Depression Books

I think that Illustrated Mum is a really good book, but I think that it can be a little intense, so I don't recommend for readers younger than 10, unless you read with a parent. It was very realistic and I really cared about the characters, especially the main character--Dolphin. It is the kind of book that you wan to read over and over, and you most definitely want her life to get better. Jacqueline Wilson is a really great author.
I.P. San Francisco

This book was sad, interesting and emotional without being depressing. Issues handled sensitively. Easy to feel empathy for the characters. I'd recommend this for grades 5 and up. Some senstitive subject matter like mental illness and foster care.

I have not picked up and read a juvenile fiction book in a long time, but this one piqued my interest when I looked through the audio books at our library. I'm very glad I did! This is one of the best juvenile fiction books I have ever read, and I used to read tons of them as a young girl.

Dolphin and Star have a very flambouyant mother named Marigold who is a manic depressive/alcoholic, dies her hair bright red, and sports tons of tattoos; she's man crazy and dresses too young for her age. While Star, who is 13 is sick and tired of not having a normal mother, 11 year-old Dolphin adores her regardless of the torment she endures in school, and the fact that Marigold often leaves the girls unattended to fend for themselves, scaring Dolphin silly a lot of the time. Then one night Marigold brings home Star's father from a concert, and the girl willingly moves in with him, leaving poor Dolphin to deal incapably with her mother's craziness. This is a very good, realistic portrait of what an awful lot of children probably go through, and Dolphin tells the entire story. She is a sweet, smart, funny, and lovable character who truly loves Marigold though she can't always understand her mother's wild behavior, but she is also the one who inevitably must resolve to get Marigold help as her condition worsens.

I am related to someone very much like Marigold, so I could relate to Dolphin's story telling as I watched my relation's daughter go through similar experiences. Actress Josie Lawrence is an amazingly versatile talent who does lots of great voices, and her performance is so intimate, it never seems like she's reading from Wilson's book. A great story anyone remotely connected with a situation like this can relate to, and maybe you even know a few people who possess these very realistic traits. A superiorly well-done job, I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody.

This story deals heavily in the subject of "Manic Depressive illness" - I happen to know something about the illness but I won't go into that- and the dangers of being with someone who happens to have it if you happen to live with them. "The Illustrated Mum" is a gritty story told from the point of view of a young girl named Dolphin who struggles to stand by her mother even when her oldest sister Star doesn't want to. They don't live in the greatest conditions and their mother Marigold's behavior switches on and off when they least expect it, making it hard for them to communicate with her. The worse part of the story happens to be when Star's supposed father comes home with Marigold one night and Star decides to put her sister on the back burner, and leaves with her father (all because she can't take living with her mother any more), which has to be the worse thing to. Dolphin tries several times to get her sister to return but Star won't bend to her little sister's begging and Marigold only gets worse as the weeks go by; So worse in fact, she is admitted to a mental hospital. From there the story seems to fall further into the gritty storyline which it surrounds despite the light moments, however, that is not to say that this book isn't great to read. On the contrary, "The Illustrated Mum" is one of those rare books that actually have you thinking on the subject its writing about and the way it affects its characters. All in all, I enjoyed this book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of truth to their story. [a 5 out of 5]

This book is so wonderful. It's a story of children who have to take responsibility too soon. This book can teach us how to deal with bad situation and accept one another. The writer can catch the emotion of a ten-year-old girl and expressed them in sympathetic,but amusing way.She perfectly created her characters which seem to be alive people to the readers.It's so realistic.And it also make me laugh sometimes. You shouldn't miss this book.

This story is so so so so so exciting. I just could not set the book down! First it is about how Kit thinks that she lives a dull life and she wants to do some thing that she would never forget and she did beacuse I don't think she will ever forget this ever! first she has this hobo come and spend the night at kits house for lots of nights and Kit has to do all the work for him and also for her. Then awhile later Kit and a few other boys are in a boxcar, a police thinks that they are all hobos the police takes them to......... JAIL! Will Kit get out and save the day or will they be stuck in jail for the rest of their lifes? Read this wounderful book and find out. You won't sst the book down.

Ten-year-old Kit Kittredge can't stand the fact that she never has the chance to experience any adventure or excitement. With her older brother, Charlie, away in Montana with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), having all sorts of fun and adventurous times, Kit feels left out of the loop, and begins to realize that the Great Depression is seriously cramping her style. Especially when her parents demand that she help out in the garden, and with tons of different chores, when she could be upstairs, clacking away on her typewriter, creating the newspapers that she loves so much. So when a young hobo named Will appears on Kit's doorstep, with tales of the hobo jungle, and riding the rails, Kit feels that her life just got more boring. It seems that everyone is doing something exciting besides her. And when Will informs Kit that girls just a bit younger than Kit are seen riding the rails all the time, Kit begins to fume. What she wouldn't give to do something so daring. So when Kit convinces her parents to allow her and Stirling to visit the hobo jungle, with some snacks for Will and the other starving hobos, she has no idea what she will encounter. Soon she sees that the hobo jungle isn't as exciting as she thought, with people suffering, and children going hungry each and every night. But when an acquaintance of Will's dares her to hop the rails, Kit feels that it's her duty to take the dare, and hop the train, even though it's illegal. But then something unexpected happens. Something that makes Kit realize the error of her ways, and it's up to her to save the day before something terrible happens.

Not since the original American Girl, Samantha, have I felt that I could so easily relate to one of the characters from the AMERICAN GIRLS series. However, since I discovered Kit, I find that I always have that feeling. Kit is a girl who could easily win anyone's heart. With her chipper personality, kindness, bravery, and nose for news, she's a wonderful role model for the girls of today. The introduction of a new character to the Kit series, known as Will, makes KIT SAVES THE DAY even more interesting than previous books in this series, giving readers an up-close glance at how horrible the life of a hobo is, as well as showing us just how many tragedies the Depression truly caused. Will is an exciting character, whose bright outlook on life - even given his situation - is admirable; while his determination to make a better life for himself is something that everyone will respect. Valerie Tripp has woven another exciting tale about Kit's life that is sure to leave readers craving more, and determined to have an adventure similar to that of our young heroine - sans the danger!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

In Kit Saves the Day, ten-year-old Kit Kittredge is longing for adventure. She's tired of the monotony of life at home: always having to do chores for the boarders at the boardinghouse her family has set up and never having any real excitement. Kit fantasizes about the lives hoboes live. After all, who wouldn't love to see all of the United States while having adventures hopping freight trains, and camp out at night under the stars, eating stew and sharing songs and stories with others, with no chores or work?
Then, Will, a young hobo, comes to stay at the Kittredges, and Kit finds herself with an oppurtunity to have an adventure. But when all is said and done, Kit realizes that her idyllic fantasies about hobo life were far from reality.
Kit is one of my favorites out of the American Girls collection, and this book was a great addition to her collection of stories. Kit learns and grows a lot in this story, and the plot of the story is engaging, and will teach readers a lot about the Great Depression. This book is perfect for girls in their pre-teen and early teenage years, especially those who are fans of the American Girls collection.

Kit Saves the Day is easily the best book in the Kit series. Kit's Aunt Millie is staying at Kit's house and she has put Kit to work planting and caring for a garden. Kit is doing her chores in the garden one day when a young boy named Will walks into her yard. Aunt Millie sees him and immediatly invites him to join them for supper. Will tells Kit and her friend Stirling about the 'hobo jungle'. When Will leaves, Kit notices that she and Stirling didn't give him any food for his journey! Kit knew that Will would need food, so she and Stirling walk to the hobo jungle. There, they see ragged people with holey clothes and shoes. Kit meets Will's friend Lester. Lester persuades Kit and Stirling to hop a frieght train! The train is stopped because hopping trains is against the law. The police take Kit, Stirling, and Will to jail! Can Kit make it out of jail and save the day? Read this exciting book to find out! You won't be able to put it down!

Kit is sad this summer because her brother Charlie went off to college. One day a hobo named Will came to Kit's house. Will came from Texas. Kit's Mother invites Will to eat dinner with them that night. Will shows Kit and Stirling some hobo signs. Will tells them about the hobo stew. Kit wants to try the hobo stew. He also tells about the hobo jungle. That's where the hobos live. So the next day Kit and Stirling take food to the people who live at the hobo jungle . But while they are there, they learn about jumping rails. They do it and get sent to jail. Kit leans a very valuable lesson. I really liked this story. It shows how much we have to be thankful for. Kit won't be looking for adventure for a little while. This is one of my favorite Kit books ever!

This book gave me hope when I had almost lost it. I came to the end of my seminary education and I was ready to throw in the towel. Once you're on the inside of the church, once you necessarily lose all those false illusions about what ministry is really about, you may find you don't have the stomach for it. I look at the church, and how slow things change, and I wonder if there is any hope at all. Niebuhr honestly lays out his own transition from green seminarian to seasoned pastor of hope and grace, radical, but real. It was a breath of grace and peace...just what I needed.

