Depression Books

"Cure By Crying" is at turns profound, sappy, powerful and disorganized. Its the worst piece of writing that I have ever read ten times. It is the story of how a man "cured" himself of emotional problems by uncovering and crying about repressed childhood traumas. The author, Thomas A. Stone, is obviously a genius at drawing insights out of his own emotional and mental experience. He has combined these insights with those of his "mentors" -- Freud, Janov (Primal Scream) and Hubbard (yes, L. Ron) -- to form a therapy that he modestly entitles "The Therapy". It is a serious, complete and straight-forward self-therapy, and may just help you understand and deal with your problems better. If you are interested in deep-feeling therapy or how the mind works, it is well worth the trouble.

Most of us are raised by our parents and/or conditioned by society to repress our feelings. It's hard for many people to express their feelings verbally, much less as primal emotion. However, if you've come to believe that being more emotionally expressive is a good thing, this book can help you change those old patterns.

Thomas A. Stone is a remarkable man. In search of an effective therapy for himself, he figured out the methods in this book on his own - with no formal training beyond extensive reading at home (as noted by reviewer JSpeyrer, Stone studied some 250 therapies). His layman's theories on why only "spoonfuls" of emotion show up for release made sense to me.

Although I find some of Stone's methods somewhat cumbersome to learn, this book is still invaluable. I recommend you grab one now if you're at all interested and the dealer's price is not too silly (there are not many copies of this evidently self-published book floating around any more). For starters, just reading the book can give you more acceptance for crying.

One area where I disagree with Thomas: Emotional expression is not always just about crying. And for all his buckets of tears, Stone can have a curious detachment (he did not even seem to understand his own daughter's fear). He has a workmanlike attitude that can sometimes seem to ignore the pain of the emotions themselves.

But don't let that observation stop you from getting the book. He did not use a detached tone of voice to author the book. You'll find his tone refreshingly plain, honest, conversational, and encouraging. Stone also provides support to keep you healthy while you allow your crying to surface, and he discusses the necessary warnings so you can go about it safely.

It's a shame that Stone and his book are not more widely recognized. Sure, there are places you can go (eg., Primal Institute) and people you can pay (eg., breathwork therapists) to help you do similar release work, but that takes money. Which is why Stone came to develop his methods and write the book - he couldn't afford a stint at the Primal Institute. And his therapist got bored listening to him cry.

I really enjoyed the section in the back of the book where Thomas, his wife Nancy, daughter Beth and son David, all talk candidly about their individual processes with the Cure by Crying techniques. I couldn't help but feel affection for this family and wonder how they're all doing now.

Excellent way to cure many ills, cry. More men should just do just that. Only some, even now, "hold back a tear". I used to. This alone only holds in the pain and unclear feelings--balderdash on that.
LIVE with the difficult moment, CRY, HEAL. It works for me every day.
As for the author's writing style, I, could say it works well enough. He speaks from the heart while espousing heartfelt emotions. That would make anyone wordy, an honest author included. This the point here, isn't it?
I love this man for his strength and his sharing. Thank you Mr. Thomas A. Stone, sir.

Well, me and my wife have been using this method for about 10 months. We have sessions about twice a week. My wife is on her 94th session. So, does it work? YES!! My wife has seen many symptoms improve. Depression and headaches are the two symptoms that have improved dramatically. Her ability to stand up for herself has also improved dramatically. I should mention that my wife cries easily. She cried within five minutes of the first session. Keep in mind this therapy takes commitment and time, but it is worth it.

On the down side, I have been unable to cry and have given up on this method. I tried following the book for about six months. Could not cry once. What this means is that *some* people's ability to cry is severely damaged, and this therapy will be extremely difficult for people like me. But I hope others (like my wife) will benefit from it.

However, even failure can lead to a cure. I began looking for an alternate therapy to get me kick started. I discovered a new therapy called "Redirecting Self Therapy". Can't provide a link here, but it is bringing many years of suffering to a rapid end.

Also, this book lists all the great discoveries (in psychology) made in the last few decades. It is an excellent primer on regressive therapies in general. If I had to recommned only one book on psychology, this is it.

