Happiness Is A Choice For Teens [Paperback]

Paul Meier M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 1996

When you think you've been given nothing but raw deals in your life, remember that you can choose to be happy. That's not just a pat theory but a truth that you really can discover and use for your life. Dr. Paul and Jan Meier work with thousands of teens struggling with the same dilemmas ... feelings of stress, worried that there's no future, tempted to check out on reality. They will show you how to deal with issues such as: anger, grief, goal-setting, the opposite sex, siblings, self-image ... to name a few.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (December 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785275746
• ISBN-13: 978-0785275749
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #941,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Teen Health > Depression

More About the Author

Paul Meier, M.D., is a nationally recognized psychiatrist and founder of the Meier Clinics. He is also the best-selling author or coauthor of more than 70 books, including "Love Is a Choice," "Happiness Is a Choice," "Mood Swings," and "Love Hunger." He holds an M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine and completed his psychiatric residency at Duke University. He also holds advanced degrees in human physiology and biblical studies. Dr. Meier was one of the original founding members of the Focus on the Family Physicians Resource Council (PRC).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Christian resource on teen depression, February 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Happiness Is A Choice For Teens (Paperback)

First, let me say what this book is and isn't. It is a book on depression in teenagers with a Christian perspective. If you aren't Christian, I'd say you're better off with When Nothing Matters Anymore by Bev Cobain. It is also a book on teen depression from a psychological perspective, written by a psychiatrist. If you're looking for a "spiritual warfare" approach, Neil Anderson's written a lot of good stuff for teens. If you think psychology is too secular for a Christian to partake of and a real Christian would never get depressed, I pray that you never have to go through the experience of mental illness.

That said, this book is a great resource on teen depression, with symptoms, information on treatments, and guidelines for living a happier life from a Christian perspective (including prayer and Bible reading). Easily understandable explanations of the components of depression (biological, environmental, and spiritual) are included.

Small gripes: the chapters on personality types seem outdated and out of place here. Also, although this book gives a well-balanced perspective on depression in the Christian teen, it does stress medication and hospitalization a little too much and therapy and counseling too little.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to Christian teens with depression and their parents. It is one of the few to address this pressing issue that affects so many teens in a Christian manner with understanding and without extremes or judgments.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful, September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Happiness Is A Choice For Teens (Paperback)

I disagree with the depressed teenager reviewer. There is no happiness until we stop relying on external forces and concentrate on the relationship with God. Another excellent book is "Love is a choice" and for teenagers sean covey's"seven habits for teenagers" is an excellent readable for teenagers life management book and resource book, including depression. Another good book for teenagers is "taming the tiger"-stress management for teenagers and it is secular in nature. A Youth Ministry Worker

4.0 out of 5 stars A bit slow in spots, but good overall, October 5, 2010

By 

C. Minor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happiness Is A Choice For Teens (Paperback)

The first half (or thereabouts) of this book is a very informative short layman's course on common mental health problems in teens, written in a style suitable for teens but not at all "dumbed down." The second half is dedicated to the authors' "Seven Guidelines" for choosing happiness, followed by a workbook the reader can use to brainstorm his/her own path thereto. Again, the information is good; unfortunately there tends to be a bit too much of it. The authors get bogged down providing helpful hints, examples, and anecdotes stacked up to the point where reading becomes tedious and they risk losing the reader (also, the point they are making.) Trimming down this section so that the basic points aren't lost amid the explanatory material would make it much more appealing and useful to the targeted readership.

As previous reviewers mentioned, this is a book written by religious Christians, from a Christan perspective. Two of the seven Guidelines deal specifically with the spiritual life. Readers who are offended by the promotion and discussion of religious belief should probably find other reading, but Christians and those who "take no offense" will benefit from the book's information and may even find the authors' encouragement of spirituality refreshing.