Reinhold Niebuhr's small book, Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic, is perhaps his most famous and popular book. It has informed and helped to shape the lives and ministries of seminarians, educators, ministers and other prophetic and ethical people since it was first published early in this century. Niebuhr recounts with astonishing honesty the difficulties facing those who would do ministry, and act ethically, in the church today. His criticism is not held back from any sacred topics.

`I make no apology for being critical of what I love. No one wants a love which is based upon illusions, and there is no reason why we should not love a profession and yet be critical of it.'

Niebuhr talks about the shock of coming to realise the limitations of his ministry, going from being a fresh-from-seminary full-of-grace minister to a person confronting another person in the 'real world'. He talks about

`...the difficulty of acting as priest. It is not in your power to determine the use of a symbol. Whether it is a blessing or a bit of superstition rests altogether with the recipient.'

This real world also presents problems. Parishioners tend to ask practical questions, rather than theoretical ones. They ask, Why won't Jesus heal me? Didn't he heal others? It is in the Bible, after all.

`I do believe that Jesus healed people. I can't help but note, however, that a large proportion of his cures were among the demented.'

He talks about the practical limitations of doing ethical ministry and prophesy for the average pulpit preacher.

`I am not surprised that most prophets are itinerants. Critics of the church think we preachers are afraid to tell the truth because we are economically dependent upon the people of our church. There is something in that....'

Finally, Niebuhr comes to have realistic expectations of the church and his own ministry in it.

`The church is like the Red Cross service in war time. It keeps life from degenerating into a consistent inhumanity, but it does not materially alter the fact of the struggle itself. The Red Cross neither wins the war nor abolishes it.'

Niebuhr in this small work has given great insight. Barely 150 short pages of his journal from 1915-1928 as a parish minister--although he became much better known as a philosopher in later years, this book is most likely his best seller, and the one with the most profound day-to-day impact for his readers.

A must-read for anyone with a calling to ministry; a should-read for anyone in a helping and caring profession. It gives insight into how to remain human and fallible in the face of a congregation's (and one's own!) expectations of holiness and godly perfection.

I am a HUGE Niebuhr fan, and I strong suggest that anyone interested in politics, economics, social philosophy and/or theology should pick up as many of his works as possible. This book was a real treat for me, to get into peer into his mind in those oh so important formative years as a pastor in Detroit, WOW!

Even when he's just writing random thoughts on the passing scene, he's a fantastic writer. Here you have a demonstration of Bonhoeffer's views of the true Christian life which must "share in the problems of secular life, and teach all men what it means to live in Christ". You see the greater and greater emphasis on the role of repentence and the way Christ's oh so rigorous ethic acts as a judgment on all human behavior as time goes on. This will all become so important as he turns his mind to writing his great theological and social works in the 30's and 40's.

This book is a fairly easy read, none to technical, and relatively short, you can probably read it in 3 or 4 sittings. Pay attention to the way Niebuhr's doubts about his own position become theological fare, informing the way he thinks about theology and life in toto.

This little gem was probably my favorite book from seminary. Niebuhr takes you with him on the difficult journey through the first years of his parish ministry and teaches you how to think theologically about really practical dilemmas that arise as a clergyperson. My favorite thing about the book is that it is not written as a memoir, but in the moment, so you don't have an old, brilliant theologian reflecting on his years in ministry, but rather a young, brilliant pastor who doesn't know all the answers and doesn't pretend to. I feel like Reinhold has become a close friend though the end of seminary and my first year working in the church, because he gives words to and insight into many of the struggles I have had.

This is a collection of Neibuhrs short essays. Each one stands on its own as a reflection of reality as applicable today as it was decades ago. I like it so much I am rationing it, reading one or two essays a day and stopping to think about the lesson in each one. These are sermons that are not "preachy" recognizing the human frailities and what should be expected of us. A book for the ages in my opinion

I really appreciated this book. I read it in less than 24 hours! I suffered from Postpartum anxiety and depression after the birth of both my girls but much more seriously after my second. It's such an important topic for people to be made aware of. Sue did such a great job of explaining what she went through and what was helpful and clearly what was not helpful. No matter who you are or what phase of life you are in there is a lot of valuable information to be gleaned from this book.

This is the first book about PPD authored by a Christian that I've read. While a few parts were a bit repetitious, overall I found it an enjoyable and informative book. I had a touch of PPD when my first child was born. Nothing as severe as the author experienced, but I sure wish I'd known at the time why I felt so awful. That was 15 years ago.

