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957 reviews for:
Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions
Johann Hari
4.22 AVERAGE
957 reviews for:
Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions
Johann Hari
4.22 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
This is a difficult book to review because I have mixed feelings, many expressed in other people's reviews. At its core, this book is a highly personal plea by the author for a kinder and gentler world. People would be less depressed he states (I think accurately) if everyone had meaningful work, stress-free access to health care, meaningful values (by which he means less materialism), meaningful social contacts (more community, less individualism), and in general less stress. He also adds sympathetic outlets for relief of childhood trauma, meditation and a few others that I didn't relate to as much.
Against this, he rails against the medical community (including big-pharma) that he believes considers depression a simple brain chemistry problem and do nothing but prescribe anti-depressants. He includes somewhat convincing evidence that not only do anti-depressants not work, and have serious side effects, but the research behind them is bogus and the main reason for prescribing them is just greed.
This is fine and good, but I think unrealistic. My friend is a psychiatrist who totally believes in prescribing drugs. His view of his patients is "They take their meds, they get better, they stop taking them, they get worse." But what would Hari have him do instead? Explain to them that years of watching ads on television has given them bad values? Try to help them get a meaningful job, whatever that is? Find out why they don't have friends (maybe because they are depressed?) and help them get some?
So, I don't know. What Hari says is mostly true, but just not that helpful. He knows it will take decades to turn our culture around, but my guess it will take centuries if it ever happens. If it happens, his book may be seen as prophetic. More likely it will be just one more cry for a more rational society.
Against this, he rails against the medical community (including big-pharma) that he believes considers depression a simple brain chemistry problem and do nothing but prescribe anti-depressants. He includes somewhat convincing evidence that not only do anti-depressants not work, and have serious side effects, but the research behind them is bogus and the main reason for prescribing them is just greed.
This is fine and good, but I think unrealistic. My friend is a psychiatrist who totally believes in prescribing drugs. His view of his patients is "They take their meds, they get better, they stop taking them, they get worse." But what would Hari have him do instead? Explain to them that years of watching ads on television has given them bad values? Try to help them get a meaningful job, whatever that is? Find out why they don't have friends (maybe because they are depressed?) and help them get some?
So, I don't know. What Hari says is mostly true, but just not that helpful. He knows it will take decades to turn our culture around, but my guess it will take centuries if it ever happens. If it happens, his book may be seen as prophetic. More likely it will be just one more cry for a more rational society.
Mieszane uczucia. Autor wspaniale pisze o społecznych przyczynach depresji i ma oczywiście rację.
Ale po co ta konspiracyjna opowieść o lekarzach, którzy przez trzynaście lat leczenia depresji nie spytali go, jak się czuje? Skąd te twierdzenia, że cały świat widzi choroby psychiczne jako czysto medyczne zjawisko, a farmakoterapię jako jedyną opcję?
Hari mówi w dwóch czy trzech miejscach, że chodził na terapię. O czym tam rozmawiał, skoro rzekomo nie o tym, co jest nie tak w jego życiu, doświadczeniach, relacjach z ludźmi? Mam tu wrażenie efekciarstwa, przesady, bo przecież silniej wybrzmiewa „nikt nigdy nie powiedział mi o depresji nic innego niż że jest zaburzeniem równowagi chemicznej” niż „stosowałem różne formy terapii i żałuję, że nie polecono mi poprawienia relacji ze znajomymi, założenia ogródka społecznego i zatrudnienia się w spółdzielni naprawiającej rowery” (co, jak wiemy, wszystko totalnie leży w zasięgu przeciętnej osoby).
Wartościowy pod wieloma względami przekaz, ale i niebezpieczny, potencjalnie odwodzący czytelników i czytelniczki od szukania systemowych form pomocy (tak lekoterapii, jak i psychoterapii). Stosować z ostrożnością i raczej odradzam osobom, które czują się źle i nie wiedzą, czy skorzystać z profesjonalnej pomocy. Skorzystajcie. A te książkę przeczytajcie za jakiś czas.
Ale po co ta konspiracyjna opowieść o lekarzach, którzy przez trzynaście lat leczenia depresji nie spytali go, jak się czuje? Skąd te twierdzenia, że cały świat widzi choroby psychiczne jako czysto medyczne zjawisko, a farmakoterapię jako jedyną opcję?
Hari mówi w dwóch czy trzech miejscach, że chodził na terapię. O czym tam rozmawiał, skoro rzekomo nie o tym, co jest nie tak w jego życiu, doświadczeniach, relacjach z ludźmi? Mam tu wrażenie efekciarstwa, przesady, bo przecież silniej wybrzmiewa „nikt nigdy nie powiedział mi o depresji nic innego niż że jest zaburzeniem równowagi chemicznej” niż „stosowałem różne formy terapii i żałuję, że nie polecono mi poprawienia relacji ze znajomymi, założenia ogródka społecznego i zatrudnienia się w spółdzielni naprawiającej rowery” (co, jak wiemy, wszystko totalnie leży w zasięgu przeciętnej osoby).
Wartościowy pod wieloma względami przekaz, ale i niebezpieczny, potencjalnie odwodzący czytelników i czytelniczki od szukania systemowych form pomocy (tak lekoterapii, jak i psychoterapii). Stosować z ostrożnością i raczej odradzam osobom, które czują się źle i nie wiedzą, czy skorzystać z profesjonalnej pomocy. Skorzystajcie. A te książkę przeczytajcie za jakiś czas.
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Absolutely life-changing. Whether you're suffering from depression/anxiety or just want to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life, please read this book. And keep an open mind.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I heard about this book on the radio, and I listened to the author-read audiobook.
What I loved about this book most was an honest discussions about social contributors to depression and anxiety. There was a good balance of anecdotes and data. I thought the information about pharmaceuticals was balanced enough.
I was concerned picking this book up that it might fall too far into white male “I did it by myself and so can you”. I think he stayed out of that territory for the most part. He explicitly addresses this trope at the end, and decidedly takes a turn to the political. I liked it!
One major caveat to this book is the author holds an out of date view on weight and peddles the old trope of obesity = mental issues/trauma. He’s trying to illustrate a mind-body connection, but this is an overplayed narrative.
What I loved about this book most was an honest discussions about social contributors to depression and anxiety. There was a good balance of anecdotes and data. I thought the information about pharmaceuticals was balanced enough.
I was concerned picking this book up that it might fall too far into white male “I did it by myself and so can you”. I think he stayed out of that territory for the most part. He explicitly addresses this trope at the end, and decidedly takes a turn to the political. I liked it!
One major caveat to this book is the author holds an out of date view on weight and peddles the old trope of obesity = mental issues/trauma. He’s trying to illustrate a mind-body connection, but this is an overplayed narrative.
depression as a social problem, interesting read.
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
I appreciated the information but some of the advice was a bit classist and patronizing, but overall I appreciated the positivity.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced