Depression Books

This is a good book of you want to read about adecdotal and theraputic infromation regarding st johns wort. I found it helpful.

This is a great guide to the healing effects of an ancient medicinal plant that has gained great popularity in the last decade based on scientific findings. The author first looks at the problem of depression by discussing the biochemistry of the brain and the relationship between mental and physical health.

St John's Wort (hypericum) offers a gentle way of treating depression and other nervous disorders. Cass discusses the scientific proof of the efficacy of this herb as measured against synthetic antidepressants. The research is indeed encouraging and the plant's mild side effects provide a great advantage over the synthetic medicines.

The author explores the correct dosage for various problems like sleep and seasonal affective disorders (SADs) whilst pointing out the herb's anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties. Besides the well-known hypericin, St John's Wort also contains a host of other phytochemicals that play vital roles in protecting cells from damage, in repairing damage and in regeneration.

These ingredients include GABA, carotenoids, flavonoids, hyperforin, limonene, lutein, phytosterols, quercetin, quercetrin, rutin and xanthones. All parts of the plant, the flowers, leaves, stem and the oil are used in healing. One of the possible side effects of taking St John's Wort is sensitivity to the sun in certain people.

The book includes a bibliography, a natural medicine resources list, a protocol for switching a patient from an anti-depressant to St John's Wort and the regulatory status of St John's Wort in various countries. It concludes with an index. I also recommend Mind Boosters by Ray Sahelian and The A to Z Guide to Supplements by Phyllis A Balch for further information on herbal medicines.

While I am more of a fan of 5HTP than St Johns Wort,this book goes beyond the plant. This book does a great deal to talk about depression and teach people natural ways of improving their minds and lives.

As the Alternative Health guru at Lifetips.com, I am constantly looking for books and products to share with visitors to my site that can help take the mystery or confusion out of alternative/natural healing. This is definitely one of those items.

If you're looking for an easy-to-understand and well-researched book on a natural approach to dealing with depression, then this is the book for you. Dr. Cass shares case histories many might identify with and she has done her homework in deftly explaining the important factors one must understand to deal effectively with depression. She also provides great tips on nutritional steps and lifestyle changes that must go hand-in-hand if one is serious about defeating depression. This wonderful book CAN offer help to those struggling to get a handle on dealing with depression naturally.

I have found this common sense guide to using & understanding St. John's Wort invaluable. This ancient herbal remedy for lifting mood without the high cost of prescription drugs & their often debilitating side effects is the best treatment available for those who will follow Dr. Cass's guidelines. I have shared this book with friends & family. I can't think of a better gift for loved ones who needlessly suffer from Depression!

This book is outstanding. It was the most helpful book on the topic of bipolar I have ever read. My husband has suffered for 18 years with the BP, and finally, a book that makes sense to us! This author really tells it like it is, and offers tons of hope, and ideas that make sense. The humor is awesome, we loved the book. Very, very helpful. A must read for anyone dealing with BP-whether patient or caregiver. My husband read the book and kept smiling and saying, this book sounds exactly like me, and that helped him know he is not alone, which is a feeling he deals with all the time with BP. Truly, the best book I have ever read on bipolar disorder.

Because this is a personal experience and he is not a doctor, Bipolor Boy is thankfully able to bulldoze pages of medical information. There are plenty of books full of medical info but not near enough accounts like this one. This has humor but it is also straightforward. Encourages consumers to take responsibility for living a balanced life with this disorder. Refreshing.

On the eve of my 41st birthday I was finally given the correct diagnosis--Bipolar II. I had been in and out of psychiatrist offices for 20 years! This was the first book I read on the topic. Not only did I laugh and cry, but I related on so many subtle levels. He really hits the nail on the head as far as what it is like and how to get on with your life. I know that I will have to be medications for the rest of my life, it will save my life. I am forever thankful that Paul wrote this book with humor and integrity. My husband is reading it now to learn more about me and the illness. But remember, bipolar is not a death sentence. It is actually the answer to so many questions. I would give this book 10 stars if given the option.

I was just dx as Mixed Bipolar in 6-08. I have ordered at least a thousand books (purchased a lot----spending $$$ is part of the disorder---but I rationalize that by telling me it's to HELP ME!!!)

This is the only book I ACTUALLY reserved and cked out of my local library!!! It's almost overdue. But I will finish it tonight. I am going to his website BipolarBoy.com in about 5 mins!!!!

I love his book.It's like having another "ME" to chat with. I also love his statement on the psychotherapy gig. My shrink (has a cool accent from Bosnia) at each monthly visit says "You do have a psychotherapist don't you?" I figure if she can't even remember the woman across the hall from her....what's up? Plus I have read all about Cognitive Therapy til I am purple in the face. Yrs ago post divorce (seems like another life) I saw a psychologist that sat there and just blabbed the "so how are you feeling junk." So I might go with a few more blabs with the talk therapy and then just keep reading great books like Mr.Jones' and try to stay with my neat psychiatrist. She told me most people get wrongly diagnosed 10 yrs and see at least 4 docs before the correct diagnosis is made. I nearly fell off the chair. She was on the money.Pun is intended too by the way! I always thought I was unipolar and when I felt good that was just how all people who were not depressed felt 24/7. My internist never found a SSRI or the latest flavs of the day Cymbalta -nothing worked. My shrink says "that's because you are not unipolar, you are MIXED bipolar." I had NEVER heard of any type of Bipolar except the classic- manic depressive we have all heard of. I was shocked to learn Type II has a higher suicide rate than the old fashioned type I. Anyway, it's apparent my pressured speech and flight of ideas have taken me off this man's great work. I would recommend this book to everyone in the world. Even people who are not interested in mental illness. It's a great book. So down to earth. I am an RN and I found it so much more entertaining and helpful than any of the heaps of articles, purchased books I have recently read. With 4 y/o boy twins.and a 6 yr old trying to burn my books and computer for "mommy are you going to stop reading?". OK. I will give this man's book a million bright stars that I will remove from the pretty MN sky tonight. JJJ.

As someone who was diagnosed with Bipolar II, in July '08, I became scared because I had no idea what to expect. All the mood swings I had been experiencing, I thought were just a part of me. However, once I found out they weren't, I started looking for answers and what "normal" meant.
Paul's book is the MOST "down to earth" book on Bipolar Disorder I have read (I have read at least 10 since my diagnosisous(sp?)). He speaks to the reader on a level you can relate to. There is no "over the head" unecessary information. I understand basic brain function and did not need an education on that. I wanted to find out what someone else experiences w/ Bipolar and Paul let me in on that knowledge. It gets frustrating in dealing w/ the meds, finding the right combination, etc. Plus Paul gave me an idea of what "normal" actually may be and for that I am extremely grateful.
I strongly recommend this book for people who have recently been diagnosed w/Bipolar, as it gives a person insight on what to expect and he shows you, that yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel, you just may not get there as quick as you want to, I know.

Terry Wise tells the story of her husband's illness and her grief and downward spiral into depression following his death through the lens of therapy. She shares not only her innermost fears but her exploration of them in an honest and insightful manner. Working through grief is exactly that-work- and Terry shows us just how hard this work can be. Terry's courageous story includes her therapist, whose tenacity permitted Terry to face and work toward conquering her demons. Waking Up is a glorious account of the therapeutic process and the determination of the human spirit to survive.

This was a *profound* book written with brutal honesty. Ms. Wise doesn't just captivate you from the first page... she holds you by the gut and pulls you into her life (and death) experience. There is nothing flowery about this book. It takes you right into the heart of her grief and pain... and more, it shows vividly how this downward spiral is such a slippery slope.

I was greatly inspired by Ms. Wise's struggle to hold on and her Therapist's indominatable quest to help her find the root of her devastation. "Cali" is a therapist who defies tradition and dares greatly. She *cares* about her patients.

But above and beyond all of this, I found myself in awe (and I don't use that word lightly) of Ms. Wise's bravery in writing this book. She opened up her very soul for her readers to see... knowing that others may judge or comment or misunderstand... she decided to do this with the hopes that it would make a difference for others.

Well, in this reader's case, she succeeded. Thank you, Ms. Wise.

Sad, shocking, gut-wrenching and immensely readable. It's high time we consider suicide and depression as the serious public health issues they are -- and not as taboo topics or "out of bounds" matters of privacy. Ms. Wise's story shows us the importance of breaking down the cultural/societal barriers to open and frank discourse. Her message is equally valuable to professionals laypeople alike: Look for the warning signs (which she outlines) among patients, friends and/or family and be assertive in stepping in to help.

Well-told story of a woman's journey back to sanity from the terribly place of depression. We can forget that we only think one thought at a time, and we can choose which thought we wish to think. When we remember it, just small changes of thought and consequent behavior can turn our lives entirely around. Bravo Ms. Wise.
A. B. Curtiss author of Depression is a Choice.

My dear Terry,
I had the privilege of meeting you during your CMI presentation in Phoenix AZ this past April 4, 2005. I bought a copy of your book that day, and how I wish I would have read it before I met you -- because then I could have told you in person what I thought of it. "Waking Up" is without a doubt one of the most powerful personal accounts of therapy I've ever read. I am astounded at the honesty in your writing, and at the courage it must have taken for you to decide to get it published. What is more astounding is that I don't think you realize what a gift you've given to the world. I wish every student learning to be a therapist would read your book, and every person who's ever been depressed or contemplated suicide, and everyone who's ever been thrust into the role of care giver, and every hospice worker and bereavement counselor who is companioning the bereaved -- and everyone who just wants to read a terrific book. I want you to know that I've told all my hospice colleagues about you, I've added your book to my list of recommended readings on the Articles and Books page of my Grief Healing Web site, and I will do everything in my power to help you spread your important, uplifting, life-saving message. I am honored to have met you, and I wish for you what you are giving to all the rest of us: nothing but the best.
With love and admiration,
Marty Tousley, APRN, BC, CT
Bereavement Counselor
Grief Healing Web site: www.griefhealing.com
Grief Healing Discussion Groups: www.hovforum.ipbhost.com

What a Beautiful Book! Patricia Heller, in the Foreword, notes that she thought it was odd that the book was classified as fiction. I wholeheartedly agree! Choosing to be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master by Kat Tansey just may be the self-help book you are looking for!

It is clear that the book was written based upon the personal experience of the author. That she chose to use her cats as characters in telling her story does not detract, but rather enhances its effect, in my opinion. Admittedly, most people know that I love cats; however, the storyline itself is what I related to and learned from most. The cat tales, dialogue, and pictures were fun additions! And cat lovers will enjoy it just for the joy of reading about these two Maine Coons!

Let me first point out that, while the author is presenting information regarding Buddhism, she in no way is suggesting that readers must follow these principles to benefit from her story. What I found interesting was that I personally can attest to much she writes about. Her diagnosis was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Depression...my own diagnosis was Job Burnout/Depression. Both of us faced exhaustion on the job; both of us found it necessary to give up our former professional careers. While I never reached the point where I considered suicide, I did sit, many days, thinking that it would be all right if I just died... Given the high numbers of individuals in the United States now taking medications for clinical depression, as the author says in her free tape...now must be the time for this book to be published!

Believe me, there is much to learn from her book, with or without the meditation activity being a part of your process. She does use the philosophical teachings she learned from her trainers; what readers will see is that there are few new words and the words used are important words to be considered "in living."

I found my Catzenbear about a month ago. She was one of two litters that had arrived at my niece's home when I was there for Thanksgiving. I picked up a little kitten about eight weeks old; she was shivering and I pulled her close to me, holding her in one arm, while I covered her with my hand. She immediately began to purr...and she never stopped, even while she was in the car with me, coming home. I could tell she was different (I have 15 outside cats and 3 inside cats) and even commented on it to my niece. I called her Cali, but you can read about her in this book, with the unique Catzenbear name!

"The Mind is much like a flea, hopping to and fro from one thought to the next, rarely pausing to reflect and learn from its wanderings." (quoted by author on p. 1) Kat Tansey knew exactly what this meant--her mind was constantly moving from one subject to another. Some things caused her pain, others anger, others fear--but they always resulted in exhaustion. Kat's choice was to start to study and practice meditation. Meditation is not easy; you can tell that by the frustration that Kat went through! But in each case, she explains the problem she was having and then how the problem was solved. The very first thing that will hit home for many people was that Kat "was brought up to feel a lull in the conversation embarrassing and silence unproductive." As with the flea, Americans are extremely busy people and they jump from activity to activity...finding it also embarrassing not to. In her confusion, she was now told--"Good, confusion is an excellent place to begin..."

Consider the words: clinging, anger, sleepiness, restlessness, and doubt. Recognize them? I'm sure you do because we all share them to one extent or another. Five Hindrances is how they are discussed in this book. The exploration of each or all of these may be helpful to readers. For myself, I knew them all well!

Here's a small example of how the author brings in her cats: Poohbear had developed an extreme liking for tuna. So Kat gave him nothing but tuna (feeding Pooh's craving). It resulted in Pooh becoming allergic and his hair started to fall out. Moving from this illustration, Kat then proceeds to discuss how she was treating herself in the same manner!

Fortunately, for me, this book came as an affirmation for many of the things I had done to get through a similar experience. If you are there, then you will enjoy the book and may use it as closure to some extent. If you are not there, then this book may be your first step. I highly recommend this book to those who will know they need to begin living again.... As soon as I finished reading the book, I ordered a copy to be sent to my best friend!

And no, Virginia, this is NOT fiction...

G. A. Bixler
IP Book Reviews

One doesnt have to be Buddhist or even 'zen' to love this book. Heck I think any cat lover (as I am) would love this book. If you have a cat lover in your life consider the book as a gift. I own the hardback edition.

I thought this book would be a light hearted tale of self improvement through the guidance of a cat, but "Choosing to Be" is so much more. Kat Tansey has taken the real life struggles of a woman in physical and emotional pain and transformed them into a story of inspiration and success. Her observations and impressions of Zen Master Pooh are heartwarming and thought provoking, as are her interpretations of the behavioral antics of the precocious Catzenbear.


Readers of "Choosing to Be" will feel the heartache of Kat's struggles and experience the hope and motivation of her journey, as she tells her story of returning from the darker side of life in a way that takes them right along with her. I commend her courage, strength and insight during her journey and her wisdom to interpret the lessons of her Feline Zen Master. This is a life altering, mind enriching story that everyone who has ever felt even a glimpse of despair should read.

I read this book in two sittings and will be going back to delve deeper. This deceptively simple story has a powerful message for all of us who are "over-do-ers." The value of meditation is clearly demonstrated by Kat and her feline Zen master in a format that is so easy to digest that you might not realize how much you are learning.

At the very least, I'll never look at my pets the same way again!

Kat Tansey's book, Choosing to Be, is brilliant! The author makes the principles of Buddhism and meditation accessible to everyone by using her cat, Poohbear, as the Zen master.

I have been adopted by many cats in my lifetime (yes, they do adopt you) and always believed in their wisdom and spirituality.

Poohbear, the cat, actually talks and takes the author, Kat Tansey, through her journey from the abyss of chronic fatigue and depression, to her ultimate triumph of rejoining the world.

The beauty of Choosing to Be is that you can give it to anyone, even people who are not into Buddhism and meditation. The stories are wrappers for deeper truths that everyone can relate to.

I loved Choosing to Be and I can't wait to buy the audio book read by Poohbear himself!

If you suffer from depression, or love someone who does, this book goes a long way in showing the biblical applications to recovery. No where does it lay blame to depression on sin, but instead it does not matter why. The book tells how depression is pain and suffering. That God does not promise us happiness, but to help us and see us through. Not discounting the need or use for medication, it relates to the fact that accurate biblical understanding can go a long way to helping one through this book. A must read for pastor's and lay ministers.

"When you are depressed, how can you take a step, let alone a journey? When all vital energy is devoted to staying alive and just making it to the next hour, how can you add anything else - like hope - to your day?" So begins this wise and compassionate book by Ed Welch. Whether you are a someone who struggles with depression yourself, or someone who desires to help those who do, Depression: A Stubborn Darkness will prove an informed and biblically-faithful resource.

The book is divided into an introduction and four parts.

Introduction. The first three chapters are introductory and begin with an empathetic note, describing "How Depression Feels" (chapter two) with a number of actual statements from those who have experienced depression. This chapter will help give understanding to someone who has never personally battled with severe depression. "Definitions and Causes" are described in chapter three, which differentiates between "situational depression" (less severe) and "clinical depression" (more severe), along with lists of possible symptoms for each.

Part One: Depression is Suffering. The seven chapters making up part one are Godward and hopeful, reminding us that depression is a form of suffering out which we can cry out to God for comfort and purpose. Welch doesn't try to make depression look less painful than it is. He faces it head-on. But neither does he let the lying voices of depression claim the day. Instead, he points the reader to God and Scripture (especially the Psalms), with gentle and hopeful reminders of God's love and sovereignty.

Part Two: Listen to Depression. Part two is especially helpful as the various contributing causes of depression are explored. These include other people, "Adam," Satan (chapter eleven), and culture (chapter twelve). Chapter thirteen gets to "The Heart of Depression" showing that depression is a result not simply of the "outside events" that "come at us," but also our "internal believes and interpretations . . . that come out of us" (p. 123). To deal with depression we must learn to address the "spiritual allegiances" of our hearts" which give rise to imaginations, desires, motives, thoughts, feelings, and actions. "The curious path to true life" says Welch, "is to grow in both the knowledge of God's love and your own sin" (p. 131). Chapter fourteen continues with "The Heart Unveiled," with following chapters exploring other causes of and collaborators with depression such as fear, anger, dashed hopes, failure and shame, guilt and legalism, and death. With each of these, the author walks the reader through the fog of confused feelings onto the sure-footed path of biblical truth about sin and grace.

Part Three: Other Help and Advice. In part three, Welch discusses medical treatments (chapter twenty-one) and gives helpful advice for the families and friends of those who are suffering from depression (chapter twenty-two). "To help a depressed person, you don't need expert knowledge. You do need an awareness of your own spiritual neediness, a growing knowledge of Jesus, and an eagerness to learn from others, including the person you would like to help" (p. 224). A particularly great chapter follows called "What Has Helped." It contains helpful insights from counselees about what first helped them begin to change, along with some specific strategies to try. The goal of the chapter is not to give an endless to-do list, but rather to "prime the pump" by giving ideas and strategies that have actually been helpful for depressed people. Chapter twenty-four is another honest, yet hopeful, look at "What to Expect" as one continues to battle against depression.

Part Four: Hope and Joy: Thinking God's Thoughts. The book finishes with two chapters on Humility and Hope (chapter twenty-five) and Thankfulness and Joy (chapter twenty-six). Potential readers should not feel daunted by the twenty-six chapters; each chapter is short and Ed Welch is an engaging writer with an easy prose. It is obvious that Welch has done his research, but the book isn't cluttered by clinical language. More than anything, reading this book feels like getting good advice from an kind and caring friend. As a pastor who sometimes struggles with discouragement and sometimes counsels those with more severe forms of depression, I found this a grace-filled book, loaded with hope and wisdom. I highly recommend it.

I have started reading books on depression, only to get bogged down soon after. From the beginning, this one knew what it was talking about. Short chapters, enough information to think over, and doesn't make a person feel guilty for having been depressed in the past.

Insightful. Short chapters make it ideal for small group/support group use. Catalyst for discussion.

Ed Welch has been gifted by God to write in a humble yet powerful manner that grips the minds and consciences of those who read his works. His books including "Depression" challenge our thinking and actions with the authority of Scripture and at the same time he points out the great hope and encouragement that we have from the same Scriptures. He writes in a simple yet profound manner that does not draw attention to himself but directs the readers' attention where it should be: on God.

This is an excellent resource not only for those who struggle with "depression" but all people who go through difficulty and suffering in life. I guess that includes all of us.

Its a nice book that covers a range of subjects that seem to be moving from the shadowy depths of conspiracy theory and alternative spirituality to become more mainstream knowledge. The financial system, major world events, 2012, true love, enlightenment and quantum spirituality are all touched upon. Dale doesn't make any attempt to go into great detail on any of these subjects, but I don't think that was his intention. There is enough information here to ignite interest and spur on further research and investigation.
I must say I felt a real connection while reading Dale's words, because he has had many similar experiences to myself and has clearly been exposed to similar stimuli. There were times when I couldn't help but smile as I related his experiences to my own. Perhaps there is a collective consciousness that we can all relate to given our changing times.
If a spiritual shift is indeed in progress then this work by Dale E. Sarna will contribute to it by opening up some important subjects to a wider audience. It is certainly a book that I will recommend to friends.

Evolve is a great book to help people understand about 2012, spirituality, love, the current financial system, and the divine plane. It does this with easy to read stories and moves forward with information to help you realize your soul plan. The spiritual truths in this book are just a stepping stone into deeper truths.

I give this book 5 stars! I found this book quite profound, yet surprisingly simple to understand, using stories as analogy at times to relay the point, creating an experience of understanding for the reader. For a complete interview with the author about his work, please visit Abundance Alley, the internet radio show on blogtalkradio.com, and look for the show with Dale Sarna (Sept 2)and his follow up show on Sept. 23rd, 2008, to get a better understanding of how Evolve came to be! This is truly worth the read!

Sincerely,
Laurie Carty
Host of Abundance Alley

'Evolve' takes the reader on a wonderful journey within. Thanks to this book, well thanks to Dale Sarna for writing it, I have been compelled to continue my inner search for love and truth. 'Evolve' came at just the right time, just as I felt myself drowning in hopelessness, to remind me not only that I AM on the right path, but that I only have more great things to discover. I am moved. I am inspired. I am grateful. Thank you Dale. So much.

Evolve is a very simple-to-understand book that integrates the author's personal growth with some of the spiritual truths he has learned along the way. It will make a wonderful first-read for those embarking upon the journey of making some order of sense out of the plethora of 'spiritual' texts out there today.

Charity Lei, Author
Etherica--Unveiling the Energetic Realm for Mastery of Your Physical World

I came across Julie Halpern's first novel while browsing the offerings over at Feiwel & Friends. I was so grateful they were publishing Long May She Reign that I grabbed Carpe Diem and GET WELL SOON as well because if they're publishing Ellen Emerson White books they not only have superb taste, they deserve my undying loyalty. Plus, both books just looked good. GET WELL SOON tells the story of Anna Bloom, a depressed teenager whose parents commit her to a mental institution when her panic attacks get in the way of her going to school. Alone, overweight, and braless, Anna starts writing a series of letters to her best friend Tracy as a way of staying sane despite being surrounded by drug dealers, Satanists, pregnant cheerleaders, oh my!

Anna's voice is at times bitter, amused, desperate, and uncertain. But it is always matter-of-fact. And it is this quality that is most appealing. I never got the feeling she was sugar-coating the way things were or trying to put something over on her reader. She writes all of these letters describing her experience in minute detail yet she doesn't send a single one. They stay in her room with her, her roommate Sandy, and Sandy's plastic baby Morgan. They seem to be a way of processing the unimaginable thing that has happened to her. By keeping them she can continue to review and add on to the narrative so that when it is time to go home there will be a record of how she survived. In an ironic twist of fate, life in the mental hospital turns out to be more interesting and "healthy" for Anna than it was outside. She makes friends who understand her and who do not send her "Get Well Soon" cards as though she had chicken pox or mono. Despite the absurd hospital workers and a few admittedly crazy fellow patients Anna is able to be herself. Paradoxically, the confining walls give her the space she needs to figure out not only what happened to her, but what she will do with this new-found self knowledge. I laughed repeatedly while reading about Anna and Sandy, Justin and Matt O. I felt about like Anna did when the time came to leave the hospital. I wasn't ready. A little more time in the loony bin, please. The real world can wait. But Anna had to go back home and the book had to end and I'm happy I got to spend this time with her.

Anna Bloom is a teen dealing with depression. After seeing a psychiatrist that doesn't help, her parents feel their last hope is to send her to a psychiatric hospital. Dropped off, not knowing how long she's going to be there, Anna begins her stay feeling understandably nervous. Ss time goes on and she begins moving up levels for good behavior, she finds that things aren't so bad. She meets a boy named Justin who becomes not only a friend, but a crush. She shares a room with a pregnant girl named Sandy, who must carry around a baby doll to learn how to care for her coming child. She even finds friends in unlikely people. More than that though, she begins to learn that it's okay to be yourself.
Get Well Soon is a book adorned with a frown on the front cover, but it's actually hilarious! This book is told in the style of letters that Anna writers to her friend Tracy, but never actually sends while she is in the hospital. You get inside her mind and find out exactly what she thinks about everything and everyone: the people she meets, the activities she has to participate in, even the food!

This book is by far one of my new favorites. Anna is a character I feel that will be relatable to many girls around the world, and it's definitely worth a read. As I read through the book, I was almost always laughing about something or curious about something. Two very good reasons that kept me reading! Now it's your turn!

As she sees it, Anna Bloom has been carted off to the loony bin. Why? Anna has extremely low self-esteem. She is constantly afraid people will make fun of her for how she looks or what she does. This fear makes her have panic attacks. And apparently, Anna's parents just didn't know how to deal with her, so they sent her off to a slightly crazy shrink (who thought everything was sexual in some way). When that didn't work, she was then sent to Lakeland Hospital, a mental institution. And a strange one, as Anna sees it.

The rules and hierarchy at Lakeland are confusing to Anna at first because no one explains them to her. But during her three week stay, things actually start to get better. She starts to lose weight. Her new roommate, who happens to be pregnant, becomes a great friend. And then there's the cutie Justin who just might like Anna back.