I loved some of the issues and emotions the author expressed, like how frustrating it is to have someone give you a pat answer when you are in such pain and how you want to self-isolate. She goes through a rendition of friendship types and who to avoid and who to lean on during PPD. She makes many valid points. The author also commented that it is a physical illness and not just a state of mind. Great information, because it's true. She also made a point about how it effects the whole family and how simply hoping it will go away only prolongs the symptoms. Great advice. In conclusion, the author provides a helpful does of Bible verses to encourage any reader in the throes of the illness who may feel trapped and hopeless. The verses address particular issues and are a perfect way to end the book.

I am a firm believer that you can never fully understand something unless you've lived through it. After reading this book, however, I feel like I understand PPD as much as I possibly can - having never suffered through it. I can't imagine anyone being more honest or open about their experience that Sue. My first thought after reading it was: There are so many people who need to read this so they know they're not alone. What amazing courage it takes to write the way she did! Thank you, Sue, for writing a book that could save lives.

The Lifter of My Head is the moving story of one young mother's walk through the murky waters of Post Partum Depression. In her book, Sue offers a candid and invaluable look at an illness many young mothers are ill-equipped to diagnose and handle. Through sharing vital medical information on PPD and her own spiritual journey and healing, the book will be a lifesaver for countless women. I wish I had had this resource years ago when a dear family member struggled with PPD.

A book about this topic has been desperately needed for such a long time, particularly as tragedies stemming from various postpartum mood disorders pervade the media more and more each day. Sue tells the story of her journey through postpartum depression by interweaving it with the voice of wisdom, the voice of knowledge, the voice of encouragement and the voice of God through His Word. That is one of the most inspiring and true aspects of this book. Sue shares so much Scripture that clearly tells us exactly where God is when we hurt - always by our sides and often carrying us.

What I often consider a sign of a great book such as this is the ability to apply the wisdom to any number of life circumstances. For example, reading a book about infertility and loss (Hannah's Hope by Jennifer Saake) after already giving birth to my son taught me so much about the journey I was now on, despite the fact that my infertile days had come to a close. The same can be said of Sue's book. I learned so much that can be so applicable to any dark valley that one may go through. Lean on Scripture and hold on with all your strength, even if by your very fingertips. I also learned much about friendships with Sue, again crying as I recalled how Christ worked through the many types of friends as He carried me through my depression. Sue is also always quick to remind the reader of the resulting growth that comes from walking through a dark valley such as postpartum depression.

I was greatly encouraged by this book and inspired by Sue's story and I highly recommend this book. It is a story of encouragement and most of all, a story of hope. There is always hope.

While the picolinate variety of chromium is the most popular and widely available form in the US, there is still serious, ongoing debate about it's long-term safety.

One thing is certain: chromium polynicotinate is just as, if not more, bioavailable and effective as the picolinate version. And it also does not cause mutations in mice and cell cutures like picolinate has. It just takes a little more searching to buy.

This is the form I sought out before trying chromium for my low energy, mood and carb cravings. So far, it seems to be effective, and I haven't experienced any dizziness that some reported using this form of chromium.

Another very safe, if less well-absorbed, alternative is chromium chloride, which is more availble in Europe. The GTF form may not be as helpful.

Four years ago I had a heart attack and by-pass surgery. Soon afterwards I fell in a deep depression with anxiety attacks. Since then I have been seeing a psychiatrist on a monthly, or sometimes weekly basis. I ended up in the hospital and an out care facility for 6 weeks. I had to take a medical retirement because the depression seemed untreatable. I've tried just about every medication and or combination, for depression, but nothing seemed to work. At one time my doctor told me I was one of the hardest cases he had ever treated. He knew from the onset it was not an emotional problem but a chemical imbalance. He used all the new, old, and uncommon drugs. We were at the end of all the drugs and combinations out there so he was pushing me to electric shock thearpy. I did not want to do this, it was frightening. I started to study on my own. I was desparate. One day I went online and found this book. At first I passed over it because it seemed to simplistic or I thought it might be a gimmick. I was so wrong. I read the book. It seem plausible enough, but I did not seem to fit the criteria for chromium deficiency as described in the text. But as I said, I was deparate. I bought a $12 bottle of chromium and started taking it that day. The next day I saw my doctor. I told him about the chromium, he seem a little amused but had no objections to me taking it. I was in the process of starting to take another antidepressant at the same time. Three days later I felt normal for the first time in 4 years. I knew it was too early for the antidepressant to be working and that chromium had to be the explanation. I cried in relief and called my brother because I had to tell somebody and I knew my doctor would think I was crazy. The next day I still felt normal. At that point I called my doctor and told him that I was feeling great. He was afraid I was manic or something. Even though he was very skeptical he was willing to work with me as I took the chromium. I stopped taking the antidepressant and I gave him my book to read. That was two months ago. I am no longer taking drugs for depression. I am feeling better now than I have for years. My doctor is amazed. He has suggested chromium to another patient who has not had success with conventional medicine. What would I say about this book? It has been a life changing a miracle! If you are at your wits end and nothing seems to help with your depression, what have you got to lose...(a meaningful life)? Read this book. Give it to others you care about who cannot find relief from their depression. I know it will not work for everybody, but it did for me. It gave me back my life. Five stars does not seem to give it enough justification!

