Customer Reviews

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This is a landmark work in the history of depression. Never before has anyone described the emotions felt during depression so elegantly. Andrew's literary skill makes each page of this book a pleasure to read. The Noonday Demon is not only well-written, it is also extremely informative. The author takes us on a journey through personal experiences, provides detailed descriptions of medications and side affects, and explores the efficacy of alternative treatments. In the second half of the book he goes on to describe depression in multiple contexts such as history and philosophy.

I have been a long time sufferer of depression and I have found hope in this book. It is a subject that I have long been ashamed to speak about outside of my therapist's office. Andrew works to remove the stigma behind this illness and bring all aspects of the disease to light. Depression has no cure, it something must be dealt with and treated on a daily basis. I find strength in the knowledge that so many others are successfully treating depression, even if they are not conquering it completely.

The Noonday Demon is a remarkable work that should be read and reread.

I think I have acquired every book on depression ever written within the past 15 years in order to understand the illness. Most are good but tend to focus on one aspect of the disease, whether it be the methods of dealing with it, the medical blah blah behind it or stories from sufferers. Mr. Solomon has taken all of these and then some and put them in his book. It is by far the most concise and comprehensive book on depression that I have ever read! I was especially fascinated by the historical perspective as well as the stories from individual sufferers. The book goes into the author's own battle at great length, which automatically lends credibility since I don't think you can truly write about a subject like this unless you have actually experienced it firsthand. Lots of information on treatments, demographic data and the like. If you are a sufferer or know someone who is, get this book!

I could not put this book down. It is by far the best book on the subject of depression that I have read. The book has such range and depth; Solomon tackles all the angles of this complex subject with great intelligence, warmth and insight that he achieves a synthesis of the literary, political, medical, personal, historical, and philosophical dimensions of depression. Somehow the author manages to combine an incredibly personal and moving account of his own struggle with mental illness and that of others with a first class, rigorous text which any expert in the field would benefit from reading. His research, both academic and personal interviews, is impeccable, and I came away completely in awe of Solomon's command of the literature and handling of the numerous controversies surrounding the study of depression. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is so sophisticated a treatment of the subject that it made me constantly challenge my own views and I was left feeling exhilarated by the book's wealth of subject matter and the author's sensitive and unpatronising handling of it. The Noonday Demon is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in depression and mental illness, either personal or professional. Solomon comes across as being like the most interesting guest at a dinner party: someone you want to talk to for hours about his experiences as they are so wideranging and unusual in some instances (read the book to see what I mean). It's hard to imagine a better book on depression, and this is surprising given that Solomon is a writer as opposed to a psychiatrist/psychologist. He might as well be, however, as he appears to know at least as much as a professional does and offers us a broader and more heartfelt account than a dispassionate doctor might be able to. I feel that the author has put such mental and emotional energy into the researching and writing of this book that it deserves, in my opinion, to be seen as the spectacular product of many years of Solomon's private reflections on his own illness and the work of an extremely intelligent and gifted writer, a text which future authors tackling the thorny subject of depression will not be able to ignore.

Who, at least at one point in their life, has not been mildly depressed? As a counsellor, if you were to tell me that not once, ever in your entire life did you ever feel down or depressed, I would probably want to make sure you were still breathing. However, for many, depression can be a severe, chronic battle each and every day, and one of the biggest setbacks in an individual's life. It can be a family's nightmare, hinder careers and personal relationships, and play havoc with a person's self-image. For some, just getting up in the morning can take evey ounce of willpower. There have been many books written on depression, some are excellent self-help books, others ARE depressing to read. This book, however, is an insightful look inside depression in personal, scientific and cultural terms. The author also takes a look at the biological aspects of the disease which, for many, can be a controversial issue.

Solomon has battled depression for much of his life. Through his research and studies, he has gained valuable knowledge on the subject which he openly shares with his readers. Of the vast number of books written on depression, "Noonday Demon" is definitely one of the most complete, accurate and informative ones to be found. I also enjoyed his easy manner, occasional wit and positive approach to an affliction that for a multitude of individuals can be a disabling, life-long illness.

Through my own fear and ignorance, I had never really found out much about what depression really is and, like most people, I confused simply being "blue" with being depressed. You have a bad day at the office or the plant, you have a prickly run-in with a neighbor and when a friend asks how you are, you answer "Oh, I'm so depressed!"

