Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK
Review: I have battled major depression most of my life. Medication has only been effective in helping me manage the illness. Talk therapy did not work the miracles I had hoped for. My psychiatrist told me to buy this book and read it. I bought the book to humor my doctor. However, I refused to read it because I was convinced that no book was going to give me the insight and hope that I needed. This book sat on my bookshelf for 15 months. One day after having moved, I came across Feeling Good. That day I decided to read it. Feeling Good provided me with powerful insight into my illness. I read the book; and, the book read me. I learned more about myself and about depression than I could have hoped for. I am now "turning the corner" with depression. Life gets better for me each day. My only regret is that I did not read it when my doctor suggested it 15 months ago.
Rating: 
Summary: For all of the people, some of the time
Review: Dr. David Burns, in his Feeling Good series of books, gives us the most easy to follow guide for cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy is an effective method of treatment, one that is so structured that it can be studied because therapists who provide it correctly all do it the same way. Basically its premise is that depression occurs from our distortions in thinking and by changing these distortions, we can cure our depression. So if changing your thinking patterns relieves your depression, cognitive therapy is right for you. Dr. Richard O'Connor, in Active Treatment of Depression and in Undoing Depression, explains this and goes on to recommend Feeling Good as a good resource . Undoing Depression also explains the other ways depression can occur and gives many ways to attack this vicious disease. There have been times that a quick recap of cognitive principles have put me back on track. At those times, Dr. Burns's books have been just the ticket. There have been other times that telling me to work on "changing my thoughts" would have been like telling me that I wasn't experiencing what I knew I was.
Rating: 
Summary: One sided view
Review: Alot of good info, but Dr. Burns basically says that antidepressants are basically useless and don't really work. He seem to push the therapy side of treatment, but downplayed the medical side of depression.
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Summary: Worth Every Penny, This book changed by life!
Review: Do you ever have doubting words of negativity that play in your head? Do you ever get anxious? Jealous?? Depressed? Sad?? I have lived with anxiety and distress most of my life. It started when I was a child and everything that I attempt in life was an uphill battle. A lot of my struggles have been silenced by just reading this book. Does it sound like a miracle? It may be. I am a book lover but this book made me realize the POWER of books. Do you believe in self help books? You don't? This book will help you silence thoughts of negativity and doubt. Along with Marsha Linehan's handbook for theraphists of Dialectical Behavior Theraphy, this book helped me to 1) invalidate my negative thoughts and not "give in to them" thinking that whatever negative thought that pops into my head was "valid" and needed to be considered seriously; 2) that somehow, some people's wiring is such that negative thoughts pop into our heads--doesn't matter if it is due to negative childhood experiences or just because we are "wired" this way, the point is, just IGNORE the bad thoughts--they do nothing but make you miserable--this book will start to show you how to ignore the negative thoughts--or rather, rationalize them away; 3) there is no MUST...stop musturbating...there are no absolutes in life, just be happy to "let" life be and take it easy. If you want a greater quality of life, just buy and read this book...that is if you are like my former self, filled with anxiety, worries and mild depression. I am about 1000 percent better, but life is a vigilent watch for happiness and great days...my life has gotten so much better since I read this book about 6 weeks ago. I no longer think that I "MUST" get this, I "MUST" have this relationship, I "MUST" be this and that...I just live and feel that that is just enough to feel good! This is not a "settle" for what life gives you type of book, not for me, anyway. What this book did for me was to silence the voices that were dragging me down, my own inner negative voices. I now know that I have to live in the moment, no past regrets, no future worries, just live for now and today. This book is not about hedonism and not planning for the future kind of book though, this book teaches that you must plan for a better future. For instance, are you under the weather and you feel like being mean to your spouse? Do you feel like "starting" it with your boyfriend? How about remembering that your relationship is for the long haul and withholding yourself from acting out? Read this book and make it your own, I did! If you have "ISSUES" with your personality, if you are irritable, jealous, indignant, feel entitled, anxious, depressed or sad, please get this book and read it. Good luck!!
Rating:
Summary: Hope and empowerment for healing depression
Review: I highly recommend this book. It sheds light on causes for depression as well as practical ways to deal with it. I found Mr. Becks discussion on medication vs. talk (cognitive) therapy for depression very balanced. There are those who truely need medication but there is a huge number of people who are on medication that could use other methods like Mr. Becks to get well and stay well.
Rating:
Summary: Feeling Good : The New Mood Therapy
Review: This book should be read by everyone, even if you are not depressed. It will change your life...
Rating:
Summary: a book for anyone
Review: This book can be personally molded to fit anyones situation, and it is probably the best self-help book I have ever read.
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Summary: his claims are too universal
Review: Some people make decisions according to how they think; their thoughts give rise to their feelings. Such people might like this book. More power to them. For me and for many others, it is the other way around: feelings give rise to thoughts. In order for "feelers" to overcome problems, we need empathy. Being told we're thinking the wrong way just exacerbates the feeling of being wrong. Also, like other reviewers, I found that the book seemed unedited, rambling, and repetitive. I'm glad some have found it beneficial. I benefit more from dealing with feelings before thoughts.
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Summary: This book saved my life!
Review: I have suffered with depression for 12 years. I have attempted suicide twice that put me in the hospital. I have not received much relief from the medication or the help of others. But, this book has stated every reason that I have for feeling the way I do and it makes realize that I am the only one who change the way I feel and perceive everything in life. This is the first time in years that I realized that I will make it and how to change my feelings. I enjoyed the way he did his role reversals on his patients. It helped me to see how I really feel about things.
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Summary: Will be required in my utopian society.
Review: If I ever start a Utopian Society of some sort, there will be three prerequisites to citizenship. First, automobile drivers over 80 will need to retake their driving test every year. Second, lime-flavored candies are replaced with apple-flavored ones (limes, however, will be provided with every club soda purchase), and third, you must read this book! By reading and understanding this book, I understood so much about myself which I had taken to be intrinsic... I have learned to control my moods and emotions... Dr. Burns makes sense in his writing. Clarity of writing and practical, real-life-situation application makes this book a must for anyone who knows someone (or is themselves) dealing with anxiety or depression.
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