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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Turns out the main cause of depression is late stage neoliberal capitalism. Who woulda thunk?
Obviously, this is not the premise or conclusion of this book as the author sees it but the threads that lead to this rather straightforward conclusion are in plain sight.
Obviously, this is not the premise or conclusion of this book as the author sees it but the threads that lead to this rather straightforward conclusion are in plain sight.
informative
medium-paced
Hari tries too hard to sensationalise his book. Little that he produces here is news to most who are familiar with depression.
This is frustrating because, if he had presented his work as something else - just a book on recent advances in our knowledge of depression, or challenging popular myths - it might have been better. Instead, it sets up a strawman of doctors in the pocket of pharmaceutical companies, and a wider public only understanding depression as chemical. It simply tries too hard to be radical, but gets nowhere.
Where Hari excels is recounting his own experiences with depressed people. His solutions - hardly 'unexpected' - are nonetheless explained well for those who have not heard them before.
Overall, I didn't want to dislike this book. Even though I dislike Hari, I felt myself empathising with him on his journey. This made me all the more disappointed when looking back at the book. Hari is not a doctor, and the level that he goes for often requires him to be one.
This is frustrating because, if he had presented his work as something else - just a book on recent advances in our knowledge of depression, or challenging popular myths - it might have been better. Instead, it sets up a strawman of doctors in the pocket of pharmaceutical companies, and a wider public only understanding depression as chemical. It simply tries too hard to be radical, but gets nowhere.
Where Hari excels is recounting his own experiences with depressed people. His solutions - hardly 'unexpected' - are nonetheless explained well for those who have not heard them before.
Overall, I didn't want to dislike this book. Even though I dislike Hari, I felt myself empathising with him on his journey. This made me all the more disappointed when looking back at the book. Hari is not a doctor, and the level that he goes for often requires him to be one.
Brilliant. An insightful perspective on mental health..was fucking refreshing actually. Solid scientific evidence to back it's shit... Definitely recommend this to anyone living with anxiety/depression or supporting someone living with MH issues.
Loved this book! A real eye-opening reading experience.
Haben Depression und Angststörungen vielleicht doch weniger mit unserer Biochemie zu tun, als mit unseren Lebensumständen? Spannende Ideen und Forschungsergebnisse, sehr lesbar - aber auch sehr amerikanisch - dargestellt.
Ugh. The best book I've read on depression and anxiety. Holy hell. I would argue that everyone should read this book as almost everyone is touched by depression and anxiety in one form or another. Mostly we accept that this is based on our broken brain chemistry. But maybe, there's more to the story.
"Depression and anxiety might, in one way, be the sanest reaction you have. It's a signal saying - you shouldn't have to live this way, and if you aren't helped to find a better path, you will be missing out on so much that is best about being human."
"Depression and anxiety might, in one way, be the sanest reaction you have. It's a signal saying - you shouldn't have to live this way, and if you aren't helped to find a better path, you will be missing out on so much that is best about being human."
I've been in a reading slump as of late, so this took me a while to get through, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
Glancing at the other reviews, it isn't surprising to me that the book is controversial. (I doubt anything in the reviews would surprise the author.) And while I don't think the book should be taken at face value, I think the ideas explored in Lost Connections are vital when talking about depression and anxiety.
The idea that depression isn't necessarily some kind of chemical screw up, but instead a sign your body is giving you that you are missing something essential from your life, makes sense. And Hari makes a good case that the science is starting to agree, as well. You may or may not agree with his conclusions, but the arguments are compelling.
We're lonely and self-medicated in unhealthy ways, we feel insecure about the future, we have unresolved trauma, and we don't feel valued or respected, and we live too much in our own heads. It stands to reason that working on this stuff will help a lot of people.
Glancing at the other reviews, it isn't surprising to me that the book is controversial. (I doubt anything in the reviews would surprise the author.) And while I don't think the book should be taken at face value, I think the ideas explored in Lost Connections are vital when talking about depression and anxiety.
The idea that depression isn't necessarily some kind of chemical screw up, but instead a sign your body is giving you that you are missing something essential from your life, makes sense. And Hari makes a good case that the science is starting to agree, as well. You may or may not agree with his conclusions, but the arguments are compelling.
We're lonely and self-medicated in unhealthy ways, we feel insecure about the future, we have unresolved trauma, and we don't feel valued or respected, and we live too much in our own heads. It stands to reason that working on this stuff will help a lot of people.
Just before I picked this book up I was really worried it was going be too long, too many complicated facts, too boring and was really worried I would end up not finishing it.
That is not the case at all, I was really surprised how interesting it was, and how many different studies were mentioned. I am not depressed but I have multiple friends that have been or is depressed, this really an interest read even for us that is isn't going through depressions.
This book has given me an extreme desire to really help people with depression, not just friends but strangers too. I wonder how this book is going to affect me the months forward.
The 4stars are really 4+ stars. I wanted to give it 5 but I think it's just a little heavy at times, and I had to put it down not because it wasn't good just because it was a little to much information to take in.
That is not the case at all, I was really surprised how interesting it was, and how many different studies were mentioned. I am not depressed but I have multiple friends that have been or is depressed, this really an interest read even for us that is isn't going through depressions.
This book has given me an extreme desire to really help people with depression, not just friends but strangers too. I wonder how this book is going to affect me the months forward.
The 4stars are really 4+ stars. I wanted to give it 5 but I think it's just a little heavy at times, and I had to put it down not because it wasn't good just because it was a little to much information to take in.
Exceptionally mind opening on the subject of depression and anxiety.