If you want to know more about the importance of feeling pain and crying as a means of healing your neuroses, this is a rare book to read. I found valuable practical information on how to help myself and others to cry. In addition to the book by Jean Jenson: Reclaiming yourself, it helped me in my healing process.

Building and maintaining healthy relationships is part of the human experience, but building bridges that lead to spiritual and emotional wellness is an awakening. The Feeling Soul is a powerful book that helps you remove the barriers to being present, here and now.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

John LeBlanc
The Canadian Financial Wellness Group (CFWG)

Mark is a wonderful story teller and teacher of life. I learned a lot about psychology and proper and inproper ways of dealing with pain and trauma from this book.

Thank you for shedding some insights to my own psychy. Everyone should get this book, my friend Rafal certained loved it.

Alice Zhou
www.gracioushost.ca

Some comments from readers
A powerful book... a great guide to anyone on a journey to understanding themselves. Mark shows how to work through emotions and really heal, and stop patterns and really move foreward

If you've done your healing work, this is a great refresher to help you enjoy the benefits of your work.

A very practical book - the author shares his personal stories and insight. No psychological mumbo jumbo.. Well written with lots or stories to relate to.

A lot of hard earned insight is shared in this book!

This unique book is a compassionate, penetrating, practical resource for both the layperson and therapeutic community. It is a thinking and a doing book, demonstrating that a new life can be learned. It integrates thinking, feeling and new behaviors and illustrates the dynamic relationships between all three in a comprehensive model of personal development and who we are as person. The book flows well, but does not need to be read sequentially..

The book is divided into 5 major sections;
Learning; discovering what emotions are, attitude development, connections, self responsibility, support systems, emotional role models, emotional maturity, the role of stress, and a broad spectrum of innovative healing techniques.
Insight; understanding our past and culture and why we are hurting, depression, masks, loss, rejection, shame, jealousy, guilt, boundaries, abuse and memories.
Growth; challenging our beliefs and past emotional and mental patterns, triggers, self talk, belief changes, personal purpose.
Healing; letting go and releasing emotions and beliefs, awareness techniques, base-lining, breathing techniques, anger, dependency, productive grieving, forgiveness, catharsis, visualization and various other religious and cultural healing practices.
Teaching; forgiving, empathy, gratitude, healthy living, balanced life, positive expectation.

The book includes an extensive bibliography and further resources at www.healingresources.org. An ancient Chinese proverb says "Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand". Mark O'Meara's new book does all of this and more, a unique contribution.

Mark's writings teach people that we can really learn how to live free from past pain and to create new possibilities. The Feeling Soul helps the world to know that it can be done and how to do it!

After just having a baby and having very little time this was a great book to get into. I could relate to all the characters; their stories let me know I wasn't the only one feeling a certain way. I think it's great how Louise made these women so real. This a great mom read, I would recommend it to all moms. Its very humorous too so you'll get a good laugh! Enjoy

I loved the simple way the book guided the reader in to a deep topic. The story was so enjoyable and kept you searching for more!

I am so glad she talked about a condition that affects women after birth.

Our book club read this book, and had the privilege of having Louise come to our meeting. The book was a great read, and as a mother I could see so much of myself in the book. Some of the feelings of the characters in the book hit so close to home if was almost as if the author knew me. While it deals with some serious issues, there are parts of the book that are just laugh out loud funny. A very enjoyable read. I wished there was a sequel, because I wanted to know more.

In "Friends and Mother's" Limerick crafts a heartwarming story of five friends, all struggling to fill the many roles of being a mom without losing sight of living their own lives too. This book eloquently illustrates the many trials and tribulations of motherhood, and the challenges we all face as we strive to find our own successful parenting method. As the plot unravels, Limerick reminds us all that we must not take on this journey alone; yet through sharing our experiences, the celebrations,challenges, and triumphs, the joys of motherhood are vastly enhanced. A fresh take on the modern parenting book, this novel is both enjoyable and insightful, and I highly recommend it to any mother.

-Carolina Fernandez, author of "Rocket Mom"

I really lobed reading Friends and Mothers! It was a quick and enjoyable read. I felt a connection to the characters and didn't want the book to end. It's a perfect book club book!

I've read a lot of books about the WPA, the four "Federal One" arts programs, and the Federal Theatre Project in particular. Most of these titles are solid, historical and scholarly works, but Susan Quinn's is by far the best on the FTP. It vividly covers a wide range of facts, anecdotes and personalities, and provides a Depression-era context that the average reader will appreciate. It's quite a nice achievement -- the new "go to" book on the subject.

In the story of Hallie Flanagan, Susan Quinn explores a transformative movement in American theater history. A young widow blessed with drive and confidence and luck in love and friendship, Flanagan organized the New Deal's Federal Theatre Project. She fostered liberal ideals: theater of the people and for the people, drama that was immediate and commented on politics, that dealt with situations, including those faced by immigrants and African-Americans, that reflected the range of the American experience. Quinn's meticulous research brings the enterprise vividly to life; it achieved enormous successes, while its boldness made fatal enemies. Hallie Flanagan's project left a legacy of openness and inclusiveness that persists today; Quinn's book is an important contribution to American cultural history.

There are many stories of the government's response to the crisis of the depression, and even many that tell how writers were served (and how in turn they created a lasting legacy), but Susan Quinn fills an important gap by giving us the story of the federal theatre project and the lifeline it threw to actors, playwrights, directors, producers, and many others for whom the stage was everything. Focusing on the extraordinary Hallie Flanagan, who ran the project over its brief four-year lifespan, Quinn brings the characters, the politics, and the associated temperaments to life. Prominent in her engrossing story is the important effect of the program on audiences across the country, many of whom lived far from cities where plays were traditionally performed. And highly relevant to our time is the difficulty - perhaps impossibility - of balancing artistic autonomy against political sensitivities. Quinn has a delicious story to tell, and she delivers it with confidence, nuance, and panache.

It's not surprising that Marie Curie's biographer would write a scholarly and well-researched book about the WPA's Federal Theatre Project, but it was for me, a pleasant surprise to discover just how engaging Susan Quinn has made this story. I felt like I was present for the events she describes, gaining not only an understanding of the times but a genuine experience of them as well. If you're interested in art and politics, and how each influences the other, I highly recommend this book.

There are writers who can give us an accurate account of a time in history, and then there are those rare and gifted ones who can take us by the hand and deliver us to the sights, sounds, politics and emotions of another time. Susan Quinn is such an author, and it is no wonder she receives starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and others for this wonderful book. Quinn's tales of Hallie Flanagan and the Federal Theatre Project are vital, colorful and immediate, almost as if you are reading their stories in today's paper. The courage and creativity of Flanagan and others participating in this great experiment are vividly portrayed. I could feel the hunger and dust of the Great Depression in my own throat. Susan Quinn's book is amazingly well-researched and full of great photos, but what makes it special is the passion with which it is written. Furious Improvisations is just right for readers seeking an inspiring, true story taken from the pages of our nation's history. I highly recommend it!

Mark Gold is a bright doctor indeed and this book is a comprehensive source of modern psychiatric information for depression and other mental illnesses. However, treatment resistant depression is a serious problem and that fact is that many people simply do not get better from medication, no matter how many strategies they try. Medication has a tendency to stop working and only now are new therapies being invented including transcranial magnetic stimulation, and recently, vagus nerve stimulation. Gold says that "only the rare person will fail to get better." Fact is, medication is usually not the answer for complete relief in of itself and should be combined with some type of psycotherapy for maximum effectivness.

I found this book to be very helpful. Mark Gold has been a pioneer in this field. He has also wriiten extensively about the abuse of cocaine.

I would highly recommend his books to anyone thirsting for knowledge in these areas.

In 1986, the psychiatrists in Canada insisted on trying a series of antidepressants on me, even though I told them that I could not tolerate them. I could not tell them exactly what was going on, but suffice to say that the things that you hear about anti-depressants instigating suicide, violence, and/or homicide are true. The doctors then wanted to hospitalize me and give me Halperidol to suppress the effects of the antidepressants! If I had let them do this, I am sure that I would never have recovered to a stable state.

In 1987 I came across a newspaper review of an earlier edition of "The Good News About Depression" by Dr. Gold. I read the book, and immediately made arrangements to go to Fair Oaks Hospital. I was tested and interviewed as a clinic outpatient, and within three days, the psychiatrist informed me that persons who exhibit the characteristics which I do (positive on depression indicator tests, intolerance of standard antidepressants) often respond to lithium treatment, even though they do not present bipolar symptoms. None of the MANY doctors with whom I consulted in Canada, including those at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, knew about this important fact. I responded quickly to lithium, and within a month I was able to work, after being "unstabled" to work for a year and one-half. Since then I take lithium prescribed by my family doctor, I have not been to see a psychiatrist since, and I have had no other therapy of any kind for 17 years. You will find lithium listed in the monograph as an "anti-manic agent", but for me it is the opposite, an antidepressant. Who knew? No one except the experts at Fair Oaks in Summit.

Dr. Gold and his associates are The Best, and this book is The Word! If you, or a member of your family, or a friend, has anything that seems to be incipient depression, then get this book. Get your physician to refer you, make an appointment and go right to the Fair Oaks Hostpital. It is your life. They are the real experts, and you will never be sorry. They will give your life back to you, just as they did for me.

I recieved the tests described in the book. These tests pinpointed the type of depression and the proper anti-depressant.I had relief after taking the first two capsules and have been fine since. (1986-Fair Oaks Hospital,Summit N.J.) Thank you Dr.Gold.

The work of Mark Gold and his associates was an eye-opener for me when I was researching (author's book plug alert) the first edition of my book, Dealing with Depression Naturally. It was they who discovered, over 20 years ago, that there is a substantial subgroup of depressives - mostly middle-aged women - who are resistant to therapy because they have a relatively mild or subclinical degree of hypothyroidism that eludes diagnosis unless sensitive, seldom employed tests are used. Thankfully, "the thyroid solution" is finally being recognized by the mainstream. But Gold et al. (and other "biopsychiatrists") are hip to a much, much broader array of established medical/physical illnesses and conditions (literally 100 or so) that also can cause or promote the symptoms of depression, without attracting the attention of the average doctor bent on whipping out the old prescription pad after a cursory physical examination and history, at best.

This book - written with the help of a popular writer to make it an easy read for the average Jane and Joe - will educate you (and your doctor, if s/he is willing) about the range of hidden (if you don't look, they're still "hidden") medical/physical causes that could be causing or contributing to your depression (but not including some of the fringier ones, like brain allergies and Candida) and how to rule them in or out and, in many cases, treat THEM instead of the secondary depresion. With authoritative estimates that up to 50% of depressions are accompanied by physical illnesses that could be playing a causative role - and preventing depressives from recovering fully or at all, even when treated with the latest, greatest drugs (which Gold also discusses in depth, but circa 1995, along with a few natural alternatives and adjuncts) - this kind of knowledge is real power.

Thank you Nadiye for your courageous and invaluable personal account that should be read by all involved in mental health,or affected by mental illness.Nadiye experiences a living hell caused by biochemical imbalances and her situation is exacerbated by harmful side effects from very powerful prescription drugs.The reader is alerted to the fact that we must take responsibility for our own health where orthodox medicine fails.This book retraces Nadiye's roller coaster journey over a seven year period from the initial onset and progression of manic depression,with its resulting destructive forces of despair,frustration with failed treatments,humiliations and the loss of friends and loved ones as they become alienated towards her.Despite all Nadiye and her loving family seek answers in an unrelented search, which finally brings a long awaited release from her dark journey.Thank you Nadiye for being so courageous.Many people will be helped by your book.

I take my hat off to Nadiye and other sufferers of this awful
disorder. Before reading this book I had no idea of the pain and torment sufferers must endure. Everyone should read it, in order to understand more those they come in contact with, and the daily struggle they go through. There must be many children in schools today, who could be helped so much earlier, if they had access to the advice this book offers. I sent a copy to a friend in New Zealand,a sufferer whose marriage broke up due to it, and who subsequently lost custody of his child. About 6 weeks later that friend arrived in Bali (where I live, and where I obtained the book) to visit, complete with all the minerals, vitamins etc Nadiye advocated, - he had been following it to the T with amazing improvement!! The book also helped me understand more a relation who suffers from the same problem, but unfortunately refuses to acknowledge it.Nadiye opens the door and sheds light on something that so many keep hidden in darkness. She and her wonderfully supportive family are to be congratulated, not only did they refuse to give up,and kept on searching for answers, but Nadiye was prepared to go through the hell of it all again, to relive it, no mean feat I am sure, in order to offer help to others. This book will bring hope and help to so many. God Bless You Nadiye.

Bravissimo! I apploud Nadiye's forthrightness, courage, and ability to share her journey of overcoming manic depression through nutritional healing and the hope that is desperately needed today.

High Tide-Low Tide is a very informative book regarding the world of manic depression. I have had some questions in my mind, with regards of manic depression, and after reading High Tide-Low Tide things made a lot of sense to me.

I found Nadiye to be open, sincere an thorough in her willingness to share her life experience. She presents her path, both trials and victories, to us in a way that we can start to understand what is happening within her. She thoughtfully recounts her experiences and the reactions of those around her. She tells us of the responses of both friends and professionals as she and they try to discover what is happening to her. Her well described experience helps us to understand others who have the same or similar difficulties. I would recommend the book to anyone who knows of someone suffering from psychological problems, no matter the cause

This book is well written and a quick read that is good for women who are concerned about the man in their life. It is also a good book for men to read to better understand the problems of depression in men. This seems to be a topic that has not gotten nearly as much attention as depression in women. With the popularity of the internet the problem of depression in men is beginning to get more attention and it is becoming easier to find information. As of now this is easily one of the top five books available for men with depression.
[...]

Dr. Wexler's book was inspiring and insightful, to say the least. His metaphors and simple, yet thoughtful, techniques and insights changed my relationship. This book helped me overcome my semi-depressed life that seemed to consist of the same day over and over again. I am now able to see myself and my relationship in a whole new light.

This book saved my relationship. I was terrified to start a relationship with a wonderful guy because I knew he drank. I knew he had been in Vietnam but had that was 30 years ago. After reading Dr. Wexler's book I insisted that he go to the VA
and get help. He is now on an anti-depressant, has a new job, and has completely turned his life around. I am so thankful that
this book was recomended to me because my darling man was in no
shape to help himself.

This is a great little book, filled with helpful insights and vignettes. I found myself quoting Dr. Wexler's book so often in treatment that I finally got smart and started making it required reading for all of my clients, both couples and individuals, for whom male depression is an issue.
Janice Horowitz, M.S.W.

Husbands or boyfriends who demonstrate short tempers, the tendency to withdraw, and a variety of physical problems may actually be depressed: but how can the myriad of symptoms involved be properly analyzed to determine depression - and what can be done? Step-by-step advice examines the symptoms of different kinds of depression, tells how to effectively communicate with the depressed person, and tells how to locate treatment and what to watch for. An excellent guide teaches all the basics of male depression symptoms, treatment, and a concerned partner's options.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kit Kittredge, a nine-year-old girl living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 1934, the Great Depression is deepening, and Kit begins to find out just how bad things are. Having spent her time waiting for her father to get a job, so that they can send away their intrusive boarders, she visits a soup kitchen and makes a disturbing discovery.

As with the other Kit books, this one gives a frank look into life during the Great Depression, while also teaching a lesson. In this book, Kit learns that a lesson in cooperation and thankfulness. Again, Walter Rane's illustrations are excellent, and add greatly to the story. Also, the final chapter is about school children during the Depression. As always, my daughter and I love this book, and recommend it to you.

