false 13932 14 Sometimes, the legacy of depression includes a wisdom beyond one's years, a depth of passion unexperienced by those who haven't traveled to hell and back. Off the charts in its enlightening, comprehensive analysis of this pervasive yet misunderstood condition, <I>The Noonday Demon</I> forges a long, brambly path through the subject of depression--exposing all the discordant views and "answers" offered by science, philosophy, law, psychology, literature, art, and history. The result is a sprawling and thoroughly engrossing study, brilliantly synthesized by author Andrew Solomon. Deceptively simple chapter titles (including "Breakdowns," "Treatments," "Addiction," "Suicide") each sit modestly atop a virtual avalanche of Solomon's intellect. This is not a book to be skimmed. But Solomon commands the language--and his topic--with such grace and empathy that the constant flow of references, poems, and quotations in his paragraphs arrive like welcome dinner guests. A longtime sufferer of severe depression himself, Solomon willingly shares his life story with readers. He discusses updated information on various drugs and treatment approaches while detailing his own trials with them. He describes a pharmaceutical company's surreal stage production (involving Pink Floyd, kick dancers, and an opener à la <I>Cats</I>) promoting a new antidepressant to their sales team. He chronicles his research visits to assorted mental institutions, which left him feeling he would "<I>much</I> rather engage with every manner of private despair than spend a protracted time" there. Under Solomon's care, however, such tales offer much more than shock value. They show that depression knows no social boundaries, manifests itself quite differently in each person, and has become political. And, while it may worsen or improve, depression will never be eradicated. Hope lies in finding ways--as Solomon clearly has--to harness its powerful lessons. <I>--Liane Thomas</I> 88456 book 2001 The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression total:615|5:224|4:248|3:113|2:24|1:6| 615 2505 1129 118 1 8 false false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Sat May 03 13:49:40 -0700 2008 Sun May 18 10:46:40 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 3 false false Tue Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Feb 25 09:13:42 -0800 2008 Tue Mar 18 16:38:11 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 3 false false Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 21 01:31:36 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 21 06:51:06 -0700 2009 A Mood Apart and Lewis Wolpert's Malignant Sadness. Perhaps this is because Solomon cites a lot of philosophers. He has extensive notes, but the book itself isn't f...more...]]> 4 3 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Feb 17 07:00:38 -0800 2007 Mon Sep 24 13:51:00 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 2 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Thu Jan 03 07:43:25 -0800 2008 Thu Jan 03 07:47:26 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 21 16:07:33 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 21 16:10:54 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 18:47:30 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 20:17:22 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Tue May 22 11:24:36 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 11:34:33 -0700 2007
An intelligent and very thorough interdisciplinary introduction, but with a publication date of 2002, it hews pretty close to the serotonin-oriented theories of depression (although Solomon does a nice job of expla...more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon Dec 08 11:23:05 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 08 11:30:29 -0800 2008
If, on the other hand, if you are interested in reading of personal experiences of that most personal of afflictio...more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 10 10:04:37 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 10 10:10:16 -0700 2009 Noonday Demon is thick with information - it took me an age to read, not because it was difficult going, or i...more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 11:19:49 -0700 2009 Sat May 23 11:32:33 -0700 2009 http://www.noondaydemon.com/notok.html .
Re: "Eventually so all-inclusive is the concept of "depression" in "The Noonday Demon" -- and our need to be treated for it with expensive drugs -- that by the book's conclusion I was drawn to rerea...more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Nov 30 13:33:14 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 30 13:38:36 -0800 2008 1 more...]]> 3 1 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 08 20:35:10 -0800 2008 Sat Mar 01 14:26:25 -0800 2008 more...]]> 0 0 false false Sun Sep 27 15:49:34 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 29 08:46:02 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sun Oct 26 18:53:38 -0700 2008 Sun Jan 18 19:55:12 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 30 11:03:18 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 30 11:07:25 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 07:18:12 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 07:33:03 -0700 2008
It is truly comprehensive & elegantly written - exploring the scientific side, the cultural side (he travels the globe & interviews sufferers), the histori...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Thu Mar 05 11:34:01 -0800 2009 Thu Mar 05 11:34:01 -0800 2009 1+
The author treats himself and his case subjects with understand and compassion. The historical and social aspects are eye-opening, and the...more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Aug 21 20:07:39 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 22 07:48:23 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jul 07 17:17:13 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 07 17:19:45 -0700 2009 more...]]>