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kice7788's review
5.0
Loved this book! Such a great book for people like me with depression, helps think of some more tactics to help you see the good side of things when you can't! Super short and informative.
bmeridith's review
1.0
This was recommended by my therapist (who I don't see anymore, go figure). I really didn't find anything helpful in this book. I suppose it might be useful to someone - perhaps I'm just not his target audience. It seems to suggest a lot of ways to 'take your mind off' being depressed but it came off kind of flippant and light to me without any 'real' meat to help.
beckks's review
3.0
3/5
I think it is important to note that this book is not for those that are clinically depressed and Swirsky is not trying to make it seem like it is. Rather, it’s a book with tips to help get you through some setbacks - just as the cover states.
As was mentioned in another review, it could have been in something like a blog post, and I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. I did enjoy it in book form and I think a book may possibly reach more people so I’m not totally upset at the fact that it’s in book form as opposed to blog form - I would have liked it to be longer since it is a book.
However I will use these ideas in the future and I look forward to seeing if they work for me!
I think it is important to note that this book is not for those that are clinically depressed and Swirsky is not trying to make it seem like it is. Rather, it’s a book with tips to help get you through some setbacks - just as the cover states.
As was mentioned in another review, it could have been in something like a blog post, and I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. I did enjoy it in book form and I think a book may possibly reach more people so I’m not totally upset at the fact that it’s in book form as opposed to blog form - I would have liked it to be longer since it is a book.
However I will use these ideas in the future and I look forward to seeing if they work for me!
bluenicorn's review
2.0
I can see both sides here; on the one hand, telling a depressed person to compliment themselves or write letters seems a bit overly simplistic and misses the mark. On the other hand, sometimes when you are in the pit of a depressive period, forcing yourself to do even the small things that seem impossible or pointless (making your bed) end up having a small positive effect. So, for people looking to "get unstuck," this may be nice; for those legitimately looking for a "happier depression," it's a little more work than this book makes it seem.
If you were hoping for more actual advice on handling anxiety and coping mechanisms for depression, I can't recommend Ellen Forney's Rock Steady enough. I would recommend that one way more than this one, although I know that for those who don't care for graphic novels and like their advice in the form of watercolor hand lettering, that may not happen.
If you were hoping for more actual advice on handling anxiety and coping mechanisms for depression, I can't recommend Ellen Forney's Rock Steady enough. I would recommend that one way more than this one, although I know that for those who don't care for graphic novels and like their advice in the form of watercolor hand lettering, that may not happen.
mgenneken's review
4.0
Such a cute little book. Its not for the severely depressed...but would work for people fighting bad days and just need a little pick me up. I think it has some great suggestions. Artwork was beautiful!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com.
angiet820's review
4.0
Decent advice
Reading was fast and easy. Decent advice given for dealing with depression creeping up on you. This is a good beginner book.
Reading was fast and easy. Decent advice given for dealing with depression creeping up on you. This is a good beginner book.
nattycran's review
3.0
Swirsky is a mental health professional in Beverly Hills. This book is WAY more Beverly Hills than mental health. The art is beautiful and strange. The tips are light (but not all are entirely cost effective for everyone, but not so much so that I would call this book classist). The ideas are fairly straight laced and old school. Again, very Beverly Hills.
The tips in this book are likely very helpful for people in a temporary depression, not someone with a lifelong disorder. That said, even those of us who are life-timers have good and bad days on medication. I can see using some of these on my low but not so low I need to call my doctor days.
If you have a temporary case of the blues or are getting through a major life change (a loss, a big move, aging) then go for it. This will probably be a great fit.
For those of us life-timers, we need to stick with therapy, medication, and other more serious methods to help ourselves. This can be a tool for days when we are just a little off but it does not make for a dependable crutch.
This book is really 2.5 stars.
The tips in this book are likely very helpful for people in a temporary depression, not someone with a lifelong disorder. That said, even those of us who are life-timers have good and bad days on medication. I can see using some of these on my low but not so low I need to call my doctor days.
If you have a temporary case of the blues or are getting through a major life change (a loss, a big move, aging) then go for it. This will probably be a great fit.
For those of us life-timers, we need to stick with therapy, medication, and other more serious methods to help ourselves. This can be a tool for days when we are just a little off but it does not make for a dependable crutch.
This book is really 2.5 stars.