When Living Hurts: A Lively What to Do Book for Yourself or Someone You Care About Who Feels Discouraged, Sad, Lonely, Hopeless, Angry or Frustrated [Paperback]

Sol Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1985

When Living Hurts is for people who want to help people who are in trouble.  This insightful, direct book can help you interpret the early warning signals, get help when the problem is urgent, and cope creatively with anxiety, anger or frustration, sadness, loneliness, or depression.

With wisdom, humor, and style, Dr. Gordon acknowledges that we live in an imperfect world.  There are things to worry about and everyone feels hopeless, helpless, and unloved sometimes.  Yet there are things we can do that will lead to a new understanding, new hope, and new meaning in life.  In a time when depression and suicide are taking ever greater tolls, Dr. Gordon makes it clear: You and those you care about can find help when living hurts.

"The first in-depth book in suicide prevention and crisis intervention... it points the way to hope and help," says Julie Perlman, Executive Officer of the American Association of Suicidology.

School Library Journal praises it as "concrete and concise... accessible, helpful."

"Interesting, practical," says Psychology Today, "and very much to the point."

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA A book directed at teenagers who may be feeling suicidal as well as their friends and family. While the advice may not be much different from that in other books such as Klagsbrun's Too Young to Die (Houghton, 1976), the format and the tone are different. The advice is concrete and concise. In advising how to deal with someone who is feeling depressed or suicidal, Gordon does not give general ideas of what to say or do; he states, ``Say this, not that. Do this, not that.'' This specificity should be helpful and comforting. The format is inviting, with many black-and-white photos and drawings. The page layout is open. There is no index, but the table of contents is complete. Among the topics discussed which may cause depression are troubles with parents, loss of faith, sex and love worries and troubles with peers. Gordon gives suggestions for further reading, and in one case suggests asking a librarian for guidance. A list of crisis and suicide prevention hotlines nationwide is included. Although the book is published by a Jewish organization, Gordon emphasizes that the few religious messages could be applied to any faith or be ignored by those of no faith. An outstandingly accessible, readable and helpful book that should be in every library serving teenagers. Betsy Shorb, PGCMLS, Md.

Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

When Living Hurts is for people who want to help people who are in trouble.  This insightful, direct book can help you interpret the early warning signals, get help when the problem is urgent, and cope creatively with anxiety, anger or frustration, sadness, loneliness, or depression.

With wisdom, humor, and style, Dr. Gordon acknowledges that we live in an imperfect world.  There are things to worry about and everyone feels hopeless, helpless, and unloved sometimes.  Yet there are things we can do that will lead to a new understanding, new hope, and new meaning in life.  In a time when depression and suicide are taking ever greater tolls, Dr. Gordon makes it clear: You and those you care about can find help when living hurts.

"The first in-depth book in suicide prevention and crisis intervention... it points the way to hope and help," says Julie Perlman, Executive Officer of the American Association of Suicidology.

School Library Journal praises it as "concrete and concise... accessible, helpful."

"Interesting, practical," says Psychology Today, "and very much to the point." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Urj Pr (August 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807403105
• ISBN-13: 978-0807403105
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,753,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lighthouse Among the Storm, June 18, 2000

By 

Sho J. Morimoto "aresdracon" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Living Hurts : For Teenagers and Young Adults - A Lively What-To-Do Book for Yourself or Someone You Care About Who Feels Discouraged, Sad, Lonely (Paperback)

Sol Gordon takes a very complex and painful issue and explains it in a more digestible form. While those who are experienced with depression and other affected disorders may find that he does not go into enough detail (the "What else is new?" complex), I'm sure they will appreciate the kind, gentle style of writing. One can almost feel the author right beside you, speaking to you the very words you read. I was also pleased to find that he dedicated a section to the effects of homosexuality on adolescent depression. An already hard-to-reach portion of the population, Gordon's readiness to accept sexuality differences will go far in helping GLBT teens to find comfort admist animosity. Moreover, the slightly religious glow of the language does not alienate readers from a non-Judaic faith. The book will be of great use to many people facing depression for the first time, desperate for some sanctuary.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled with Ideas, November 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: When Living Hurts (Paperback)

This book was sent to me years ago by a good friend. It was very entertaining and easy to read. While it didn't "cure" my depression, it does contain some helpful information.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars encouraging, August 12, 2001

By 

Lee Sandahl (Grimes, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Living Hurts : For Teenagers and Young Adults - A Lively What-To-Do Book for Yourself or Someone You Care About Who Feels Discouraged, Sad, Lonely (Paperback)

I read this book while I was incarerated. This book help to lead me back to my path of God. And to understand myself, the crime I commited and why. I read this book in an hour, I was and still am forever touched by this book. I have looked in local bookstores for this book and have not been able to find it. I think this book should be put in rehab. facilities for all to read. I honestly believe they can change the story to fit anyones life and their addictions. Thanks for this wonderful life changing book.