Get Well Soon was told in diary entries and letters to Anna's friend Tracy over the course of three weeks. It was a very cute book, but one that could be improved. Anna's love of music could've been more developed. Julie Halpern mentions how Anna's music always makes her feel better, but doesn't really go into depth. That's fine thought because music wasn't the focus of the novel. I really enjoyed the cast of characters; even the creepy ones were in some way lovable or at least funny to read about. Anna did grow as a person, although not that much, but then again, I don't think she had that many problems to begin with. I also highly enjoyed the romance between Anna and Justin.

All in all, Get Well Soon was one of the sweetest books I've read in a while. It left off on a bittersweet note, but one that was hopeful. If you like a lighthearted and short read, check out Get Well Soon.

[...]

Anna has recently been placed in a mental hospital, but she doesn't really know why. People say that she needs to be here, so she can "get well soon", but what is she getting well from? She doesn't feel any different; it's just that sometimes she has panic attacks and refuses to go to school. But as she goes through life in the hospital, she begins to finally feel as if she fits in and has good friends and perhaps even a love interest?

Told in Anna's sarcastic tone, this book is a definite must-have and is very funny. The humor in it is great, and it balances well with the serious events that take place throughout the book. Halpern writes the story through unsent letters that Anna writes to her friend Tracy because Anna is too scared of what they'll do with the letters if she tries to send them out, and that style really gives it such a personal tone. A big two thumbs up!!

This is not the typical depressed teen in a mental hospital book. Halpern gives her main character, Anna, a unique sense of humor. The really funny moments of the book make you laugh out loud. There are also many interesting observations made by Anna about her fellow 'patients', and a romance that is sweet and daring under the circumstances. Get Well Soon is written in letter format, and you feel like you are sharing an inside joke with Anna the whole time you are reading. By the end of the book it feels like Anna was writing to you all along. If you're looking for a book that has a fresh new spin on what it's like to be a depressed teen, pick up Get Well Soon. It is easy to read and it would appeal to any age or gender.

The great Florida hurricane of 1935 came as no surprise - in Key West Ernest Hemingway had enough warning to secure his boat and house against the storm - yet superintendents in three nearby government work camps did almost nothing to evacuate the men in their charge. Phil Scott details these days of calamity when the Keys were hit by one of the most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S: Hemingway's Hurricane: The Great Florida Keys Storm Of 1935 uses eyewitness accounts to detail these days of calamity and reconstruct the events in each camp as the hurricane made landfall. The probe of the underlying problems involved in evacuation procedures holds plenty of drama and meaning for today's residents.

I found this book to be a wonderful blend; part history lesson, part Political overview and to a large part, tragedy.

Phil Scott concisely provides the necessary background for a complex period in American history, and deftly sets the stage for the main event.

The "Back story" he tells of the forming of the Veterans Bonus Army, the March on Washington DC, and their dispatched to the Florida Keys as much to get them out of the way as to build a Highway across the Keys, is a story in itself. Once we understand the circumstances of their situation, it almost seems inevitable that they will be abandoned in their time of need.

The author does a marvelous job of introducing us to a variety of characters, from many of the imperiled vets, to the seemingly clueless men responsible for their safety, and the locals, like Ernest Hemingway who were forever changed by this tragedy.

While there certainly are parallels with the mistakes made during Hurricane Katrina, I believe this story is compelling, and stands well on its own merit. And while the Gulf Coast in 2005 had advanced knowledge of the terribly destructive force bearing down on it, the hundreds of veterans in their "temporary" housing on the Keys had very little warning of the Category 5 hurricane that would send hundreds of them to their deaths.

I heartily recommend this book to readers with an interest in the History of this period, Hurricane's as a force in nature, or anyone simply looking for a gripping,highly readable and true story of how quickly things can go wrong.

I've never had an interest in visiting the Florida Keys, nor truly understood the plight of post World War I veterans -- even though my grandfather had been one -- but with the publishing of Hemingway's Hurricane by Phil Scott, I found myself caring. I now want to visit the Keys and explore, where this amazing tragedy took place, and to see first-hand just what it meant to span approximately 130 miles of water and islands by both train track and roadway. Scott's book provides both the necessary exposition to pave the way, while building suspense for the pending storm, much like those of us in television land find ourselves checking cable channels for updates on where and when storms will hit in the present day. From the building of a rail line as early as 1912 (the year the Titanic sank), known as Flagler's Folly, all the way to Key West to the semi-permanent Hooverville encampments and Bonus Marches near the White House during the Depression years, which encompasses public dissatisfaction with the federal government
(long before the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam Anti-War activities occupied our nation's attention), this book truly prepares the reader for nature's destructive force. Scott also manages to draw the reader in long before Ernest Hemingway enters the picture, but the Hemingway angle helps make a timely connection between gross
negligence in 1935 and the equally unexpected results of 2005's Hurricane Katrina
and the combined slow response from today's federal, state, and local governments.
I always expect my high school English and journalism students to "extend the text" to seek connections and meaning outside of the printed pages. For this reason, I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about how our government operates. There are lessons to be learned here, even if the events took place 70 years ago. And although the book moves quickly, I find myself stopping to check one or both of the two maps detailing both the Florida Keys and placement of the work camps, plus I find myself delving into the internet to pursue further inquiry. I do this because Scott's narrative and depth of information has given me reason to care and explore further this fascinating true story.

