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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
I was on the fence about this book almost from the beginning. Hari made some claims that he stated as fact, based on what? His own feelings? Anecdotal evidence? I actually agree with a lot of his stated causes of depression, but his evidence about a lack of chemical cause seemed flimsy at best. I think that society really does need to work on much of what Hari suggests as the root causes of depression and anxiety, I really, really do. I just don't really think Johann Hari is the best messenger, nor do I think that medical intervention is only about money for Big Pharma.
There's also that little thing I learned about the author being accused of plagiarism (not related to this book) and defamation. That's kind of difficult to ignore.
There's also that little thing I learned about the author being accused of plagiarism (not related to this book) and defamation. That's kind of difficult to ignore.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I wrote a frustrated review, but I'm not sure it's entirely fair, so I'm hesitating to put it here.
(This was for work's quarterly book club, so after a certain point I began skimming it... turned every single page though!)
(This was for work's quarterly book club, so after a certain point I began skimming it... turned every single page though!)
Rounded up from 3.5. The chapters on causes we're interesting and offered a different perspective but I found the solutions to be a bit simplistic in the end.
Still, it did make me reflect on how we live our lives and the effect that has on our mental health. Hari is also, without a doubt, an extraordinary storyteller. This book read almost like going on a global adventure, one I enjoyed to be on.
Still, it did make me reflect on how we live our lives and the effect that has on our mental health. Hari is also, without a doubt, an extraordinary storyteller. This book read almost like going on a global adventure, one I enjoyed to be on.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I was surprised and rather delighted to find this book much more radical than I expected it to be. From talking about how consumerism saps purpose from our lives; to 'of COURSE we're depressed when capitalist society increasingly denies us any sense of stability (never mind fulfilment) in our working lives'; to describing worker co-ops and community organizing (against landlords!) and universal basic income as proven solutions for depression - let me just say I immensely enjoyed this book, and learned some things from it that before I had perhaps only intuited, from being both a leftie and chronically depressed. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone ready to explore a different view of what contributes to, and can help to heal, the truly very reasonable responses to modern society that anxiety and depression represent.
(Also, totally making myself late for work while writing this review. Oops.)
(Also, totally making myself late for work while writing this review. Oops.)
hopeful
informative
reflective
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced