A Cure for Darkness
The Story of Depression and How We Treat It
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A Cure for Darkness
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Narrated by:
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Alex Riley
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By:
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Alex Riley
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
What is depression? Is it a persistent low mood or a complex range of symptoms? Is it a single diagnosis or a range of mental disorders requiring different treatments? And is there a way of curing such a complex, and diverse, condition?
A sufferer of depression himself, science writer Alex Riley has spent years thinking about these issues as he was prescribed antidepressants and underwent cognitive behavioural therapy. Throughout his treatment, he wondered: are antidepressants effective? Do short-term talking therapies actually work? And what is on the horizon for those who don't respond to these first-line treatments? A Cure for Darkness explores all of these questions and more, as the author embarks on a journey to illuminate one of the world's most prevalent disorders.
Weaving personal and family history, the book tracks treatments through centuries of science, from the 'talking cure' to electroconvulsive therapy to magic mushrooms. Reporting on the field of global mental health from its colonial past to the present day, Riley discovers new and exciting therapies, including how a group of grandmothers stands on the frontline of a mental health revolution. A gripping narrative journey, A Cure for Darkness delves deep into the science of mental health and finds hope at the new frontiers of treatment.
©2021 Alex Riley (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Boldly ambitious, deeply affecting and magisterial in scope." (Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes)
What listeners say about A Cure for Darkness
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Night Owl
- 26-04-21
Fascinating, powerful, informative, honest.
As a sufferer from depression myself, I was intrigued to see what this book could offer me in terms of new knowledge.
The author combines personal experiences with in depth research from all corners of the world and boy does he do it well.
Hooked from the onset, the cleverly crafted writing interweaves the journey of research and varying terms for depression throughout history exploring and explaining terms for drugs and research.
Beautifully, sensitively written and read by the author who has a delightful Yorkshire twang, this book is an absolute must have for those who suffer along with those who support the sufferers. How refreshing to find a well researched, informative book from an award winning science writer who is prepared to share his own experiences along with the experiences, successes and failures of scientists, researchers and sufferers alike. Absolutely brilliant, cannot recommend more highly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- priscilla Ewett
- 14-12-21
a must read
if you want to understand mental illness read this.
Alex explains the treatment and more specifically treatment resistance and the advances made in treatment
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 14-09-21
Excellent Book!
Well written and researched. Helped me understand my own mental health better. I would recommed this book.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-06-21
well researched but still missed a lot
Johan hari gives a much better explanation and account for treating depression as well as it's possible origins, still worth listening to though..... author is a great writer but focused a bit too much on the history of antidepressants and one or two talk therapies ... I'd highly recommend Johan hari's lost connections if this book is something your going to get, they both would compliment each other to some degree...good listen but theres better books out there on depression and the troubling history of supposed chemical cures
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