His patients try psychotherapy, antidepressants, but what really works for the 70% for whom it does work is chromium picolinate. Their diagnosis? Atypical depression with associated symptoms such as tiredness, excessive appetite, weight gain and a heavy feeling in their limbs.

It is wonderful to see a psychiatrist sharing the increasingly respectable, though, for some, still radical view that nutrients can restore "mental" health.

What I like most about the book is reading between the lines. Even while he supports a psychoanalytic approach, most (not all) of his patients say it is the chromium picolinate that made the difference. While the author respectfully defends what I consider to be an overrated ideology, in my view, he also undercuts it with his own research. The influence of his socialization into the field of psychiatry is not lost as the author frames his initial impressions of rapid improvement through his psychopharmaceutical lenses.

Still, Dr Mcleod is supporting an approach to "depression" based on treatable biological risk factors. The implications of this perspective are yet to be seen. If chromium picolinate is so effective perhaps tryptophan, magnesium, amino acids, etc. can also be effective for specific identifiable biological risk factors.

David Moyer, Author Too Good to be True? Nutrients Quiet the Unquiet Brain

From 1984 to 1998 I had a long string of professional and relational stresses, I didn't sleep well, and I took antidepressants. After that, I had 4 years of stable mood (I didn't take a single pill during those years). But after 2000, a new stressor appeared in my life.

I've been taking antidepressants again since 2002, with bad or mediocre results: maprotiline (Ludiomil) caused me unbearable side effects after a few years of use. Over a week ago, after reading Dr. McLeod's book, I started taking chromium picolinate, 400 micrograms 4 times a day, to a total of 1600 mcg a day. The results have been a complete remission of my depression, until now. I think that less than 1600 mcg wouldn't do the trick, and maybe Dr. McLeod could have obtained even better results in his clinical trial using this dose (better than the 70% of positive results he's got, using a maximum of 600 mcg). When I don't take the 400 mcg dose for more than 7 hours (I take one pill every 3 hours), a slight depression starts to return.

I have been taking chromium picolinate for years as an anti-aging supplement (400 mcg at bedtime of a formulation that's no longer available) without any antidepressant effect. The recommended daily dose for this formulation is 400 mcg 4 times a day, which I thought was excessive. (Chromium picolinate greatly increases insulin sensitivity, and high insulin sensitivity - low blood insulin - is one of the main metabolic characteristics of centenarians and animals subjected to calorie restriction, which have a strongly increased lifespan. And rats supplemented with chromium picolinate live 37% more than their normal lifespan).

A warning: the first time I took chromium picolinate as an antidepressant, I took 1000 mcg (of another formulation) at bedtime, and I didn't sleep well. The total dose has to be taken throughout the day. And I almost completely discontinued the not very effective (at least for me) antidepressant amitriptiline, (from 60 mg per day to 25 mg at bedtime).

Thank you Dr. McLeod. Without your keen observations, I think I would have never gotten were I am now: cured of depression!

In Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection, practicing psychiatrist Malcolm Noell McLeod presents the personal empowerment of overcoming of a familial situation between himself and his parents. As significant and growing numbers of people worldwide struggle with the psychological disadvantage of mental and emotional depression, Malcolm Noell McLeod gives readers a healing aide for dealing with this increasingly common psychological condition. With true potential for revolutionary standards of discovery, Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection offers enlightenment to all and is recommended strongly to those who suffer from depression individually as well as those wishing to find aid for friends and loved ones afflicted with chronic depression.

Courtney's suicide attempt is brought on when her "pretending everything is fine" and she's forced to be "a bride's maid & never a bride" one more time. Every woman who's been thru several "bride's maid & never a bride" weddings can relate to this. Courtney opens up her life thru humor and sarcasm showing us her wounds and how she healed them. She is a great "kick a**" author. I hope she writes a sequel.

This book takes a difficult, personal story and makes it relatable and inspirational. You will feel like you know the author, Courtney Walsh, as you are reading the book. Her sense of humor, honesty and compassion will move you!

