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What Everyone Needs to Know
Depression: What Everyone Needs to Know®
"This chapter grapples with the challenges of defining depression, including challenges that arise from our imprecise use of language. Depression is at its core a kind of mood state. Mood states organize our minds and our bodies and motivate us to pursue goals. It is possible to understand depression by focusing on the scientific principles that explain why humans and other organisms have mood. A key goal is to become a more educated consumer of one's own mood and to understand the forces that operate on mood more generally. This framework can allow us to understand why people become depressed, why depression has occurred over human history, and why depression might be epidemic in some periods in human history, including the present day"--
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 5, 2022
Depression: What Everyone Needs to Know was a decent short look into the topic.
Author Jonathan Rottenberg is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida, where he is the Director of Clinical Training and Director of the Mood and Emotion Laboratory. He is an expert on the depression epidemic, on emotional functioning in depression, and on why some people thrive after depression.
Jonathan Rottenberg:
Rottenberg opens the book with a definition of depression, giving the reader the diagnostic criterion. He notes that, unlike many other illnesses, a diagnosis of depression is made without any objective biological testing methodology.
The book is written in a somewhat matter-of-fact, no-frills manner that I felt worked in its presentation. Its relatively short length should also not have trouble holding the reader's attention.
Rottenberg covers most of the issues surrounding depression in a somewhat cursory fashion.
To his credit, he debunks the "chemical imbalance theory" which was (and still is) in some circles the prevalant view of psychological disorders like depression.
As the book progresses, he covers a good bit of ground: CBT is mentioned, as are SSRIs and other treatments for depression. He also writes on the role of self-talk and discursive thinking in depression in the later part.
******************
A short, succinct look into the topic; I felt that the author did a fairly decent job covering the material here.
3.5 stars.
Author Jonathan Rottenberg is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida, where he is the Director of Clinical Training and Director of the Mood and Emotion Laboratory. He is an expert on the depression epidemic, on emotional functioning in depression, and on why some people thrive after depression.
Jonathan Rottenberg:
Rottenberg opens the book with a definition of depression, giving the reader the diagnostic criterion. He notes that, unlike many other illnesses, a diagnosis of depression is made without any objective biological testing methodology.
The book is written in a somewhat matter-of-fact, no-frills manner that I felt worked in its presentation. Its relatively short length should also not have trouble holding the reader's attention.
Rottenberg covers most of the issues surrounding depression in a somewhat cursory fashion.
To his credit, he debunks the "chemical imbalance theory" which was (and still is) in some circles the prevalant view of psychological disorders like depression.
As the book progresses, he covers a good bit of ground: CBT is mentioned, as are SSRIs and other treatments for depression. He also writes on the role of self-talk and discursive thinking in depression in the later part.
******************
A short, succinct look into the topic; I felt that the author did a fairly decent job covering the material here.
3.5 stars.
December 13, 2021
This was really informative! The book covers a lot of subjects within the realm of depression including history, testing criteria, myths, and a lot of other good stuff.
A great book for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of depression
A great book for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of depression
November 20, 2022
Just trying to educate myself on how to help those around me who are suffering tremendously due to this insidious disease. Highly recommended read.
July 11, 2022
A clearly written, yet information dense book about depression containing many facts including its causes and treatment. I think it is especially good for medical students who study psychiatry, or for relatives of people affected by the disorder as a tool of psychoeducation.
May 8, 2024
Everyone should read this. Even as someone who has lived with depression for 20+ years, there was some pretty eye opening stuff in here. It's a really easy read too.
September 3, 2022
Good review of what we know about depression. Interesting conversation on post-remission trajectories.
August 30, 2022
Good review of core concepts related to depression. Interesting conversation on trajectories after recovery.
September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews