Depression Books

In a speech before the Organization of American Historians, scholar Jacquelyn Dowd Hall offered a window onto "the long civil rights movement" -- a struggle for human rights, economic and social citizenship, and human dignity that began long before Brown v. Board of Education and continued long after the assassination of Martin Luther King.

In her pathbreaking book, Defying Dixie, professor Glenda Gilmore gives texture and character to the long civil rights movement, using indigenous southern activists, black and white, to give her story shape. These activists, from the fearless and foolhardy Lovett Fort-Whiteman to the brilliant and indomitable Pauli Murray, all faced the demon of American white supremacy and did their best to slay it. They did not always prevail with strategies they dreamed up and pursued, but their vision and dedication bequeathed us a social movement, more expansive than the classic civil rights movement, that still informs drives for justice and equity.

Gilmore's book moves beyond the tired debates of Cold War historiography and the simple hagiography of civil rights heroes to give us a dynamic movement filled with complex characters. In giving these people their due, and rooting them in American soil, Defying Dixie helps us to understand the promise and possibilities of American politics, and to contend with the present in which we live.

Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore's DEFYING DIXIE: The Radical Roots of Civil Rights, 1919 - 1950 is the history of the civil rights movement from that time until the early 1950s. It gives inside history, interviews and information on how the Civil Rights movement that we are aware of today, came about. In the beginning, the Communist party was deeply involved. Their plan was to get the workers of America - black and white - to fight for better salaries from the companies they worked for. The only way to accomplish that was to get the two groups to work together. Naturally, the South, with its legacy of slavery, wasn't too happy with the mixing of the races. The companies, to keep their profits high, wanted to continue to pay blacks less than they paid whites and the only way to do that was to keep them separate. Many residents of the South didn't want blacks involved in the job market because they felt it would reduce their ability to have those jobs. There were, however, many people, of both races, who were determined that segregation/Jim Crow, would end. They were brave enough to defy the system and as a result, they frequently ended up in jail or worse.

During the Second World War, as Stalin took power, the involvement of the Communist party began to lose its appeal. The House Un-American Activities became concerned and the FBI spied on Communist and suspects. Any contact with a Communist could cause problems. It didn't stop those who were determined to force America to honor what it claimed it went to war for, from pushing their agenda for social and economic equality for all, even though many of them suffered for it.

Gilmore has written a heart rending account that covers history that is either missing or glossed over in our history books. So often we don't know the brutal history that brought us where we are today and Gilmore lets us know in no uncertain terms. Some of the unfair situations that blacks face will break your heart. It is a book every American should read in order to understand where we have come from and where we are going. It should be required reading for both high school and college students.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I am in the process of reading this book right now. It has inspired me to take another look at my depression, to think about letting go of it, and attending a local D.A. meeting. I even e-mailed Hugh to ask for locations and times, and he answered me promptly and kindly! Highly recommended if you are ready to let go and move on!

"Depressed Anonymous" is THE book that should be in the library of not only every person who struggles with depression of any kind, but the family and friends of someone who does. Offering inspirational and spiritual guidance and anecdotal true stories of others dealing with the disease of depression, this book offers hope. Using the 12-steps of AA as a guide, a format to conduct Depressed Anonymous meetings is included, which proves to be of great assistance when meeting with others in any stage of depression, be it struggling, recovering or maintaining a healthy life. It also gives insight to those who are affected by this disease, but are not suffering from it. "Depressed Anonymous" is not bogged down with psycho-babble - it is written for everyone who wants insight, guidance and hope in a format accessible to everyone.

Dr. Dalton give the true reason for PPD. She understands that PPD is a physical disorder of the hormones rather than a mood disorder that psychiatrists treat with suppressive drugs and electroshock. My sister had severe PPD. If I had had this book, I could have saved her life. Instead, she was put on drugs that actually made the problem worse. Dr. Dalton has respect for women and their unique hormonal biology and gives real answers to very important questions.

Dr. Dalton give the true reason for PPD. She understands that PPD is a physical disorder of the hormones rather than a mood disorder that psychiatrists treat with suppressive drugs and electroshock. My sister had severe PPD. If I had had this book, I could have saved her life. Instead, she was put on drugs that actually made the problem worse. Dr. Dalton has respect for women and their unique hormonal biology and gives real answers to very important questions.

Introduction: A View of Depression (Depression on the Rise, The Depressed as Church Members) PART ONE: ASSESSMENT Chap 1: Characteristics of Depression (Causes of Depression, Major Depression, Grief, Alcohol). Chap 2: Melancholy and Spiritual Desolation (Dark Night of the Soul, Accidie, Desolations, Anfechtungen, Discernment). Chap 3: Suicide and Depression (Assessing Suicide Risk, The Minister's Response to Suicide). Chap 4: Family Life of the Depressed (Impact of Depression on Interpersonal Relations, Marriage and Depression, Gender Differences, Children and Adolescents). Chap 5: Framing Hope (Reframing, Establishing Future Goals, Hope-Oriented Conversation, Strengths). PART TWO: ACTION Chap 6: Brief Pastoral Counseling of Depression: A Fourfold Approach (Assessment of Depression, How Clergy Think about Depression, The First Session, Counseling Methods). Chap 7: Interpersonal Interventions: Strengthening Intimate Relationships (Relationships of the Depressed, Life with a Depressed Person; Individual, Couple and Family Counseling, Communication, Problem Solving and Change). Chap 8: Physiological Interventions: Prozac and Beyond (Physiological Vulnerability, Body Image, Hormones, Types of Antidepressant Medications, Sleep Disturbances, Exercise). Chap 9: Cognitive Interventions: Changing How People Think (Misinterpreting Experience, Information-Processing Errors, Changing How the Depressed Think, Countering Rumination). Chap 10: Behavioral Interventions: Shifting from Passive to Active Mode (Getting Active, Homework Tasks, Control, Obstacles to Getting Active, Helpful Activities for the Depressed, Counseling Methods to Change Behavior, Prescribing Depression).

This book has changed my ministry. I have been a pastor for 20 years with a degree in social work and lots of graduate credits in pastoral care and counseling, and did not expect this book to impact me so much. Stone makes a solid case for a framework for pastoral counseling that is of necessity short-term and forward looking. Then he puts ministry to those who are depressed, the "common cold of mental health," into that context. The result is outstanding. It is a foundational work for my own book with Augsburg Fortress that will be out in 2002, titled "When You Are Depressed." This review is unsolicited and heartfelt. +

I give this book 6 stars :-D. If you know someone that is suffering from depression, please let them know they are not alone. This book grabbed my attention from start to finish, completing it in just under 2hours. I thank the author for sharing her story as I compared it to some of my own struggles with depression. I highly recommend this book for family and friends.

If you are battling depression and barely hanging on this is a must read!!! The author candidly talks about her bout with this disease and it' an amazing story of her recovery. My eyes were opened to how this disease affects you physically and I realized it's not just mental. A great read for teens stuggling to cope with abuse at the hands of their parents and/or love ones. Get ready for a whirlwind of stories as the author comically takes you through her journey of pain and suffering.

I found this book highly readable, practical, and engaging at a theoretical level. I came away learning some new therapeutic techniques, but even more so the book helped me explore a very different way of thinking about depression (or other mental health problems). The authors do a good job contrasting a contextual view of depression with the other major models including biological, cognitive, and interpersonal. This is not your run-of-the mill psychotherapy book. Buy it and you won't be dissapointed!

Christopher Martell, et.al.'s Depression In Context covers strategies for action in the management of depression. It's one of Neil Jacobson's last contributions to the study of depression and here he works with Martell and Michael Addis in presenting behavioral approaches to treating depression.

This book answered alot of questions for me in terms I could understand as a novice, it also helped me to recognize alot of my own symptoms.It's well worth the short time it takes to read if you can't comprehend what's happening to you or someone you care about.

This book, although older, is one of the easiest reading and easiest to understand on depression. Written by a doctor, but in very understandable language. Great book for anyone suffering from this!

The value of Martin Grief's "Depression Modern" is that it helps clarify what was going on in American Decorative Art and Architecture in the 1930's. It is very easy to associate the 1930's with Art Deco. Many of the great buildings and public spaces of the time decorated building fascades with Art Deco motiffs. However, most of the great American designers of the time disliked the overly ornate Art Deco style. They thought the style was decadent and did not represent American democaratic values.

From the distance of 70 years, it is also possible to think that American designers were greatly influenced by European Modernism. Although aware of Bauhaus, these American designers wanted to put an American twist on Modernism. The result is what Martin Greif calls Depression Modern. Others call this same style Streamline Modern or Moderne.

Depression Modern was first published in 1975 during the first Art Deco boom. The tone of the book is iconoclastic. Greif wanted to let the world know that the 1930's America was not all Art Deco. This is a beautiful book with many great photos. Although while not an art historian, I think the historical importance of this book is that Martin Greif was one of the first persons to start defining early American Modernism. If one wants to understand Mid Centruy Modernism, it is important to look at the first manifestations of American Modernism.

Martin Greif's book is the definitive photo study of thirties Moderne design. His introduction details how a small group of brilliant designers refined Art Deco into a unique American design style. Greif uses most of the 260 excellent photos to show commercial and residential architecture, a discipline that was easily able to show the spirit of the style. Strangely there are no examples of the stunning Greyhound bus terminals designed by W Arrasmith, hundreds of thses terminals spread the message of Moderne to every city and town across the nation.

Other photos cover transportation and products, though Grief feels a lot of Moderne design in these areas is not much more than clever marketing, adding three or four speed lines to the casing of a product and calling it STREAMLINED. The famous steam trains of the period just covered the basic engine with a sleek shroud.

I think Greif is right to concentrate on buildings, if you want to see products have a look at these two lovely books: American Modern, 1925-1940: Design for a New Age and American Streamlined Design: The World of Tomorrow. Both are full of streamline products beautifully photographed and with the Greif book you'll have a remarkable overview of this fascinating style.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Wow, a very comprehensive book, utterly well researched from a physician that is what every physician should be: interested in curing the cause of the problem not just covering up the symptoms. I have learned a lot. Complete with great recipes to help you boost your mood.

This book, written by a physician, is an excellent work on depression, it's causes, and varoius treatments. Dr. Nedley gives extensive research-based information on the many causes of depression, and then offers several lifestyle changes that can help improve or even eliminate many forms of depression. He speaks of depression as it is comorbid with other physical diseases, and also as it relates to various lifestyle habits and thinking patterns. This is the book for those who are on medication and wish to make changes in lifestyle that will help them to eventually eliminate the need for meds, or for those who do not wish to, or need to use medications to treat their depression.

Discombomulated is a powerful story of one woman's experience with mental illiness. Commentary by the therapist which parallels the author's perception of therapy is very insightful. This well written book provides a realistic portrait of life with mental illiness.

I found "Discombobulated" to be a very heartbreaking and yet inspiring story of the author's experience with mental illness. It was wonderfully written and literally takes a person inside the head of the author. This book should be read by anyone whose life has been touched by mental illness in any way.