Excellent book - suggested by the [...] website.
Courtney Walsh does an excellent job of chronicalling the search for her own "authentic self" in our modern times - where one's own self identity is often a measure of subjective "standards".

Super insights! There indeed ought to be more books written about this subject.

Lipstick and Thongs grabs all the Nurse Ratched's ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest") in our society and cleverly forces them to take a closer, compassionate look at the taboo subject of suicide.

Author Courtney Walsh brilliantly uses her charm and wit to hold the readers hand as they stroll down a dark and lonely path together with a personal comprehension and confidence that has not been expressed in quite this way ever before.

A truly engaging, must read memoir that will touch your soul.

Finally someone has brought to life a story of mental illness, courage and survival - and you don't need a doctorate to understand it! This book should be on the 'must read' list for all young women. A fantastic tale of one woman's roller coaster ride through life. I'm not sure where I stopped laughing and started crying...

Reading MY NAME IS ESTHER CLARA was like listening to a woman in an old folk's home tell you about her life. The only difference is that you never want to make an excuse to leave the room. I read this wonderful book in one sitting. The stories are well thought out and researched and it is so easy to forget they are being told by one of Esther's granddaughters and not Esther herself. What a loving tribute to a woman who shows grit and a resilience that is enabled by her great sense of humor.

Laurel Johnson has managed to capture my heart once again with her newest book. Each of this author's books are distinct, original, and captivating. I was not sure what to expect before reading MY NAME IS ESTHER CLARA. I ended up with a narrative that I could not put down. When I finished reading it, I couldn't stop thinking of this marvelous woman, Esther Clara.

Esther is a non-fictional character. Her loving granddaughter tells her story from material collected over the years. And what a story this is! Esther's life spans almost a century and the tales she reminisces about will strike a chord with all readers. You will be taken back to years gone by when running water and electricity were not available. You will feel her pain when she suffers loses and silently cheer for her sheer determination while attacking life.

I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The pages seemed to melt away as the years of Esther's life flew by and her family started to feel like my own. This book will certainly become a welcome addition to my home library to be read again and again.

Laurel Johnson speaks for her grandmother, Esther Clara Sanow Ford, with this - what the author refers to as creative nonfiction - first-person tale of a woman's journey through life. The reader relives history through the eyes of Esther, who experienced the hardships of World Wars I and II and the Korean War, the discord of the Vietnam War, and the worst depression this country has experienced to date. Esther's life evolved from one extreme to the other, from having to cook on a wooden stove, read by kerosene lantern and use an outhouse to one with all the luxuries electricity and running water have to offer; and from riding in horse-drawn carriages to traveling by automobile. How delightful to read about her antics as a child and terribly sad to learn of the death of a beloved child during her marriage.

Esther was a forward-thinking woman who lived during an exciting, progressive time in our nation's history. Her love and devotion to her family, especially her husband Herb, was her number one priority. It is through Esther one is reminded of the basics of life: enduring hardships with bravery and positive thoughts, loving with all one's heart, showing kindness toward others, and above all, being true to one's self.

It's a rarity when a book of this quality crosses my desk. It seemed as if Esther sat across from me, talking directly to me. I didn't want to put the book down, nor did I want it to end. Although Esther may not have had a documented impact on the history of America, she certainly made an impact on this reader and, I imagine, many others.

This is a will written story of the life of a woman as it evolved across almost the entire 20th century. Her childhood antics and accomplishments on an Iowa farm will make you laugh outloud. Her strength, dedication, & love of her family will bring joy to your heart and tears to your eyes. It is a story of the spirit of American women & a life modern women will never experience but can learn from.

Laurel Johnson's ability to captivate a voice from memory and paint it for the rest of the world to hear is an irreplaceable gift. Reading the family tales and yarns of Johnson's grandmother in My Name Is Esther Clara is to come to know and love Esther. Her voice with its deep dialect can be heard jumping off the page through Johnson's talent and first hand knowledge.

The freshness of the frolicking years of child's play through the graying of maturity with the hard lessons of life are woven through Esther's personal dialogue. Heartwarming and charming, it is like standing at a neighbor's fence with ease and down-home familiarity.

Antics that will split the reader's rib cage for laughter and hillarity tell of historic perspectives of much simpler lifestyles and the priorities that had to match for survival. Esther's journey will give social awareness to an agriculturally oriented lifestyle in the plains of America. Character is built and personal strength must evolve from determination in the face of hardship and loss. And yet, always Esther has a yarn to tell and a country idiom to explain.