Kit is upset that the "bothersome boarders" who have moved in with her family will be celebrating Thanksgiving with her. But when she finds that her father may have to leave his family behind, in an attempt to find a job in Chicago, Kit's thoughts quickly change, and she begins trying to come up with a way for her father to earn money, without going away. With the help of her best friend Ruthie, and an unlikely ally, who goes by the name of Stirling, Kit realizes that there is plenty of money to be earned right here in Cincinnati, and that maybe, just maybe, having a house full of boarders isn't the worst thing in the world. After all, if there are boarders in the house, Kit's father doesn't have to move away.

The fact that Kit wants to be a newspaper reporter intrigued me from the first time I saw this series, and made me want to read them. I adored MEET KIT, and was excited to read her Thanksgiving story KIT LEARNS A LESSON, and I was not disappointed. As in the first installment of Kit's life, we are treated to her spunky ways, and share a journey with the spirited young girl as she makes new friends - unlikely ones, at that - and comes to terms with the fact that her family must take in boarders, or they will be separated. An enjoyable history story, to say the least, that will teach young readers the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

In 1932 Kit finds that she has hard lessons to learn about the Great Depression, both at home and at school. Like the first book they have to have boarders living in their house because of the money situations. Her father lost his job and Kit is praying that her father will get a job. Every day Kit's father pretends to go on job interviews so Kit thinks that it will turn out all right (even though he doesn't.) At school one day Kit was asked to take the Thanksgiving basket to the food pantry and there she finds out that her father is depending on the food pantry for food. She is ashamed that this is true. To find out if her father gets a job you have to read the book.

In 1932 Kit finds that she has hard lessons to learn about the Great Depression, both at home and at school. Like the first book they have to have boarders living in their house because of the money situations. Her father lost his job and Kit is praying that her father will get a job. Every day Kit's father pretends to go on job interviews so Kit thinks that it will turn out all right (even though he doesn't.) At school one day Kit was asked to take the Thanksgiving basket to the food pantry and there she finds out that her father is depending on the food pantry for food. She is ashamed that this is true. To find out if her father gets a job you have to read the book.

I have enjoyed most of the "American Girls" books and can applaud the way they make American history come to life for girls, but I was upset by the classroom scene in "Kit Learns a Lesson" in which the teacher and children discuss Thanksgiving. It is not only sad that Kit explains Thanksgiving as the day when the Pilgrims thanked the Indians (instead of the day when the Pilgrims thanked God), it is inaccurate, and no 1930s teacher would have let it pass. It is too bad that the author felt the need to revise history to make her book P.C. Otherwise, Kit is a fine, lively heroine, the plot is exciting and the setting basically believable.

When shopping, I couldn't understand why the hard-cover AG story collections were less expensive then the paperback. I would think I was just dense, but my co-worker looked at the books and was also curious. We thought it was because the graphics on the hard cover are what I presume are the original AG graphics for Kit instead of the updated versions pictured on the paperback. It turns out that the hard-cover version are all of the stories bound in a single hard-cover book. I love having something more durable and am pleased with the savings so for me this was a great purchase. The stories are the same in either version of the books. It's really a matter of personal preference (and budget).

I was very pleased with the prompt service on my purchase. Every where else I checked was out of the book and Amazon had 1 in stock.

I recently re-read this book and was blown away by how sophisticated the stories were. Kit is a fully believable, sweet girl whose dream is to become a reporter. Unlike other American Girls, like Elizabeth Cole, Kit is a three-dimensional character that is determined to bust all stereotypes about girly-girls. She writes a newspaper column, volunteers at a soup kitchen, hops a freight train, and even breaks out of jail in this very exciting volume. Highly recommended!

Superb collection of the six volume stories about Kit, the young girl growing up in Cinncinnati in the years of the Great Depression. Wonderful to have a single hardcover volume with all the stories. Very good pricing, especially at Amazon. However, you should know that the historical sections found at the end of each of the six stories in the bookset are not included in this volume. Only one historical section is at the very end. Still excellent and super value. A book to be treasured!