Phil Scott's book, "Hemingway's Hurricane" is a quick and good read about the century's most powerful hurricane....the category 5 storm that smashed into the Florida Keys over Labor Day weekend in 1935. Finished before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Scott's book takes on a narrative with some unintended consequences and supreme ironies.

Set as a timeline, the author briefs the reader well with his background of the Bonus Army of World War I veterans, their 1932 march on Washington D.C. and the veterans' subsequent detour to the Florida Keys, courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, to give them low-paying jobs. "Hemingway's Hurricane" centers around these hundreds of veterans, their work in the Keys (much of it building roads) and the misfortune they had at being directly in the path of the hurricane. Scott relates all of this in a nicely paced way. Yet two things stand out in his book....there's very little to do with Ernest Hemingway....he makes not much more than a minor appearance at the beginning and at the end, so the title of the book is confusing. The author also provides too many cameo appearances by others who were part of the storm and the recovery. Fewer characters with more time spent with them would have increased my enjoyment of Scott's work.

Yet it is the comparison to Katrina, not mentioned in "Hemingway's Hurricane" that makes for the unintended attraction. The 1935 storm had its own version of FEMA (FERA) and a major player, Fred Ghent, the director of the veteran's camps, who was the Michael Brown of his day. His decision not to get a relief train down in time to evacuate the veterans was one of the worst miscalculations of the storm. It's almost as if we can hear FDR saying, "Ghentie, you're doin' a heckuva job!" Perhaps the oddest and saddest comparison is that Katrina, hitting Louisiana almost seventy years to the day after the Keys hurricane, underscores that government hasn't come all that far in preparedness, rescue and recovery.

"Hemingway's Hurricane" is a good book but not a great one. However, Scott's attention to detail make it worth the read and the story is one that has needed to be told.

The hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935 is still listed as the most intense hurricane to make landfall in the US. It is estimated to have had 200 mph winds and although it's eye was not large, the power of this storm surpassed anything imagined.
The victims numbered 423 known dead, 259 of them were veterans of World War I. These men had been "employed" to build a highway connecting the Keys all the way through to Key West. It was a "make work" program seemingly designed to remove the veterans from the spotlight in Washington D.C., like a splinter in the FDR political eye. The veterans had been marching on Washington and camping there demanding pay bonuses that had been promised to them. Many were in desperate situations with the Depression in full form. Sending them far away to the Keys to work and make money must have seemed like the answer to everyone's desires. Tragedy was to unfold.
In September of 1935, as the veterans labored on, the Weather Bureau was tracking a tropical storm that would become the most intense hurricane in US history. Due to a lack of coverage in many areas, the path of the storm had to be projected, leaving room for error. Even so, warnings were put out to the Keys and while locals begin to make preparations, the veterans had no prior experience with hurricanes. They depended on their camp director and other in charge to make the evacuation decisions, which was to include sending a train to remove them from the path of danger. Decisions were either made to late or not made at all and the train would not arrive in time. The train itself, would be washed off the tracks and nearly washed out to sea. 259 veterans would loose their lives.
While there are amazing parallels between this storm of 1935 and Katrina, there are also striking differences. The forecasters urgently warned about Katrina, a more direct and well broadcast warning than in 1935. In both storms people waited to be evacuated by others for a variety of reasons. While the reasons are varied, the reality is that government is not all powerful nor is it capable of dealing with huge scale evacuations. When individuals give up their personal responsibility, the results will be haphazard and even deadly as is proven true in both these hurricanes. When those directly in charge fail to take reasonable steps to protect the very lives they are charged with protecting, the result will be disastrous. In this case the camp director in 1935 and the Mayor of New Orleans seem to have a lot in common.
This is a vivid account of the 1935 hurricane. The stories of the victims and survivors as their island is virtually swept clean, inundated by the storm surge is intense and electrifying. These are stories that have a depth of emotion that was not expected from men who had become inured to hardship and death in WWI. The attempted downplaying of the disaster for political reasons is stunning. While the role of Ernest Hemingway seems nearly minute, he did draw attention to the plight of the veterans.
Phil Scott has written a clear and vivid account of a disaster in the making and the lives that were battered and destroyed. The politics and the human faces of the intrepid veterans combine to form a story well worth the reading.

Hope for Wholeness by Sharon Fawcett gracefully weaves the beauty of God's truth with her own heart-wrenching journey. I found her honesty and transparency refreshing! This book brought me tremendous hope in my own personal struggles.

Laura Lee Heinsohn author of Cracking the Parenting CodeCracking the Parenting Code: 6 Clues to Solving the Mystery of Meeting Your Child's Needs

Sharon Fawcett's excellent book helps--survivors, counselors, pastors, lay leaders, women's ministry participants and leaders--understand the critical need for the church to step up and accept the truth that depression is not a stigma, but a reality. Sharon's book addresses the body, soul, and spiritual problem that needs God's front-line workers to embrace the broken and wounded, and provide healing found only in Jehovah Rapah--God our Healer.

Enough of the head, clinical stuff. Truth is spoken by those who have lived in the lonely parched desert of depression and found Living Water--complete healing from the inside out.

