Malignant Sadness - Softcover

Lewis Wolpert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571230784 ISBN 13: 9780571230785

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2006

Synopsis

Several years ago, Lewis Wolpert had a severe depressive episode. Despite a happy marriage and successful scientific career, he could think only of suicide. When eventually he did recover, he became aware of the stigma attached to depression - and just how difficult it was to get reliable information. With characteristic candour and determination he set about writing this book, an acclaimed investigation into the causes and treatments of this devastating disease, which formed the basis for a BBC TV series. This paperback edition features a new introduction, in which Lewis Wolpert discusses the reaction to his book and television series, and recounts his own recurring struggle with depression.

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Review

After he captures the essence of his subject so succinctly in his title, it's a wonder that noted scientist Lewis Wolpert went on to write a whole book. Luckily for us, Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression lives up to its title, explaining the state of our knowledge and enlightening bystanders who have never been crippled by psychic pain about just what they're missing. Wolpert's training as a developmental biologist helps him sift through the scientific literature, while his devastating episode of depression is the base of his eloquent descriptions of its subjective experience. Far from a deficit, his lack of psychiatric training allows him to explore more freely the unclear and ambiguous depths of our understanding of this all-too-common ailment.

Given his background, one would expect Wolpert to emphasize biological causes and relief, but he gives psychological and environmental factors their due. As anyone with a debilitating disease will agree, any course of action promising recovery is worth pursuing, and Malignant Sadness carefully looks into many alternate explanations and therapies. Evolution, psychotherapy, Prozac and its ilk, and non-Western medicine all play roles in Wolpert's drama, and his engaging prose keeps the reader intrigued throughout. Either you or someone close to you is practically certain to be struck by some form of depression during your lifetime--read Malignant Sadness and be prepared. --Rob Lightner

About the Author

Lewis Wolpert is a distinguished developmental biologist, and is Emeritus Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology at University College, London. He is the author of, among others, The Unnatural Nature of Science andMalignant Sadness, which was described by Anthony Storr as 'the most objective short account of all the various approaches to depression'. His most recent book, You're Looking Very Well: The Surprising Nature of Getting Old, was published in 2011.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0571230784
• ISBN 13: 9780571230785
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224