Rating: 
Summary: Excerpts such as Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline elevate the book
Review: 1/31/02 Page 1 has only excerpts from Leonard Cohen's "Anthem":Ring the bell that still can ring;forget your perfect offering;there is a crack in everything;that's how the light gets in"...A promise of more excepts might possibly have you saying I know all about "undercurrents" ...slights often due to assumptions; slights often due to facts, etc..:After a scanning for excerpts, than a more casual 'paging of the book' reminds you that "it's bettter out than in" ,as is often said about belches and hiccups.. and troubling thoughts can be dispelled by discussing them with someone rational(subjective or objective depending on what responses you want.Whether it is author Martha Mannings seeking sleep(9/6/90) by rote recitation of "prayers" such as the parochial school"HailMary"(Pg 50) or her decision to get "Electroconvulsive therapy" to help her be able to distinguish stupid and illogical thoughts from positive and progressive thoughts ,so that she doesn't have to beat herself to sleep over and over again with Hail Mary's(that's a lot of recitation(excluding her own interjections to the prayer)..50 beads to a set means 50 Hail Mary's;her ability to emphasis her being too harsh on herself (e.g. at a women's ritual on 2/24/91 where she feels her giggling will annoy the other women and thus drifts off in trying to find ways to not have her own brand "spontaneity"...she shows that being too self centered ,that all eyes are always on you except when you are 'critizing' some one else does not cultivate good mental health.
Rating: 
Summary: Details a seemingly-normal woman's bout with depression
Review: 38 year old wife/mom/psychotherapist/writer shares her journal, which details her descent into depression, her encounters with therapists, her eventual hospitalization and in-patient ECT therapy (prompted, not surprisingly, by her insurance company's illogical refusal to cover out-patient ECT but willingness to pay for in-patient treatment), and her slow climb from numbness back to the realm of the living, able to appreciate and enjoy what life has to offer. Maning is a good writer, and this reads almost like a novel -- I carried it in my purse, reading a few pages while I waited in line, during short breaks, during my lunch hour -- it doesn't demand a lot of attention to read; it's not technical or academic in any way. Manning is witty and eloquent, and intersperses her prose with snippets of very moving poetry -- from a variety of sources (everything from the children's book Madeline to the Bible's Lamentations). Her discussion of depression's impact on her relationship with her husband and daugter, as well as her accounts of some of the ridiculous "therapy" she received while hospitalized are particularly insightful. Mannig seems strikingly "normal" -- able to function acceptably, see patients, write coherently, even though she claims to be crippled by depression. Why I gave it four stars rather than five -- I see a bit of a disjoint between what Manning's therapists say & how Manning represents herself in the journal. I don't get a full picture of what she shows her therapists that makes them think that she needs ECT. I am left wondering if Manning opens up to us, the readers, as much as she opens up to her therapists -- and I find myself wishing I knew more. Her writing isn't quite as painful as I think it could be -- which, of course, makes the book less taxing & more readable. Overall, though, it's a very revealing account, always with a focus on recovery and improvement.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-read memoir of depression
Review: A painful, realistic and approachable memoir of depression. The author, a clinical psychologist, describes her descent into depression, leading eventually to the hospital and ECT. Her point of view as first a therapist and then a patient is unique and often humorous.
Rating:
Summary: Graceful and Compelling
Review: A powerful account of a battle with depression that moved me to tears, I finished this book in one afternoon while seeing myself in the pages. For anyone who has suffered from depression, this book is an incredible account of how one woman battled and won, even though her depression was severe and debilitating, and her treatment extremely controversial. Although electroshock therapy was abused earlier this century, and I empathize with people who were damaged by that era, I feel that the author conveys clearly her arduous journey of trying every other possible solution before finally, reluctantly, choosing her treatment. Afterwards, in social situations, she has to defend her choice, and says, proudly, "I was trying to save my life." A graceful and compelling story.
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Summary: Good insight into depression
Review: After a friend of mine was diagnosed with depression, I did some research on the disease and this was a book I came across. A funny and poignant book, it gives great insight on what it is like to suffer from depression, and the depths of despair and personal hell one person can reach. Manning is at her best when musing on the lessons that she learned from this particularly devastating depressive episode. A good book for anyone who wonders why people with depression just can't "snap out of it."
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Summary: Great book - even if you're not suffering from depression
Review: After I read this book I lent it to my roommate to read, and she's one of the happiest people know. Manning's writing style is so witty and so enjoyable to read that I can definitely recommend (and have recommended) this book to anyone who likes reading, whether or not that person deals with depression. Of course, you've probably stumbled across this book because you're dealing with depression and want to read about how others in your shoes have dealt with the issue (you're not just looking for witty / stylistically enjoyable reads). Manning's book perfectly chronicles her life with depression, her mental / emotional states while dealing with depression, and how she was able to (or not able to, in some cases) deal with her job, her child, husband, and siblings....all while feeling like she was coming apart. Despite the level of seriousness that her disease reached, Manning was able to write about her life with depression in ways that, at times, had me laughing out loud. If you buy and read this book, you'll feel that neither your money nor your time was wasted.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbingly Authentic
Review: An excellent book about a miraculous woman's authentic life. Manning's soul, work and wit craft a completely absorbing journey.
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Summary: If you are depressed or want to understand...
Review: As a licensed mental health counsleor, I have recommended this book to clients, students (I also teach) and friends who wanted a "real life" experience of depression. Although Ms. Manning ultimately needs a treatment that is rarely used (electro-shock therapy) it is her description of depression, and its debilitating effects, that have helped so many to understand this ILLNESS. I highly recommend this readable and informative book.
Rating:
Summary: "must read" for caregivers & depressed persons
Review: As a person diagnosed and living with major depression, I found solace and comfort in reading and re-reading this book. It was comforting to know that I was not alone. When I was unable to put words to the feelings I was having, Manning did it for me. While in treatment, when recovery seemed too slow,reading this book helped keep me focused.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: As a psychiatrist, I have often recommended this book to patients, especially to help loved ones understand the profound difference between clinical depression and feeling down in the dumps. Gracefully written and deeply moving
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