The 7 Most-Recommended Books About Depression

Depression is a common thing for those with fibromyalgia, or for those who deal with chronic pain in general. The overwhelmed and hopeless feelings can be hard to overcome and come to terms with. It is almost like being forced to mourn the death of yourself. The things that you used to do, the life you used to lead, and even your health are all lost to you seemingly overnight. You are left in a dark pit trying to find the energy to keep existing, to say nothing of finding the energy to climb out. As you come to terms with the reality of your new existence, you need some way to gain perspective, and hopefully, you will find the motivation to reclaim your life. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the most recommended books about depression. We hope that the books on this list will encourage, empower, and assist you in your fight with depression.

The 7 Most Recommended Books About Depression

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, Andrew Solomon

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There are two books that were far and away the most recommended books about depression. The top of our list of the most recommended books about depression is The Noonday Demon, by Andrew Solomon. This book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and it received high praise. The author takes an exhaustive look at depression. He deals with the definition of depression from a scientific, cultural, and personal lens. He explores the subtleties of the disease and covers the many treatment options and their effectiveness. He interviews people on every different side of depression to try to get a more complete view of it. He does all of this with a humanity and wit that will keep you invested. This is a great book for anyone who is struggling with depression and wants to understand it better. You can read the first chapter for free on New York Times’ website. 

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, David D. Burns

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The other book at the top of our list of best books about depression is Feeling Good by David Burns. This has been one of the most influential books about depression for more than thirty years now. The book challenges the traditional Freudian approach to depression because of the lack of evidence that the method is successful for treating it. He also approaches the issue from a cognitive framework. Burns says that depression results from a distorted view of events and thoughts. Your thoughts about your situation generate your depression, so that is where the work needs to be done. This is a guide to re-framing your thoughts about circumstances so that you can overcome your depression. This is one of the all-time best sellers in the depression book world, and it is worth a read.

Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness, William Styron

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Darkness Visible is a first-hand account of the author’s descent into depression. He explores the realities of this disease, and how society, creativity, and substance abuse can impact depression. He also chronicles his process of recovery, so that the depressed reader can get a sense of what it takes to climb out of the hell of depression. This is a highly acclaimed book that you should check out.

A Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing yourself from Chronic Unhappiness,

Mark Williams John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn,

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The Mindful Way Through Depression is the collaboration of four experts about the most effective ways to treat depression. The book focuses on a combination of cognitive therapy and mindfulness to help you deal with life on life’s terms. This program was designed to help people that are currently in the disease of depression, and it is a popular tool. We hope that you will take a look at this book if you struggle with depression. There are also workbooks and other resources that can accompany this program to help you in your treatment.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things, Jenny Lawson

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Furiously Happy is a book about finding the humor in the way you look at the world, your circumstances, and you depression. The author goes out of her way to bring humor into her life in an attempt to re-frame depression and overcome it.  The author deals with a cornucopia of diagnosis, and her irreverent and dark humor about them intends to make you feel better by comparison. This book keeps you laughing while showing you how to change your view of the world into a more happy one.

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness,  Kay Redfield Jamison

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An Unquiet Mind shows the author’s struggles with Bipolar disorder. The author not only suffers from the disease but is also one of the world’s leading experts on it. Insights and science are combined to create this acclaimed book. She also deals with the appeal of mania, and how giving into it can lead to depression and despair. This is a great book for anyone who struggles with depression and bipolar.

The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time, Alex Korb

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A neuroscientist wrote The Upward Spiral, and he gives the most cutting-edge research about the neurological reasons for depression. He also talks about how neuroscience can rewire the human brain to avoid depression. This book teaches you how the brain works, and how to reroute it away from depression. This is a great read for those that have to know how things work and the science behind them.

These are the seven most recommended books for depression. We hope that you find hope and help within the pages of these books. Let us know if you know of any other books that belong on the list of most recommended books about depression, or if you have read any of these titles let us know your thoughts on them.