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A review by kelly_e
Capture: Unraveling the Mystery of Mental Suffering by David A. Kessler
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Title: Capture: Unraveling the Mystery of Mental Suffering
Author: David A. Kessler
Genre: Non Fiction Psychology
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 15, 2015
T H R E E • W O R D S
Informative • Contemplative • Lengthy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In Capture, Dr. Kessler considers some of the most profound questions we face as human beings: What are the origins of mental afflictions, from everyday unhappiness to addiction and depression—and how are they connected? Where does healing and transcendence fit into this realm of emotional experience?
Analyzing an array of insights from psychology, medicine, neuroscience, literature, philosophy, and theology, Dr. Kessler deconstructs centuries of thinking, examining the central role of capture in mental illness and questioning traditional labels that have obscured our understanding of it. With a new basis for understanding the phenomenon of capture, he explores the concept through the emotionally resonant stories of both well-known and un-known people caught in its throes.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a psychology graduate, the concept of mental suffering and mental illness has always been an interest of mine. Capture came to my awareness after being introduced some of Dr. Kessler's more recent works on grief, and I decided I wanted to give it a go.
While there are definitely some interesting antecedents, the critical exploration of the mind is quite wordy and really takes times to process everything you're reading. It isn't light reading and quite dense with scientific fact and philosophy. It's quite lengthy, and in my opinion the first chapter explains the concept of 'Capture' and the rest of the book is in depth and little clunky to get through.
At the end of the day, I learned a fair amount. However, I was anticipating something a little less dry and scientific. Something more accessible and readable. I wouldn't recommend that to the casual reader unless you really have an interest in the topic.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone interested in the topic of suffering
Author: David A. Kessler
Genre: Non Fiction Psychology
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 15, 2015
T H R E E • W O R D S
Informative • Contemplative • Lengthy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In Capture, Dr. Kessler considers some of the most profound questions we face as human beings: What are the origins of mental afflictions, from everyday unhappiness to addiction and depression—and how are they connected? Where does healing and transcendence fit into this realm of emotional experience?
Analyzing an array of insights from psychology, medicine, neuroscience, literature, philosophy, and theology, Dr. Kessler deconstructs centuries of thinking, examining the central role of capture in mental illness and questioning traditional labels that have obscured our understanding of it. With a new basis for understanding the phenomenon of capture, he explores the concept through the emotionally resonant stories of both well-known and un-known people caught in its throes.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As a psychology graduate, the concept of mental suffering and mental illness has always been an interest of mine. Capture came to my awareness after being introduced some of Dr. Kessler's more recent works on grief, and I decided I wanted to give it a go.
While there are definitely some interesting antecedents, the critical exploration of the mind is quite wordy and really takes times to process everything you're reading. It isn't light reading and quite dense with scientific fact and philosophy. It's quite lengthy, and in my opinion the first chapter explains the concept of 'Capture' and the rest of the book is in depth and little clunky to get through.
At the end of the day, I learned a fair amount. However, I was anticipating something a little less dry and scientific. Something more accessible and readable. I wouldn't recommend that to the casual reader unless you really have an interest in the topic.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone interested in the topic of suffering
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, Eating disorder, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and War