book to me, and I do find it helpful. I go to therapy sporadically, twice a week, weekly, bi weekly, etc. I am more likely to go often when I have things to talk out and when I don't go I like to check in every few months just to stay in touch about my goals and concerns.
I think the talk of medications not having to be permanent or even used was interesting. There is a huge mental health stigma and some people do not understand that not all disabilities are visible. Some say to think of mental health like physical health meaning medication is helpful rather than a label saying you are crazy or damaged.