A Mood Apart: The Thinker's Guide to Emotion and Its Disorders (Paperback)

~ (Author) "We buried my father according to his instructions, under the tree he had chosen in the little country churchyard..." (more)
Key Phrases: thymic temperaments, predictive homeostasis, reactive homeostasis, John Moorehead, Claire Dubois, Virginia Woolf (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent book. It reflects not only the depth and breadth of the author's scientific and clinical contributions to the study of moods, but captures, in a wonderful way, the crucial role of moods in human nature and society....Anyone interested in moods, or disorders of moods will find this an informative, important and engrossing book." -- Kay Redfield Jamison, author of An Unquiet Mind

Product Description

"A compassionate exploration of depression and manic-depression."
-- Forecast

"The most thorough and wide-ranging discussion for lay readers about the interplay of the physical and emotional elements of depression and manic-depression... His presentation is illuminating, and the case histories demonstrate his sensitivity and skill as a clinician.... Whybrow's presentation offers a deeper understanding of, along with a humane and wise approach to these very troubling illnesses."
-- Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (February 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006097740X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060977405
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #591,478 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

If someone were to ask me, "What scientist, by nature of their perspective, could ever understand the depths of humanity?" - I would pluck this book from my shelf and hand it to them. Whybrow truly investigates the subjective and the objective aspects of 'mood disorders' (in the clinical sense) and, by way of dialogue, synthesizes the two approaches into a singular perspective. He explores the emotional continuum - from mania to melancholia - in such a clear and concise fashion that anyone (scientist or humanist) can acquire knowledge, as well as wisdom, through Whybrow's book, A Mood Apart.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review Apart, May 23, 2003

By	David (USA) - See all my reviews

I whole heartedly agree with all of the other reviews. This book is tremendously insightful. I would like to add that this is not a book solely about bi-polar and manic depression. It is also about unipolar depression. I found that to read about all these types of depression together to be very insightful about my own place amongst all the variations. And this was a very interesting point made by the book that all these types of variables do occur in people without the dehabilitating forms of these illnesses. The form of the illness is not out of the ordinary, so to speak. Excellent book. Layered with insights into biology, psychology, history, genetics, and evolutionary adaptation.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Manic Depression I've Read, September 1, 2005

By	A. Greene (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Dr. Whybrow demonstrates his extensive knowledge regarding the spectrum of mood disorders in a highly interesting, entertaining, poetic and informative way. Never have I read a book by a doctor that actually humanizes the person and the condition in such depth, exploring the cultural, historical and philosophical/religious aspects of manic depression as well as detailing the intricacies of the effects of sleep, seasonal change, circadian rhythms, and lifestyle on mood. There is the typical discussion of medications, but this book does not focus solely on that as much literature in this realm does. Rather, this book covers nearly every topic worth mentioning in this extremely well-written, colorful, introspective, and fascinating read.