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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
I read stolen focus and LOVED IT. Was so excited to read this one too and was really disappointed, and actually stopped half way through. The main reason I stopped was the harmful and ignorant way that Johann Hari persistently characterised fat people as essentially sad, emotional eaters, and constantly medicalised them by referring to them as obese. Hari researched so many topics so thoroughly, and I wish he had researched fatness and treated it with as much care as he does his other subjects. This was a occasional issue in stolen
Focus but not to this extent where I just stopped reading out of frustration.
I also found that he created a false dichotomy between chemical and environmental factors in causing depression, and oversimplified the views of those in favour of prescribing SSRIs.
Having said all that, there were also valuable things he had to say, and I enjoyed the chapter on disconnection from meaningful work.
TLDR: If you have a history of disordered eating, maybe don’t read it due to damaging portrayals of fatness and eating. The book makes some good points but for me they were overshadowed by this blind spot in his research.
Focus but not to this extent where I just stopped reading out of frustration.
I also found that he created a false dichotomy between chemical and environmental factors in causing depression, and oversimplified the views of those in favour of prescribing SSRIs.
Having said all that, there were also valuable things he had to say, and I enjoyed the chapter on disconnection from meaningful work.
TLDR: If you have a history of disordered eating, maybe don’t read it due to damaging portrayals of fatness and eating. The book makes some good points but for me they were overshadowed by this blind spot in his research.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I have to admit that non-fiction and I don't tend to get along, especially books that are of the "self help" variety (which this actually isn't despite some possibly unfortunate marketing and cover choices). Regardless, when one of my close friends suggested this book to me I ordered it straight away because I find books and papers that explore mental health really fascinating, and wanted to know more about why the numbers of depressed and anxious people continue to rise.
Johann Hari manages to answer these questions in an open, genuine and very well researched manner. I'm always wary of academic style writing that doesn't provide sources, and Hari includes a full bibliography at the back so that you can trace the studies used as examples. Even better, he suggests that you make up your own opinion about them and never suggests any of his opinions are fact - this says to me that he is very genuine about his findings and that he actually believes them which is a very good start.
What I liked most about this book is the case studies and individual examples we're given about certain people and communities that have had problems with mental health and depression, and how they discovered what had caused it and how to improve their own mental well being. The book delves into certain communities rallying to help suicidal people, it speaks of work monotony, lack of meaning, nature cures, anti-depressants - everything that you could ever think about relating to the topic in hand. Unfortunately, I did find that when the author was talking about himself and his individual circumstances it did come across a bit smug in places and I didn't particularly warm to him as a writer throughout, which is a shame and more than likely not his intention at all!
I did also notice one perhaps editor slip up of when he directly refers to all people reading the book as female (it's something like "are you the same woman now reading this" or such, and I felt that kind of went against one of the main messages of the book - that depression can impact and affect anyone of any age, gender or circumstance. This slip up/ choice of words only builds into the myth it's only women who suffer which he himself tries to dispel in the book! It is just a minor problem, but it did surprisingly really irk me and I think better editing was needed to dispel sentences like that that weakened the overall approach of the whole project.
In the end, this is a great, well-researched look into mental health and is a very good read for anybody who has/ is suffering from any mental health issues and want to learn some of the reasons behind these feelings. It's bitty, easily digested and written in a straightforward way which means that even the more complicated studies are easily understood at a glance, plus there are some truly amazing life stories told here which are really nicely captured in words.
4 stars.
Johann Hari manages to answer these questions in an open, genuine and very well researched manner. I'm always wary of academic style writing that doesn't provide sources, and Hari includes a full bibliography at the back so that you can trace the studies used as examples. Even better, he suggests that you make up your own opinion about them and never suggests any of his opinions are fact - this says to me that he is very genuine about his findings and that he actually believes them which is a very good start.
What I liked most about this book is the case studies and individual examples we're given about certain people and communities that have had problems with mental health and depression, and how they discovered what had caused it and how to improve their own mental well being. The book delves into certain communities rallying to help suicidal people, it speaks of work monotony, lack of meaning, nature cures, anti-depressants - everything that you could ever think about relating to the topic in hand. Unfortunately, I did find that when the author was talking about himself and his individual circumstances it did come across a bit smug in places and I didn't particularly warm to him as a writer throughout, which is a shame and more than likely not his intention at all!
I did also notice one perhaps editor slip up of when he directly refers to all people reading the book as female (it's something like "are you the same woman now reading this" or such, and I felt that kind of went against one of the main messages of the book - that depression can impact and affect anyone of any age, gender or circumstance. This slip up/ choice of words only builds into the myth it's only women who suffer which he himself tries to dispel in the book! It is just a minor problem, but it did surprisingly really irk me and I think better editing was needed to dispel sentences like that that weakened the overall approach of the whole project.
In the end, this is a great, well-researched look into mental health and is a very good read for anybody who has/ is suffering from any mental health issues and want to learn some of the reasons behind these feelings. It's bitty, easily digested and written in a straightforward way which means that even the more complicated studies are easily understood at a glance, plus there are some truly amazing life stories told here which are really nicely captured in words.
4 stars.
Audiobook - I preferred Stolen Focus, but this one was enjoyable as well. Lots of ideas and thoughts I need time to let percolate.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
In a world that feels more disconnected with every hyper-realistic tech solution to forge digital connection, I found Hari's 'Lost Connections', helped to outline clear objectives to help reduce the levels of depression/anxiety we experience in our individualistic society.
"What if depression is, in fact, a form of grief-- for our own lives not being as they should? What if it is a form of grief for the connections we have lost, yet still need?"
So fascinating. The author put into words what I've been feeling for a while now. We have lost our sense of community and isolated ourselves both physically and emotionally in our culture. I didn't feel as empowered as I had hoped at the end. I feel that he could have explored solutions a bit more.
So fascinating. The author put into words what I've been feeling for a while now. We have lost our sense of community and isolated ourselves both physically and emotionally in our culture. I didn't feel as empowered as I had hoped at the end. I feel that he could have explored solutions a bit more.
I've seen a lot of people giving this book a bashing for one reason or another but I think it's irrefutable to agree with his assertions of the potential contributing factors to depression; as well as the things which could ease symptoms.
Speaking generally, people sometimes do rush to medicate but the potential health benefits to be found through nature, community, exercise and looking after yourself are substantial. Hari's approach was refreshing and I have to say I really enjoyed the read overall.
Speaking generally, people sometimes do rush to medicate but the potential health benefits to be found through nature, community, exercise and looking after yourself are substantial. Hari's approach was refreshing and I have to say I really enjoyed the read overall.
Every word of this book is grounded in kindness and rationality. I'm so glad I've read it, and I know this won't be the last time I pick it up and feel comforted and inspired.
A must-read. Healing our anxiety and depression is a multi-faceted journey and Hari does an excellent job of describing tools needed.
Le pongo tres estrellas porque la primera mitad del libro (causas) es excelente y bien fundamentada, y de verdad invita a la reflexión, pero en la segunda parte (soluciones) el libro pierde fuelle y la diferencia es muy notoria.
Pero sin lugar a duda es un libro para la reflexión y el autoconocimiento.
Pero sin lugar a duda es un libro para la reflexión y el autoconocimiento.