MEET KIT - The year is 1934, and nine-year-old Margaret Mildred Kittredge - better known as "Kit" to her friends and family - is going through a lot of changes. The Great Depression is taking jobs away from more and more people everyday, and in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kit's father is feeling the heat. Before long, he must sell his car dealership, and join the ranks of the unemployed surrounding him. This brings about problems, for now Kit's family must worry about making the house payments on time, and sending Kit's older brother Charlie to college. But things look up when Kit's mother comes up with the idea to turn the family's private home into a boarding house - that way they can make money without leaving the house. But Kit's unsure of whether this is a good idea, especially when a sick boy named Stirling moves in, and lands Kit in hot water with his overprotective mother, and her very own burdened mother. 5 stars.

KIT LEARNS A LESSON - Kit is upset that the "bothersome boarders" who have moved in with her family will be celebrating Thanksgiving with her. But when she finds that her father may have to leave his family behind, in an attempt to find a job in Chicago, Kit's thoughts quickly change, and she begins trying to come up with a way for her father to earn money, without going away. With the help of her best friend Ruthie, and an unlikely ally, who goes by the name of Stirling, Kit realizes that there is plenty of money to be earned right here in Cincinnati, and that maybe, just maybe, having a house full of boarders isn't the worst thing in the world. After all, if there are boarders in the house, Kit's father doesn't have to move away. 5 stars.

KIT'S SURPRISE - Nine-year-old Kit Kittredge is growing more and more concerned about her family's welfare, now that the Great Depression is getting increasingly worse. The fact that Christmas is slowly creeping up, only brings more worry into her life, as Kit's best friend, Ruthie - whose family is doing quite well in the midst of disaster - is counting on Kit and her mother to accompany her and her mother on a lavish day-after Christmas excursion - a tradition that can't possibly continue this year. The idea makes Kit upset, and soon the two girls are no longer speaking. Now, with the extra free time on her hands, Kit has begun doing various odd jobs for her rich Uncle, and is pocketing the money, in an attempt to give it to her mother as a surprise on Christmas morning! 5 stars.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIT - Kit's tenth birthday is quickly creeping up, and while she would love to have a Robin Hood party like the one she saw in the newspaper, she knows that the Depression has left her family strapped for cash, and decides to put her party out of her mind. That is, until Aunt Millie shows up. Aunt Millie is an eccentric, thrifty woman, who helps to stretch the Kittredge budget quite far. However, within a few days of her arriving, Kit's mother becomes quite embarrassed by Aunt Millie's money-saving ways. Kit is unsure of what is embarrassing her mother. That is, until Aunt Milie shows up at her school, and announces to Kit's entire class that they are all invited to a Penny-Pincher Party to celebrate Kit's tenth year. Soon Kit is just as embarrassed of Aunt Millie as her mother, and wishes the kind old woman had never come to Cincinnati. 5 stars.

KIT SAVES THE DAY - 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. 5 stars.

CHANGES FOR KIT - The moment Margaret Mildred Kittredge "Kit" walks into her home that blustery February afternoon after school, her best friends Stirling and Ruthie alongside her, she knows that she's in for some changes. Wonderful changes. And she's absolutely right, for her mother presents her with a refurbished coat to keep her warm during the winter months, which instantly sets the wheels in Kit's mind moving. Kit decides that a homeless child at the nearby soup kitchen could probably use her old winter coat, and soon finds that her kindness has left a cold young girl quite happy. However, her own happiness is compromised when ornery Uncle Hendrick and his spiteful pup Inky come to stay with Kit's family as his broken ankle and wrist heal. Sadly, Kit is left with the responsibility of taking care of the cantankerous old man, who orders her to take dictation regarding letters about unemployed drifters, and hoboes, in general. It is while helping Uncle Hendrick that Kit comes up with the idea to write her very own letter to the editor of the local newspaper. A letter that doesn't put down drifters and hoboes, like the ones Uncle Hendrick makes her write. But, rather, one that informs Cincinnati residents of the misfortune and hard-times that these people have fallen on, and the hardships they must endure each and every day. Kit even goes so far as to illustrate how young, innocent children are being sheltered at the soup kitchen, owning less than a warm coat and shoes that keep their toes warm from the harsh wind. It is through this letter that Kit hopes to make a difference, and with her nose for news, there's no telling what she can do! 5 stars.