Laurel Johnson simply radiates her talent in her tribute to her grandmother Esther Clara. This is a book I will pick up again and again for fun and the value inside. I will give it in abundance to friends, and recommend it not just to readers, but to students as well. It will give anyone the reason to pause and think of the value of heritage.

Stephanie S. Sawyer, reviewer and author

I was treated by Joyce Venis for postpartum depression and PMDD for several years. After seeing many other doctors who misdiagnosed my symptoms and made them worse, Joyce knew just what to do and led me on the path to mental wellness. Joyce is the the leading expert in the country on postpartum depression. Every pregnant woman, gynecologist, and psychiatrist ought to read her book and keep it close by as a reference. No mother should have to suffer with postpartum depression and its consequences. Doctors need to be educated on how to properly treat this disorder. I highly recommend this book. It deserves 4 stars. Review written by, C. Edwards, Pennington, NJ

For more than 20 years, Joyce Venis has been known nationally for her work with families affected by postpartum depression. This book shares her vast knowledge and expertise with the world and is a must read for anyone who has been affected by PPD--moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, cousins, neighbors, health care providers etc. With a book that brings this common condition out of the shadows, it is hoped that unrecognized PPD will be a thing of the past and the horrific tragedies that have left us asking 'why?' will be no more.

I haven't even read this book, yet I know it's going to be fantastic. As a first time mom who thought having PPD was the end of the world, Joyce showed me that isn't true. Now, I can say, I have PPD, PPD doesn't have me. She's always there when she's needed. She goes above and beyond for her patients. Not only is she an expert in her field, she's a good friend to alot of moms. Including this one. Emma and I love her.

This book truly demystifies postpartum depression. The authors describe the warning signs and provide coping mechanisms to deal with PPD. Thanks to Joyce Venis, PPD is less of a stigma and is becoming more understood. A must read for pregnant women and for new mothers!

Men, this book is a must read for you as well. This will give you the insight to a better understanding of what it is that our "Moms" are going through. Moms aren't the only ones who suffer, we do to. Through Joyce's extremely hard work and personal experience, this book helps us better understand an illness, that many do not know exists. No one knows better than me the personal sacrifice, pain, tears and most of all, care that Joyce has dedicated to Moms out there through phone calls, support groups and her practice. It makes me VERY proud that she has finally put her knowledge/experience into words for everyone to read. She has spent a lifetime helping Moms everywhere and making this book happen. It's long over due. Like I said, no one knows better than me. Not only am I a PPD survivor, I am her son!!!!!

Just start anywhere: that's the theme of The Power of Procovery. This is not a how-to book with sequenced steps; instead, the author provides another way of looking at chronic mental illness. Wherever you are, that's where you start. Recovery, however you define it, is in your hands, and this book reminds you of the tools and assets you already have.
This is a great book for mental health clients, family members, support groups, and practitioners. Remember: just start anywhere.

The Power of Procovery in Healing Mental Illness is an exciting book! Kathleen Crowley has written a book that you may indeed, "Just Start Anywhere" and learn what is needed to change your thinking or help others to begin changing their thinking about living with a disability. When looking for a model to help think about training to help others understand recovery, I learned of Ms. Crowley's Procovery movement. She has a systematic approach to the topic which helps others to organize their thinking. It is also written on a level for an individual to focus on the "procovery" need in their lives.

Excellent book for anyone who deals with Mental illness wether a consumer, family member or professional. We have been working on recovering from a mental illness for years. Last May we started our own Procovery hit and miss style. This book would have been benificial then and is now. Must Read!

This book changed my life and I think would change the life of anyone who reads it. It doesn't even matter if they are dealing with mental health problems, the book is simply about how to move forward when you cannot move back and how to have hope. I've highlighted every other paragraph -- I hope others find out about about procovery and this amazing little treasure of inspiration and plain practical common sense.

This book is extraordinary! I love the word "procovery" meaning success can be found looking forward to new life and building new dreams regardless of the symptoms or diagnosis. As a case manager, I've read dozens and dozens of books on overcoming mental illness, and this is the first one to really address the difficult realities I see in practice every day with hope and practical suggestions. Procovery should be taught in graduate school for understanding the challenges and possibilities for overcoming mental illness. The sense of hope and practical guidance run throughout the book, and the separate "Procovery Notes" for consumers, family and staff make it easy for me to share the information and book with clients. I particularly agree with the "just start anywhere" principle - from my own experience it makes sense to start from where someone's energy is - and am impressed the way the book is designed so that it too can be started anywhere.

It may seem trite to say but this book literally saved my life. After doing tons of research and making many telephone calls, this was the ONLY resource about addiction that covered the topic honestly, compassionately and COMPLETELY. It provided me with the clear, unbiased information I needed about addiction and recovery and helped me make an informed choice about treatment.