Bravo, Sharon, for taking a brave and bold stand, telling it like it is: Depression can be an opportunity to grow--to embrace personal pain, and get to the spirtitual roots of the core issues.

Our Great Physicial doesn't say, "What color pills do you want?" He says, "Come to me my broken child and I will make you whole."

Thank you to this gifted author for writing this much-needed book.

Jan Coates
[...]

This is a personal book in which Sharon Fawcett draws upon her nine year battle with depression. A committed Christian, Sharon fought hard to maintain a façade of a happy, productive and fulfilled follower of Jesus. But then her wall of cards collapsed and she found herself in darkness. She attempted suicide, succumbing to the devil's lies that she was a failure and that her family would be better off without her. After years of years of counseling and stints in mental hospitals, including electrical shock therapy, Fawcett began to include a spiritual component to her treatment. After being involved in a deliverance ministry, her depression ended. But, as she notes, her journey to wholeness was just beginning. (176)

This book is valuable to both those who battle depression as well as to those who are caregivers to the depressed. Fawcett helps remove the stigma of depression from Christians. Too often we believe the lie that depression isn't something a spiritual person should have to deal with or if they're battling depression there is some deep hidden sin that is the reason. Instead, she exposes the strong lies that binds us with fear and shame and destroys our self-worth. She encourages a holistic approach to battling depression, one that addresses body, mind and spirit. She also sees a benefit from depression. It was God's way of forcing her to depend upon him. Referring to the 23rd Psalm, depression was the Shepherd's way of "making her lie in green pastures." (51) The book issues a warning of the dangers of busyness, of thinking or attempting to maintain control.

In addition to drawing upon her own life, Fawcett also includes several vignettes from the lives of others, individuals who overcame great odds and who serve as examples for those struggling with depression. This book is easy to read and Fawcett encourages the reader at the end of each chapter to reflect upon their own lives and to meditate upon the Scriptures.

As a former counselor, I am constantly searching for honest and insightful feedback for lasting change. Hope for Wholeness offers readers a chance to experience a transformative journey as the author shares her story and powerful experiences. We all seem to share a common thread of unfulfilling moments and dark thoughts, yet some of us are trapped in depression to which we can find no remedy. The author builds her testimony as she fights this battle of depression, weaving in what she has learned and overcome, to end with a newfound freedom and aliveness in God. For anyone currently struggling with depression, and for those who have in the past...this book offers hope and healing, and an enduring message of love.

Often, when I meet with prospective writers, they tell me a tale of woe, the story of something awful that happened in their lives that they now want to write about. When I met Sharon Fawcett, I immediately knew she was different. Not only was her writing excellent, but here was a woman who fought depression, triumphed, and wasn't still looking over her shoulder at the battlefield. Sharon didn't spend the fifteen-minute appointment telling me about her time in the abyss of depression. Her story centered on the spiritual path upward and out of the pit of despair. Her main desire was, and is, to help others find the way.
Hope for Wholeness is a non-clinical, refreshing, and honest look at the devastation caused by depression. But what sets this book apart is the positive light it sheds on this debilitating condition. In the pages of this book, the depressed, and those who love them, will find encouragement, truth, and most of all, hope.

This was a real cute book with a fun way to teach kids about how to deal with their worries. My Daughter really enjoys it and the pictures are really cool.

The clever text and delightful illustrations of Is a Worry Worrying You? speak directly and honestly to the audience. They let the reader know that there are ways to deal with worrys,
that there are solutions to problems and that we are not alone, all the while keeping it light and enjoyable.
I read this book to my fifth grade students and they truly enjoyed it. I also shared it with our guidance counselor.

I am a first grade teacher who had the opportunity to read this book to my class. All of the children enjoyed the story. They loved looking for the Worry. Most importantly, this book generated a lot of discussion about things that worried them and how they could make their worries go away or find alternative solutions.
I highly recommend this book for children of all ages.

Adults worry about many things and sometimes even desire to return to what they believe is the carefree childhood years. But life is stressful, even for children. They worry about things just like adults do. Some of their worries are about monsters under the bed, a school bully or maybe even starting school. Other worries may be little worries, but worries nonetheless.

Is a Worry Worrying You? addresses the worries of children and helps the child deal with them in a way that they can identify with. If a herd of elephants are thirsty when they arrive for tea, just give them lemonade instead. It looks at worry and solving problems creatively.

Is a Worry Worrying You? is a book best read by children with an adult. The adult can helpfully explain any sticking points. The illustrations are quirky and show what I like to call the "worry monster" on the pages. The drawings evoke a feeling of worry without being scary. I believe my little children will enjoy them.

Armchair Interviews says: Is a Worry Worrying You? is a wonderful way to spend time with the special child in your life and allay the worries they all have at one time or another.

Is A Worry Worrying You? is a picturebook for children that combines whimsical artwork with honest and practical advice for dealing with worries - from everyday worries about bullies and the first day of school to not-so-common worries such as a rhino wandering the neighborhood! A "Worry" is depicted as a big blue monster with no manners, that stays like an uninvited guest - but only as long as one lets it. Is A Worry Worrying You? shows young people means of dealing with worries, from confronting it directly or working on whatever is worrying one, to focusing on happy thoughts, engaging in activities like playing with cards or baking a cake, or talking with friends. Highly recommended.