Speaking of Sadness: Depression, Disconnection and the Meanings of Illness, by David A. Karp
Karp looks at depression from a sociological and cultural point of view, which makes it an interesting read. What makes it a powerful read is the interviews that Karp, a depressive, conducted with other people suffering from depression. The combination of the global perspective and personal perspective make this both interesting and absorbing.
First-Person Accounts
I feel that first-person accounts are particularly helpful to depression sufferers. Depression is an isolating illness. It's a great comfort to read someone else's story and to realize that you are not alone.
Darkness Visible: A Memory of Madness, by William Styron
This was the first book I read on depression. It had an enormous impact on me, and opened my eyes to my own depression. I keep going back to it again and again to help me explain depression to others, since Styron is so eloquent.
Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface, by Martha Manning
This is a must-read memoir of depression. Painful, realistic and approachable. The author, a clinical psychologist, describes her descent into depression, leading eventually to hospitalization and ECT. Her point of view, first as a therapist and then a patient, is unique and often humorous.
When someone you know is depressed
What To Do When Someone You Love Is Depressed : A Practical, Compassionate, and Helpful Guide for Caregivers, by Mitch Golant, Susan K. Golant
A very helpful book for someone trying to understand a loved one’s depression. Discusses symptoms, treatment and ways to communicate with the depressed person. Particularly useful is a list of things depressed people often say and what to say and what not to say in response
Women and Depression
When Words are Not Enough, by Valerie Raskin, M.D.
I consider this book the best one to start with if you are a woman wondering if you have depression and/or a companion illness, or a woman who has been diagnosed and is deciding which treatment to try. Depression (including premenstrual depression), anxiety disorder, OCD and sleep disturbances and available medication and non-medication options are explored thoroughly and clearly by Dr. Raskin.
