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mariisaur's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
oceanbrain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
ingread27's review against another edition
4.0
I found that so much of this book resonated with my own thoughts and experiences. I appreciated that he didn't profess to be the expert, but rather did research and presented the findings that he felt were relevant. After all, everyone has difference experiences. One thing is true: anti-depressants are overly prescribed and they have so many serious side effects and inconsistent results that it is scary sometimes. It's awesome when they work for people, but for the rest? The pharmaceutical industry for the most part cares about lining its own pockets and not about true healing.
So I enjoyed each of the chapters delving into different theories. I learned a lot. I don't like it when authors say "everyone does x" or when they presume the reader thinks a certain way, and say "you think x". It is limited and disconnecting. But I can put that aside and acknowledge it was a great read (or listen, as I listened to the audiobook).
So I enjoyed each of the chapters delving into different theories. I learned a lot. I don't like it when authors say "everyone does x" or when they presume the reader thinks a certain way, and say "you think x". It is limited and disconnecting. But I can put that aside and acknowledge it was a great read (or listen, as I listened to the audiobook).
jamesadams0's review against another edition
Can't quite remember but according to the kindle it seems like I've read it.
bart_gunn's review against another edition
3.0
Let me start by saying I have always enjoyed Johann's writing (as a journalist) and I rated his previous book 'Chasing The Scream' as 5 stars, but I felt disappointed by this book after finishing it. It left an empty feeling in my stomach. I seem to have followed a remarkably similar timeline and journey as Johann with regards to suffering from depression and medicating with Big Pharma products prescribed by GPs, and therefore the scene setting and identification of disconnection resonated well with me, but I didn't learn anything I didn't already know first hand. The 2nd part of the book was what I was looking really looking forward to. I was hoping to be inspired by some life changing advice or having the curtains opened on some window of opportunity I never knew existed, but ultimately this wasn't to be.
The reconnections part of the book just feels rushed to me, and not particularly succinct. The first chapter on reconnecting 'To Other People' lands us in the middle of an Amish community to illustrate how they refrain from engaging with many of the traits of modern society in order to both protect and nourish their communities and close support structures, but the chapter ends with the caveat that all is not perfect in the Amish world as it's also rife with domestic violence and misogyny......and the moral of this story is?? Exactly what advice should I take from this tale and apply to my own life? The remainder of the reconnections chapters are brief (and in some cases, very brief) summaries of well trodden paths of discussion of the things people ideally need in their lives to stand a better chance of being happy. Though quite what practical steps individuals are supposed to take to help implement a universal basic income (reconnection 7), when being afflicted with depression can even mean stepping out of one's own front door can take an effort of monumental proportions, is beyond me.
The actual cover of the book stuck in my craw also. We have an abundance of some of the most famous people we could possibly acquire to embellish the jacket with such superlatives you would think Johann had become the oracle on mental health and the knowledge bequeathed upon us would be forever life changing. Unfortunately this is not the case and the book is just really a high level regurgitation of issues explored in far greater detail in books elsewhere, and leaves this book for me, as merely a Depression & Anxiety 101 (but absolutely fit for purpose in this respect for people who have never read anything on the subject).
As Flavor Flav of Public Enemy once declared, 'Don't Believe The Hype'.
The reconnections part of the book just feels rushed to me, and not particularly succinct. The first chapter on reconnecting 'To Other People' lands us in the middle of an Amish community to illustrate how they refrain from engaging with many of the traits of modern society in order to both protect and nourish their communities and close support structures, but the chapter ends with the caveat that all is not perfect in the Amish world as it's also rife with domestic violence and misogyny......and the moral of this story is?? Exactly what advice should I take from this tale and apply to my own life? The remainder of the reconnections chapters are brief (and in some cases, very brief) summaries of well trodden paths of discussion of the things people ideally need in their lives to stand a better chance of being happy. Though quite what practical steps individuals are supposed to take to help implement a universal basic income (reconnection 7), when being afflicted with depression can even mean stepping out of one's own front door can take an effort of monumental proportions, is beyond me.
The actual cover of the book stuck in my craw also. We have an abundance of some of the most famous people we could possibly acquire to embellish the jacket with such superlatives you would think Johann had become the oracle on mental health and the knowledge bequeathed upon us would be forever life changing. Unfortunately this is not the case and the book is just really a high level regurgitation of issues explored in far greater detail in books elsewhere, and leaves this book for me, as merely a Depression & Anxiety 101 (but absolutely fit for purpose in this respect for people who have never read anything on the subject).
As Flavor Flav of Public Enemy once declared, 'Don't Believe The Hype'.
cozyarcanum's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0