In Andrew Solomon's wise and beautifully written self-described "atlas" he explains immediately and interestingly and clearly exactly what depression is and what it is not. The author never shrinks from using himself as his main subject telling personal stories from his own struggles, his successes and his falls. But he also uses scientific and cultural examples to place this illness in its perspective. Other sufferers are interviewed as are doctors and, even philosophers.

To be honest, I came to this work of non-fiction because I so loved Solomon's novel A STONE BOAT which covers some of the material in this book. Solomon is an extraordinary writer.

I hesitate to give too many specific examples that are covered in the book, because, frankly, I believe many people will say to themselves, "Oh, that sounds like such a downer...I don't need to read such a SAD book." Well, here's the shocker: THE NOONDAY DEMON is so completely fascinating, so well-written and so intelligent that it is, in Adam Gopnik's ("The New Yorker") words, "charming, lively...never the least bit depressing." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The most immediately obvious strength of The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon is its supple, incisive, funny, harrowing prose. Its deepest strength is its probing examination of depression from many points of view--historical, clinical, cultural, political, evolutionary, and personal. With a novelist's gift for bringing people to life and a journalist's skill at explaining complicated topics, Solomon is always informative and profoundly humane. He makes the blurry boundaries and maddening complexities of the issues involved comprehensible while arguing persuasively that depression is an inescapable reality of the human condition. The book is highly original. He tells his personal story but widens it with movingly explored case histories and successfully sets these narratives in the context of thorough examinations of the many topics necessary to see the overall subject.

The Noonday Demon can set the agenda for an important national discussion. As it makes clear, depression touches all of us whether we ourselves suffer its terrible debilities, know someone who does, or live with (and are probably unaware of) its devastating results for our communities and workplaces. I thought I knew a lot about the topic; I found how much I needed to learn by reading this book. I was most impressed by how honestly Solomon deals with the fact that there are no easy answers to any aspect of the issue, even when he has strong opinions (and his personal point of view is always welcome in these pages: I liked knowing where he stood). No reader is likely to agree with everything he says, but no one will go away doubting the truth of his cri de coeur that as long as we misunderstand depression, people quite literally will die. Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to understand what depression feels like, what it is and is not, how it can be treated, and what happens when it is ignored.

I thought I knew what depression was. Afterall, I was diagnosed as chronically depressed in 1973, my mother was diagnosed in 1962. But this book changed my life for the better in one reading. The first chapter, not only describes the author's own struggles but many others which for the most part, though very different than how my symptoms manifest, were so clearly described and deconstructed that I finally began to really see the extent and breadth this disease takes and how many it affects. The chapter on "Treatments" is openly biased towards using anti-depressants which should have put me off since I have tried valiently to avoid them. Instead, the clear explanations about not only what is available but examples of how they work and why it's so important for people who suffer from chronic depression to get on medication and stay on it was very eye opening. (I finally realized that the reason my last breakdown that began in January of 2000 was not going to just "go away" eventually as all the other ones had. The book shows research that the older one gets without treating with medication, the more frequent depressive episodes become and the worse they become. I had actually been learning this the hard way for over a year but it took this book to wake me up and see the writing on the wall.)

I was glad to see he also included a chapter on alternatives, and that he encourages people to never just use medication alone but go to a good therapist and possibly explore behavioral therapy or other experimental therapies as adjuncts to treating the chemical imbalance. The chapter on suicide is clear and much needed. He doesn't sidestep this difficult subject but he also doesn't use it as a way to be too dramatic or sensational. Most importantly the book in general has for the most part just the right tone. Authoratative but not stuffy or difficult. Descriptive and informative but not too depressing (very important!) or heavy to read. It is also replete with invaluable examples of other peoples struggles with this disease. The chapters on the politics and history of depression and on poverty are fascinating and very affecting and were important elements of the book for me but you could probably skip them altogether and still it would be worth the price of the book. There is a great bibliography and reference section at the back.

In the end I finally saw that I needed to try the modern medicines that have come out in the last 20 years. (In the 70's and 80's everything they prescribed for me gave me migraines or made me sicker. I had instead become quite educated about and helped to a limited degree by herbs and homeopathy.)

I believe I found this book exactly at the right moment in my life. I had been seeing an licensed, clinical social worker for a year and felt that I finally had made some real progress in understanding my situation... but despite the intellectual progress, emotionally I was still sliding downhill. After reading this book I finally went to a psychiatrist. She said I had the clearest understanding of any client she had ever encountered of what and how my disease manifested. She was able to find a combination of meds that helped right away (it can sometimes take months or even years to get the right meds. (Another deterrant to those who struggle with the disease, distrust meds and do not have deep pocket books.) The book gave me the confidence to not only seek out a good shrink, and take anti-depressants, but it has empowered me to become a better advocate for myself with my therapists and for those I encounter who ask my advice on the subject.

