Lost Connections - Johann Hari

Description

Depression and anxiety are now at epidemic levels. Why? Across the world, scientists have uncovered evidence for nine different causes. Some are in our biology, but most are in the way we are living today. Lost Connections offers a radical new way of thinking about this crisis. It shows that once we understand the real causes, we can begin to turn to pioneering new solutions - ones that offer real hope.

Review

I was interested to read this book from a viewpoint of how we might prevent depression, if, as the author claims they know why it happens. Also to be an advocate for those that suffer, to try to be informed.

The book has several pages of mainly celebrity endorsements at the beginning some of which had attracted me to the book, however know I have read it I wonder did any of these people actually read the book? Then came the longest prologue I have ever read followed by an even longer introduction. 

This is not in my opinion a self help book - if you are depressed wading through this book I would not think as helpful to you - there may be some useful nuggets in there, but really the style of writing is more text book than self help with lots of research quotes. Although the author has suffered from long term depression I'm not sure many people would identify with him and his experiences.

Once the book began to examine the placebo effect and the history of anti-depressants I began to be more interested. Then I got angry as I read about drug trials and how they can be manipulated just like any statistics to show what the drug companies want them to. Basically the legal way this is achieved. I felt the way in which this was explained was very down to earth and easily understood. 

Unfortunately the book does repeat itself several times - in fact the author sets this up by saying he will be going over this again later in the book. In a paper version this would be ok but on a kindle I found it a little annoying as I couldn't easily dip in and out. 

I did find a lot of the book interesting. Some of the authors conclusions about the lost connections are being put into practice in the NHS with courses in some areas of the country being offered to people in art, pottery etc and to also provide a connection to others. 

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for an ARC to review.