3.0

I don’t think this book is logically rigorous enough to match the claim that it “uncovers the real causes of depression” (there’s some pretty weird straw man stuff in the beginning/middle), but it does have some interesting ideas for building happier societies. I loved his writing style, and I was engaged until the end. If it was titled “Some Evidence-Based Ideas for Building Happier Communities” without claiming to have the solution to depression, I would probably rate it 4 or 5 stars.

For a satisfyingly thorough investigation of depression and its treatments, try The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon. It’s long, but you can skip chapters without losing much!