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Review
“A lucid and revealing book…an unusually amusing, moving, and spirited account.” —Adam Phillips, The Nation
“[Greenberg] is an unusually eloquent writer, and his book offers a grand tour of the history of modern medicine, as well as an up-close look at contemporary practices." —Louis Menand, The New Yorker
“A dizzying, dazzling critique. It is probably the most thoughtful book on depression ever written." —Jonathan Rottenberg, Ph.D., Psychology Today
“Manufacturing Depression is full of fascinating stories...Greenberg's greatest contribution, though, is insisting on few certainties, and in offering himself to us." —Liz Else, New Scientist
“In a medicalized world of specious concepts where false hope has taken the form of a diagnosis and a pill, the only way to challenge current thinking is with a sledgehammer, or a copy of Manufacturing Depression. And best of all, this may be the funniest book on depression ever.” —Errol Morris, Academy Award-winning director of The Fog of War
“Greenberg[‘s] bouts of deep depressions [are] smartly conveyed here, including [his] participation in a clinical trial for an antidepressant…the author engages in extended, illuminating discussions of a host of therapeutic techniques, the confounding power of the placebo effect, the evolution of psychopharmacology and the ways in which expectations shape response. A humanistic, witty exploration of the human response to depression.” —Kirkus
“Greenberg elegantly dissects the medical-research-pharmaceutical complex….A splendid, witty analysis of how we came to give up the stories of our lives in favor of analyzing the alphabet of which the stories are made. An essential read for all invested in medicine and social science.” —Library Journal, starred review
“[Greenberg] is an unusually eloquent writer, and his book offers a grand tour of the history of modern medicine, as well as an up-close look at contemporary practices." —Louis Menand, The New Yorker
“A dizzying, dazzling critique. It is probably the most thoughtful book on depression ever written." —Jonathan Rottenberg, Ph.D., Psychology Today
“Manufacturing Depression is full of fascinating stories...Greenberg's greatest contribution, though, is insisting on few certainties, and in offering himself to us." —Liz Else, New Scientist
“In a medicalized world of specious concepts where false hope has taken the form of a diagnosis and a pill, the only way to challenge current thinking is with a sledgehammer, or a copy of Manufacturing Depression. And best of all, this may be the funniest book on depression ever.” —Errol Morris, Academy Award-winning director of The Fog of War
“Greenberg[‘s] bouts of deep depressions [are] smartly conveyed here, including [his] participation in a clinical trial for an antidepressant…the author engages in extended, illuminating discussions of a host of therapeutic techniques, the confounding power of the placebo effect, the evolution of psychopharmacology and the ways in which expectations shape response. A humanistic, witty exploration of the human response to depression.” —Kirkus
“Greenberg elegantly dissects the medical-research-pharmaceutical complex….A splendid, witty analysis of how we came to give up the stories of our lives in favor of analyzing the alphabet of which the stories are made. An essential read for all invested in medicine and social science.” —Library Journal, starred review
Book Description
Am I depressed or just unhappy? In the last two decades, antidepressants have become staples of our medicine cabinets—doctors now write 120 million prescriptions annually, at a cost of more than 10 billion dollars. At the same time, depression rates have skyrocketed; twenty percent of Americans are now expected to suffer from it during their lives. Doctors, and drug companies, claim that this convergence is a public health triumph: the recognition and treatment of an under-diagnosed illness. Gary Greenberg, a practicing therapist and longtime depressive, raises a more disturbing possibility: that the disease has been manufactured to suit (and sell) the cure.
Greenberg draws on sources ranging from the Bible to current medical journals to show how the idea that unhappiness is an illness has been packaged and sold by brilliant scientists and shrewd marketing experts—and why it has been so successful. Part memoir, part intellectual history, part exposé—including a vivid chronicle of his participation in a clinical antidepressant trial—Manufacturing Depression is an incisive look at an epidemic that has changed the way we have come to think of ourselves.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Manufacturing Depression: The Secret of Modern Disease,
By
This review is from: Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease (Hardcover)
A very informative topic and a very easy read. The author thoroughly evaluates the processes involved with the major drug companies and their development and marketing of drugs for consumer use (necessary or not).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.1 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews) 57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's about time!,
By William Musgrave - Published on Amazon.com
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Finally, a critical history of depression that illuminates the conditions and origins of the malady while advocating humanely on behalf of its sufferers. I loved this book! Combining narratives about his own experiences as both a depressed person and a professional therapist treating the depressed, along with a fascinating history of depression from the time of the ancients (including a wonderful reading of the Book of Job as an early record of depression) through modern melancholia all the way to the present biochemical understanding of the disease, Greenberg brings remarkable erudition, insight, and humanity into this deeply personal and problematic subject. In addition, he provides the most acute and detailed analysis of the nexus between the pharmaceutical industry and diagnostic trends that I've read so far. If its effect on me is any indication, reading this book will help anyone who has experienced depression (and the people who love them) to understand more fully the nature of their suffering and the limitations of current trends in treatment. While it is certainly critical of many aspects of the industry that's grown up around depression, and provides no pat answers or magic bullets for how to overcome it, the main message to me is deeply positive: that anti-depressants are clearly valuable tools in the battle against depression but we shouldn't shortchange ourselves by letting our identities or our suffering be defined by the pharmaceutical industry. Greenberg is one of the sharpest, most compassionate, and most entertaining minds currently exploring the intersection of psychology, science writing, and cultural studies--think Foucault with a great sense of humor and a big heart--and this intervention into the national conversation about depression and anti-depressants is long overdue.
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful and Funny,
By Ethan Watters - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease (Hardcover)
I first read Gary Greenberg's thoughts on depression in a Harper's essay that was passed from friend to friend always with the same insistence: "You've got to read this!" I'm pleased to say that the book is also a must read. It is a devilishly hard thing to see how one's culture informs one's sense of self. Some writers try to manage the trick by becoming vociferous critics of the psychological trends of their time, endlessly pointing out the mistakes of all the people not as smart as they are. Greenberg's approach is much more interesting. His approach is empathic, deeply personal and at many times filled with wonder and humor. Highly recommended.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging and enlightening, yes. Pat, easy answers, no,
By C. Billy "Keysgirl" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease (Hardcover)
Gary Greenberg has stepped into the 'treacherous waters of anti-depressantresearch' and challenged the old-guard establishment, calling into question the integrity of the entire healthcare industry - but he doesn't necessarily outline a concrete remedy for the frustrating mess. And as we all know, the American people don't mind if you enlighten them on the problem, but you'd better follow that up with the ANSWER. And Greenberg doesn't do that. He nudges, he suggests, he makes inroads, takes detours, and will occassionally outright opine, but a sure-fire ANSWER - not Greenberg's style. But asking the questions, pointing out the gaps in reason and logic, exposing falsehoods....that's just as important, isn't it? That at least gets us somewhere more meaningful and substantial than the complacency spoon-fed us by those ominous depression doctors (forget the spoon, these days it's a multi-colored cocktail). Of course, Greenberg has a powerful opponent, a Goliath to his David. Just ask those Uconn guys who did all that placebo research and ruffled many a lab coat feather. His may not be a popular message, but it is an important one. Like a powerful movie or a rousing speech, Manufacturing Depression challenges us to reconsider long-held beliefs and erroneous thinking - because the depression doctors sure as heck aren't going to do it for us... |
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