The 5 Best Books for Understanding Depression

The 5 Best Books for Understanding Depression: True Stories from True Survivors


Browse the psychology section of any bookstore, and you’ll find dozens of titles on depression. Many are written by psychologists or psychiatrists who have drawn their straightforward, practical advice from years of working with depressed clients and staying current with the latest research. Certainly, these books have value; they can help clarify a diagnosis or explain the effects of different classes of antidepressants. But what if the author knows depression only from a clinician’s perspective? What if she has never experienced the illness herself?

If you’re already feeling isolated by your depression, or if a loved one’s depressed behavior has you frightened and confused, you might benefit from true stories by people who have actually lived through the illness. The following is a comparison of 5 books (in no particular order) by skilled storytellers who convey the anguish of the disorder and the triumph of recovery in very different ways. Each has its strengths and its flaws; all are worth reading by anyone with an interest in the mind’s fragility and the heart’s amazing ability to find hope even in its darkest moments.

Note: This list is not intended as a replacement for treatment. If you think you may be depressed, contact a physician or therapist as soon as possible. If you think you may a danger to yourself or others, call your local suicide hotline IMMEDIATELY.


Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel