Speaking of Sadness: Depression, Disconnection, and the Meanings of Illness

by David A. Karp

"Even though depression has periodically made me feel that my life was not worth living, has created havoc in my family, and sometimes made the work of teaching and writing seem impossible," writes David Karp, "by some standards, I have been fortunate." Indeed, depression can be devastating, leading to family breakups, loss of employment, even suicide. And it is a national problem, with some ten to fifteen million Americans suffering from it, and the number is growing. In Speaking of Sadness , Karp captures the human face of this widespread affliction, as he illuminates his experience and that of others in a candid, searching work.
Combining a scholar's care and thoroughness with searing personal insight, Karp brings the private experience of depression into sharp relief, drawing on a remarkable series of intimate interviews with fifty depressed men and women. By turns poignant, disturbing, mordantly funny, and wise, Karp's interviews cause us to marvel at the courage of depressed people in dealing with extraordinary and debilitating pain. We hear what depression feels like, what it means to receive an "official" clinical diagnosis, and what depressed persons think of the battalion of mental health experts--doctors, nurses, social workers, sociologists, psychologists, and therapists--employed to help them. We learn the personal significance that patients attach to beginning a prescribed daily drug regimen, and their ongoing struggle to make sense of biochemical explanations and metaphors of depression as a disease. Ranging in age from their early twenties to their mid-sixties, the people Karp profiles reflect on
their working lives and career aspirations, and confide strategies for overcoming paralyzing episodes of hopelessness. They reveal how depression affects their intimate relationships, and, in a separate chapter, spouses, children, parents, and friends provide their own often-overlooked point of view. Throughout, Karp probes the myriad ways society contributes to widespread alienation and emotional exhaustion.
Speaking of Sadness is an important book that pierces through the terrifying isolation of depression to uncover the connections linking the depressed as they undertake their personal journeys through this very private hell. It will bring new understanding to professionals seeking to see the world as their clients do, and provide vivid insights and renewed empathy to anyone who cares for someone living with the cruel unpredictability of depression.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Sociology, Mental Illness, Memoir, Unfinished

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 1996

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful and thought-provoking inquiry into the nature of depressive illness. Karp's interviews and insights really capture the essence of what it feels like to be depressed and exactly how difficult it is to find one's way through it. Excellent analysis of the interplay of culture and self with regards to identity management, medication decisions, family involvement, and societal pressure to conform to a Western treatment model.

[Žiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was one of the most enlightening non-fiction books I have read, I loved the level of objectivity, but one star less when I found out that 49 out of 50 people interviewed were white. Could try and reach more diversity.

As for the content, the book encompasses multiple layers and viewpoints of depression. From the beginning through breakdown and medication to hope and viewpoints of the relatives of the depressed. The language is not too complicated but is neither a light read. Would recommend to people interested in depression.

[natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read for soc class on the train

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depression and other forms of mental illness are typically a subject taken up by psychologists.

Karp, a sociologist who suffered depression himself, offers a distinctly sociological analysis of depression and how depression affects one's self as well as one's relationships and ties to work and family.

My class really enjoyed reading this book, too.
It is very well-written and while it is a study of the disease from a sociological perspective, it also has a very personal tone given Karp's own struggles, insights, and anecdotes.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book for anyone who loves someone who suffers from depression. It's a descriptive look at depression by someone who is depressed, but without any sensationalized bits. It's just how it is, nothing more, nothing less.

[Tayah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brough me through an one point and the pain of isolation was not so bad because the book spoke the words of madenings isloation for me that I could not share.

[Bruno Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this man as a teacher. He's a bright guy and this is a decent read. He was always a fan of the "in-depth" interview so naturally that's the method here. Not bad at all.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great firsthand, sociological view of depression.

[Zaphoddent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more 3.5 stars. The fact that the author chooses not to address that 49 of the 50 interviewees were white is irritating.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karp's book on lifelong depression and interacting with the medical system is wonderfully told. He recounts both is own stories and those of his interviewees with care and compassion. My only quibble (and it's kind of a big one) is that he is deeply anti-medicalization of mental illness, and thus gives no time to patients who have rely on and/or have had successful outcomes through medication and treatment. This is frustrating, because while there are obvious issues in mental health care, there are also people who wouldn't be alive today had they not received that care. That said, Karp gives plenty of room for his subjects to let their voices be heard, providing a lesson for all clinicians and researchers in compassion and patient autonomy.

[Hoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I leave this book with a thought unrelated to the primary subject, but, when considering the idea of the "looking glass self," I wonder how we would lead our lives if rather than "seeing ourselves from the standpoint of others," we see ourselves from the standpoint of God; rather than "imagining how they are evaluating us," we imagine how God is evaluating us; and rather than "anticipating how they are going to react to us," we anticipate how God will react to us when we make our final return.

["Nico" · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book so I could rate it 1 Star, the author's bent against the biological clinical depression conveniently excludes folks like myself, that's weak! But his heart is frequently in the right place and that earns another star.

[Henry Gridley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative though a little dry. A great read for anyone interested in the personal side of depression and mental health.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick easy read on a complex topic. I am not clear exactly where the line is between a sociological dialectic on depression vs psychological analysis. From this book I would say its about evolution of personal identity vs identifying cause and coping

Because of this rather than self help case studies you get interviews from real people about how their lives have evolved/developed w/depression.

Its a self selected study of about 50 people w/a wide range of symptoms and self awareness. There is some insight here wherever you may feel you are w/depression

Again its about experience not cure. A great book to find fellowship and knowing you are not alone w/out judgement

[Aerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers different points of view of people dealing with depression. If you have never dealt with a mood disorder or depression yourself, it offers a very human look at how people who do might be feeling. I highly recommend it as a great resource for friends and family who wish to understand what their loved ones might be going through.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Karp does a better than average job of articulating the emotions, feelings and various changes included in clinical depression. Quoting many more than the 50 people he interviewed, the coverage is comprehensive and covers a lot of territory. Highly recommended to anyone suffering from major depression or even friends and family of those...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, actually.

[Joe Rodeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doom and gloom. Qualifier: I hardly ever like a book that is all interviews.

[Doris Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. Remarkable. Book. Depression. Still. Exzist. Even. Today.

[Taylor Belt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book that I had to do a book report and critical analysis of for one of my classes this semester and I recommend it to anyone who has depression.