If you are suffering from depression and haven't gotton help or need help explaining to others what you are going through or in understanding what perhaps a loved one is going through, this book will be like a best friend. It helped me communicate more openly and honestly wiht my close friends and family my situation and my needs. It, along with my very wonderful, patient and competent therapist, literally changed and saved my life. I asked her after deciding to go on antidepressants why she hadn't pushed me in that direction. She wisely replied I would have walked out and never come back; it was something I had to come to on my own, of my own choosing and understanding. She was right.

Everyone I know is in some way touched by depression - be it through personal experience, or the depression of family members or friends. If I had read Andrew Solomon's extraordinary book when I was coping with my mother's manic depression for twenty five years, it would have changed my life - for the better. This passionate, beautifully written and moving book was both totally engrossing and informative - with subjects ranging from the author's own terrible battle with depression to a fascinating description of the history, evolution and politics of depression. I could not recommend THE NOONDAY DEMON more highly - a book which is both beautifully written and life changing in the support and help it can give anyone who has been close to, or experienced ,the horrors and misery of this disease. And despite these horrors the book gives both advice and ultimately hope.

This is one of the two best books I have seen on depression, the other being "Night Falls Fast" by Kay Jamison.

I suffer from both clinical depression, and profound suicidal ideations. Contrary to the assertions of a previous reviewer, Solomon points out the difference between depression that is a chronic mental illness, as opposed to being a little weepy about "Sex & the City" ending its run. This is not a "psycho-babble" book. Solomon is critical of the ignorant view that people suffering from depression need to just "get over it" or "cheer up" or "think positive." Depression is much more than that: It is an illness. Telling someone who is clinically depressed to "cheer up" is like telling someone who is near-sighted to just concentrate harder, and you will see clearer. While both are possible, do not bet on either working.

Solomon also attacks those irresponsible authors who contend that medication to address mental illness is not necessary. While certainly there may be some mild forms of mental illness that can be treated with "potatoes, not prozac" (to coin a phrase), to say that medication is not necessary is not only wrong, but insulting.

Still, while mental illness does has its origins in biochemical reactions, the "disease" model is an imperfect fit. That is where Solomon's book really provides a service: People suffering from depression do need medication. Nevertheless, your doctor is committing malpractice if you only take medication, and do not pursue a program of talk therapy.

About two years ago, I had a significant tumble. A friend read a review for Solomon's book, and encouraged me to read it. I did. From Solomon's careful, and helpful explanation of the different medications, and their history, I was able to sum up the courage and strength to talk to my doctor about my suicidal urges. Still, I was afraid--afraid that my doctor would either scoff at me, and tell me to "grow up" and "stop being such a baby." Or the other extreme: Call the police, and have me dragged away to a padded room for the next five years. Fortunately, neither of those things happened. Instead, I got a perscription, and sought out a counselor on a friend's recommendation. Today, I still struggle with my depression, and have to be careful--but it is not as consuming as it was before.

Suicidal ideations and depression are not exactly the same, but connected, like the rails of a railroad track. If you are suicidal, I urge you to find something--anything--you would miss if you were no longer here: blue sky, good food, your favorite song, a relative who loves you. Hang on that. Then remember that you are not alone: Many other people feel the same way. You are not weak, or strange. But you do need (and deserve) help. If you don't trust or feel comfortable with your doctor, then find another doctor you do trust. But do something--You don't need to suffer alone.

This book is a good place to start. Begin with the introduction, and skip to the chapter on suicide.

Another book that helped me (in addition to the above mentioned book by Jamison) is "The Savage God: A Study of Suicide" by A. Alvarez. Both are available through Amazon.com, but should also be available at your local bookstores--if you need help right away.

If I had a dollar for every time I'd advised my son to "Get out of bed and get with it," I'd be rich. Only now, reading this book, do I realize how little I knew about his illness, and how futile were my efforts to help. How I wish I had had this book in my hands a decade ago. This is beautifully written, practical, amusing in parts, and genuinely helpful. I think every adult ought to read this because at some time or another every one of us is going to have to deal with depression -- either our own, or the depression of a loved one. Most important, this book gives me the confidence to continue to nurture my adult son through his latest episode. I owe Mr. Solomon a real "thank you" for writing his book.