It has been years since I've read through one of the entire AMERICAN GIRLS Collections of stories, but when I learned that Kit was a wannabe reporter, I knew that I would have a hard time resisting her adventures. I couldn't have been more right. From the very first tale in Kit's series, we are introduced to the nine-year-old girl, who is inquisitive, and bright, and possesses a nose for news. Living during the Depression, Kit's family has fallen on hard times, and must take in boarders in an attempt to make their mortgage payments each month. Throughout these six tales, we see Kit take on many daring adventures and predicaments, from hopping a freight train with a band of hoboes to writing a controversial letter to the editor of a widely read newspaper; and even entering the hobo jungle and local soup kitchens to volunteer her time. From book one, the reader falls in love with each and every character, from the fairytale loving, quirky Ruthie; to the oft-times sickly Stirling; all the way through to the teenage hobo, Will; and even ornery Uncle Hendrick and his yappy dog Inky. Each character leaves a lasting impression upon the reader, and gives you an in-depth look at the life and times of a family during the Great Depression. Accompanied is a short PEEK INTO THE PAST section which even gives you the opportunity to view pictures from the 1930's and '40's, and learn more about the children and adults who lived during that time. An irresistible collection that will lift your spirits, and leave you cheering for the undeniably adorable Kit!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Forget gimmicky self-help books. This is a non-ficiton, scientific approach to alienation and loneliness. I bought it on audible because it was on sale, and was surprised how it pulled me in. Great book. So insightful

Not an easy read, but worthwhile. Comprehensive use of evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to explain a lot of what causes psychic pain, as well as attraction and aversion in social settings. Demonstrates that loneliness may well be a more accurate and useful diagnosis than depression or anxiety. Well documented sources. Not an easy-to-read self-help book, but worth the effort because of the understanding that can result.

I wanted to thank you and Dr. Patrick for your wonderful book,
Loneliness. I am in the process of reading it and had to put it
down for a moment to write this e-mail. I treat children who
are selectively mute and wrote an article on Selective Mutism
and Self-Regulation, published in the Clinical Social Work
Journal. I had thought that it was the lack of language usage
primarily that created their inability to self-regulate. While
I wrote in a few passing phrases that it was the use of language
in the dyadic relationship that helps to establish the ability
to self-regulate, since beginning to read your book I see that
it is the use of language in connection with others that helps
with this ability. As a result, this population's lack of
language usage that also leads to social isolation contributes
greatly to their inability to self-regulate emotions and
behaviors. Thank you and Dr. Patrick again for helping me to
conceptualize my work better.

All the best, Marian Moldan, LCSW-R

Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection summarizes thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.

Reading this book was not always a good time. I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book, but the authors through in enough humor to lighten the tone.

Though it can be hard to get through at times, people can learn a lot from this book. The authors use a step-by-step approach to reducing a person's loneliness. It is worth the read.

This is an excellent work that ties together research from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and endocrinology. The book presents all of this wonderful science in a way that is accessible to anyone with an interest in the impact of relationships on our well-being.

Cacioppo and Patrick should be commended for providing a model of the way in which science can be true to itself but also made popular for the benefit of the reading public. These authors are able to share some of the more significant insights that come from work in multiple fields in clear prose, light on academic jargon.

The book reads like a synthesis of 15 or so really good articles from Scientific American but are conveyed with a single vision and in an affable voice. Loneliness is a pleasant and interesting read that clearly demonstrates a key truth: we are not alone. The idea of the rugged individual is an absurd myth that has little basis in reality. As Aristotle noted long ago, we are essentially social creatures. We are born from interaction, develop through communal care, and are instinctively driven to gain the esteem of our companions. The pursuit of happiness and well-being must be a joint venture.

The ideas that Cacioppo and Patrick put forward about co-regulation and social dynamics help to break down the individualistic unit of analysis that has plagued a great deal of psychological research and philosophical inquiry. Moreover, this critique of the individualistic bias in scientific research goes a long way towards becoming a more general critique of modern society. The loss of many traditional forms of interrelatedness may be at the source of the malaise and health concerns that pester us all.