The 5 Best Books About Depression

Depression has been affecting more and more people around the world, which makes us need to look for reliable sources of knowledge on the subject. Hence the importance of looking for good books on depression, to find possible causes and solutions for this serious and disabling disorder.

In order not to get lost among so many editions and approaches, read our tips and learn how to choose the best book on depression.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Psychological disorders are always susceptible to misinterpretation, being confused with sensations that, although bad, are normal and controllable. Depression as a psychological disorder is not the same as being sad. Learn to differentiate knowing the main symptoms of the disease:

1 - Constant malaise: very recurrent feeling of guilt or worthlessness;

2 - Anhedonia: decreased interest and pleasure in performing most activities;

3 - Daily sleep disturbances: such as untimely sleepiness or insomnia;

4 - Feeling of lack of energy: feeling fatigued even without having made any effort;

5 - Difficulty concentrating: decreased ability to think and concentrate on something;

6 - Weight changes: unintentional weight gain or loss;

7 - Change in libido: reduction in sexual desire or performance;

8 - Suicidal ideas: symptom that requires immediate attention, characterized by frequent thoughts of death or suicide.

These symptoms help us to realize that, far beyond the mere feeling of sadness, depression is a disabling and severe disorder that requires expert help. In this article, you will find books on depression with different approaches for anyone interested in the subject.

So, with all of that in mind, we've prepared a selection of the 5 best books about depression, with reviews from avid readers like me and you.

If you want to purchase any of the books listed below, click on the titles. They are affiliated links that will take you directly to the store.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression by Andrew Solomon

The book is considered one of the greatest references when it comes to depression. In it, the journalist and writer decided to investigate his illness in depth, interviewing specialists and other depressed people. The panorama is complete, from ethical and moral issues, treatment and impact of the disease in various populations. The book won the National Book Award and was named one of the top 100 of the 2000s by the British newspaper The Times.

The Hours, by Michael Cunningham

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a film adaptation interspersed with the story of three women (one of them, writer Virginia Woolf) and their relationship to depression, anxiety, and suicide.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

It is the story of Pat, a professor who has recently left a mental hospital. His path crosses that of Tiffany, who is depressed and unstable after her husband's death. She convinces Pata to participate in a ballroom dancing contest. The novel became the film that gave Jennifer Lawrence the Oscar for Best Actress in 2013.

Boy Meets Depression: Or Life Sucks and Then You Live by Kevin Breel

A 19-year-old talking openly about his depression, this was, in short, Kevin Breel's speech that has become a famous TED Talk around the world. This lucid and intelligent confession was converted into a book on teenage depression of great importance today.

A touching aspect of the work is the narrative about how someone with everything to be happy struggles intimately with depression and the recurring desire for suicide. With a personal and sensitive approach, the author seeks to help other young people who face the same difficulties he went through.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

As the subtitle tells us, this work brings together the "stories of a man who faced depression and relearned how to live". At 24, Matt Haig was on the verge of committing suicide. Although he didn't complete the act, he spent years of panic, despair and daily struggles with depression.

Throughout the book, Haig reveals some situations he experienced, highlighting the way in which he walked his long path to improvement. Having overcome the depression that almost killed him, the author seeks to say something motivating and welcoming to other people who still face these sufferings.