It was clear to me from the start that the authors have a very open minded approach, non-judgemental approach to addiction treatment that is unusual and very refreshing. They make it clear that there is no one "correct" way to deal with addiction. Instead they explore the pros and cons of all available treatment methods so that each reader can decide for him or herself, which course of action is appropriate.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that they, a loved one or a friend might have an addiction problem and to anyone who wants honest, up to date information based on scientific research. The authors include many examples of real people (including themselves) which makes this book easy to read and relate to.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Addiction Treatment Forum (www.atforum.com) book review; Recovery Options: The Complete Guide; released June 16, 2000 (reviewed by S. Leavitt, PhD, editor, A.T. Forum) -- The 23 chapters and more than 300 pages of this new book by Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD and Maia Szalavitz provide a complete overview of psychoactive drugs of abuse and their effects, an in-depth look at the many ways to view alcoholism and other drug addictions, and a review of addiction treatment research, modalities, and pharmacotherapies.

Experienced addiction treatment staff at all levels will find this book to be an excellent review, along with some interesting updated perspectives. It definitely should be required reading for new staff members and trainees.

Volpicelli, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and senior research scientist at the University of Pennsylvania Addiction Treatment Research Center, was an initial investigator of naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism. However, his outlook in this book is extremely well-balanced, without lobbying for any particular treatment approach as a "one size fits all" solution. In fact, the "Penn Paradigm," which he advocates, stresses that "it is what the patient considers important, not what the treatment program is pushing, that matters."

Szalavitz, an experienced and well-known journalist specializing in health, science, and drug policy, is savvy to the real world concerns and fears of patients and their loved ones. Her philosophy of treating addiction is "if it helps people, do it," and the underlying posture of the entire book is, "Patients given a menu of treatment options do significantly better than those who are simply told what to do."

Case studies and anecdotes, used liberally throughout, vividly illustrate important principles in the book and make for very interesting reading to hold one's interest. The book is obviously well researched and evidence based, although we would have preferred a more thorough referencing of the sources used.

Then again, the primary audience isn't researchers or healthcare professionals, as denoted by the book's subtitle: How You and Your Loved Ones Can Understand and Treat Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Volpicelli writes that "to get the best care, patients themselves need to know what to look for -- because many professionals have too much of an attachment to their own ideas of what should work to take into account individual differences."

While that statement might perturb some professionals, most will agree with the authors that educated consumers of addiction treatment make the best patients. The one caveat is that this first-of-its-kind book exploring all treatment options may be challenging reading for some persons and getting the most from it would require a commitment to take more responsibility for one's own treatment success. It may not be for everyone but, as suggested earlier, one size needn't fit all; but this book could help many people.

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide (ISBN 0-471-34575-X, paperback, $15.95) is a Wiley book available at local bookstores or by calling 1-800-225-5945. In Canada, call 1-800-567-4797. Also available at www.amazon.com ($12.76 + shipping) and from other online booksellers.

This book has changed my life. I knew I needed help, but didn't really know what kind, where to go, who to see, etc. Dr. Volpicelli paves the way for anyone who has an addiction by presenting options that you might never know existed...options that might be right for you. If you think you need help with drug or alcohol abuse, GET THIS BOOK! He offers almost 100 different websites, books, resources etc. in an appendix that is detailed and comprehensive. Dr. Volpicelli and Maia Szalavitz present information and options to the reader with respect and dignity. The book is written in a way where you feel YOU have the ability to choose the treatment that would be right for you. They tell you how to choose treatment that would best match your needs, what criteria to look for, and what to expect as part of your recovery. I think that was the scariest part for me before I read this book...the fear of the unknown. After reading the book, and rereading certain chapters, I felt armed with the knowledge I needed to take that first step. If you're having a love/hate affair with an addiction, and want to get a grip, get this book. It may change your life. For the first time in 10 years I feel there is hope for me and I owe it all to Recovery Options: The Complete Guide.

Dr Volpicelli and Maia have put together a wonderful book, full of sound advice and unbiased information. Great for addicts, health-care workers, and just as importantly, friends and relatives of people with substance abuse problems. An absolute "must".

It's great to have straight talk about the whole range of recovery options available from one source, with a minimum of axe-grinding. People struggling with addictions and their friends and families will find this an invaluable resource. Personally I'm a bit more positive about 12 step and more skeptical of some of the alternatives than the authors, but what's important is that they're all in here and the authors make a serious attempt to evaluate them objectively. We all know someone who needs this book!