Customer Reviews

Winter Blues, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Winter Blues" is a well-crafted book by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, the creator of the contemporary concept of seasonal affective disorder and light therapy, one of the outstanding leaders in the field of mood disorders, and the author of numerous publications including the famous books "The Emotional Revolution" and "St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good." The first edition of "Winter Blues" was published in 1993. In the past 12 years this book has become a classic reference for the thousands of people who experience seasonal changes in mood and behavior. The new edition is not merely a cosmetic update but an extensive revision of the previous edition. The revised edition of "Winter Blues" provides the readers with the most up-to-date information on the research in the field and reflects new perspectives in appreciating how much we can do to overcome the effects of seasons. The chapter on new research demonstrates the vast accumulation of new information we have gained on the subject of seasonal affective disorder, seasonality, and light treatment. The author describes interesting scientific findings related to the neurobiological mechanisms of seasonality. Other chapters of this book provide the readers with useful information on how to overcome "winter blues" and related topics. I am impressed with the deepness of the author's description of the "holiday blues" and "anniversary reactions." This is a simply written, interesting book. It is a book I certainly recommend to everybody who is interested in natural sciences.

I really liked the first version of this book and this latest revised version has even more information.

Rosenthal writes in a way that keeps your interest high and gives you a summary of the latest research. Wise advice on a shiny silver platter (to mangle a proverb).

Dr. Rosenthal seems to be a good guy. His wisdom, humor and compassion are reflected in his books. I doubt you will be dissapointed!

By the way, I didn't come to this page to review the book - I came to buy it after reading someone else's copy. (Here comes winter!)

Winter Blues is a very readable book that clearly lays out the causes and symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The book doesn't make outrageous claims or offer surefire solutions. What it does is provide a host of possible treatments from which people living with SAD can develop their own plan of attack for alleviating their individual symptoms. The chapters are well laid out making it easy to identify applicable information and go back for quick reviews after the initial reading.

I got another edition of this book because I suspected I had SAD or the winter blues and needed to find out more. It is a very validating read and much of the information is very helpful. There were sections of the book I just glossed over, such as the history of SAD - I didn't feel I needed to know. As a result of reading this book I purchased a light box, have been using it consistently and have had a great reduction in symptoms. I was able to buy the right type of box and tweak the amount of time I used it to work best for me with the help of the book. The author is knowledgeable and empathetic to the person who suffers from SAD. I highly recommend it if you suspect lack of light is a problem for you.

As someone who has long suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder, I can personally attest to the fact that Dr. Norman Rosenthal's seminal work has been instrumental in helping me cope with and ultimately overcome the winter blues. Dr. Rosenthal is an insightful, provocative, and engaging author, with a rare gift for explaining complex scientific ideas in a manner that is accessible to all. I highly recommend this book to anyone who may suffer from SAD or who is the least bit curious about a disorder that affects millions of people.

I've taught science for over twenty-five years, and the information in this book is not accurate. The biggest problem is that the author seems to believe any sort of light is an acceptable cure for SAD. As another reviewer mentioned, he believes that "light is light." Not so. Human bodies need thirty minutes of full-spectrum light (sunlight, natural or created) per day in order to maintain any sort of reasonable health. That's more difficult in fall and winter months because the lux of natural light is lower.

Those who read serious scientific studies such as "The Light Book" way back when, and followed those studies to more modern research already know this, but for those younger people new to the subject, I feel it necessary to explain that just any light is NOT appropriate light!

This book is full of confusing rhetoric and is extremely disappointing. Again, as another reviewer said, it can be summed up easily: Eat right, get exercise to create endorphins, expose yourself to negative ions, and use light. Heavy on the light therapy. My daughter suffers from SAD (she's the reason I read this book) and although I'd suggested light therapy before, she dismissed the idea. Because the bedroom in her home is dark in the morning, I bought her an inexpensive (eighty bucks here at Amazon) Verilux light box and suggested she use it while getting ready for work. She has been using it for two weeks and has more energy, her e-mails and phone calls are upbeat, and she just seems to be doing better in general.

This book does not contain accurate scientific information. It is a dull and sometimes confusing read. It is a waste of money. It will not help you overcome SAD unless you buy into the idea of antidepressants as a panacea for everything (as the author seems to).

Don't waste your time or money on this book. There must be better new information out there.

Best of luck to all.

Very readable and informative. Helps greatly in providing an understanding of SAD and in providing solution to decrease the impact of SAD. This edition and previous editions have helped me greatly in dealing with this problem.

I am so glad I read this book before purchasing and using a light therapy box. Dr. Rosenthal is a calm and reasonable source for this important information. The resources chapters at the end are worth the price of the book.

Winter Blues is by far the best book on SAD I've read (and I've been reading quite a number of them as winter's upon us). It was quite an easy read, well written, and cuts right to the point. Additionally, the book creates thought producing scenarios by asking the reader think for themselves. I much prefer being presented with a list of questions and thinking out the answers rather than being force-fed them like so many authors tend to do these days. I do hope that psychiatrists take a note from this book, and write in a more manageable bite-sized fashion in the future. 2 thumbs up Dr. Rosenthal!

The book is very informative and in a everyday language. I use it more for a reference book.