I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

4 stars

I think this is a great book for just about anyone to read--whether you suffer from depression or anxiety, or know someone who does. My favorite part about this book is that Dr. Weil mentions very early on that negative emotions are a normal part of life. It seems obvious, but how acceptable is it, really, to express negative emotions in public? Not very--you're supposed to keep those things to yourself. Sometimes it's completely appropriate to be depressed--it doesn't mean there's something wrong with you! However, he does acknowledge that more and more people are suffering from depression and anxiety. He describes the many circumstances of our modern lives that may be contributing to this epidemic. I agree with him on a lot of counts, and he gives good advice about how to minimize the effects of those environmental (and internal, emotional) factors.

Although Dr. Weil outlines an 8-week plan at the end of the book, I don't think his approach is prescriptive or pushy. He provides many options and alternatives, and encourages readers to choose lifestyle changes that will most impact their own personal struggles. Even if you don't think you need an "emotional makeover" I think this book is well worth reading. You'll probably be surprised by a lot of what you learn, and Dr. Weil provides ample research study citations and personal anecdotes from himself and patients.