Synopses & Reviews
At the moment of his greatest professional success, vetteran newspaperman and author of this book was struck by a crippling depression. Neither psychotherapy nor Prozac helped him, and it wasn't until he began a painful probe of his life and an investigation into depression's larger issues that he saw a way out. Not a depression memoir, Finding Hope in the Age of Melancholy uses the author's personal experience to launch a profound and inspiring exploration of the depression epidemic in our society. Weaving literature, philosophy, economics, religion, and medicine into a discussion about the roots of our barren culture, the author comes to provocative conclusions. He shows how the nature of our society is often as much to blame for depression as brain chemistry is, how depression can be a positive goad to creativity and deeper self-understanding, and why religious belief and community involvement are often more potent therapies than drugs and the analyst's couch. This is a deeply helpful and illuminating book for all who are looking for meaning in their lives