Dive Deeper:
Essential Resources and Readings on Depression

The Noonday Demon remains a reference on depression, for both laypeople and experts. With rare humanity, wisdom, and erudition, award-winning author Andrew Solomon invites the reader on an unprecedented journey through the intricacies of one of the most thorny and complex topics of our time. Interweaving the account of his own battle with the illness with the testimonies of depression victims and the opinions of experts, Solomon deconstructs myths, explores ethical and moral issues, describes available medications, the effectiveness of alternative treatments, and the impact depression has on various demographics (be they children, homosexuals, or the inhabitants of Greenland). In the unprecedented epilogue written exclusively for the Brazilian reissue, we learn what happened to Solomon, to the interviewees, and to depression treatments since the publication of The Noonday Demon. The author's intelligence, curiosity, and empathy allow us to understand not only mental illness but also the depth of the human experience. A monumental work.

“When I was 24, I almost killed myself. At the time, I lived in Ibiza, Spain, on the quiet side of the island. My house was right next to a cliff. In the fog of depression, I walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out at the sea, at the rugged limestone coastline dotted with deserted beaches. It was the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen, but at the time, it didn't matter. I was too busy trying to summon the courage I needed to jump off. I didn't. Instead, I retreated and vomited everything I was feeling. Three more years of depression followed. Panic, despair, daily battles. But I survived. Back then, I was certain I wouldn't make it past 30. Death or total madness seemed more realistic. I'm over 40. Today, I live surrounded by people I love, doing work I never imagined I would, and I spend my days writing. I'm so glad I didn't kill myself. but I kept wondering if there was anything to say to people going through these dark times. This is my attempt.”

Generally, we seek the help of a therapist to better understand our anxieties, fears, guilt, or any other feelings that cause us discomfort and suffering. But how many of us have stopped to ask: is a therapist immune to the range of issues they help their patients resolve and overcome, day after day? Bestselling author and therapist Lori Gottlieb shows us that the answer to this question brings surprising revelations. When she finds herself emotionally unable to manage a situation that is disrupting her life, a friend makes a suggestion: maybe you should talk to someone. Combining stories gathered from her rich history as a therapist (distributed among four unforgettable characters) with her own experience as a patient, Lori offers us a warm, light, and moving account of the universality of our questions and anxieties, and sheds light on what is most mysterious within us, affirming our capacity to change our lives. A moving journey of self-discovery, a tribute to human nature, and a reminder of the importance of being heard, but also of knowing how to listen. A book about the importance of encounters, affection, and the courage of all of us who embark on the adventure of self-discovery.

A classic of psychotherapy, this book chronicles Viktor Frankl's experience in the Nazi concentration camps and how he developed Logotherapy, his theory that the search for meaning in life is the primary motivating force of humanity. It doesn't directly address clinical depression, but it offers a profound perspective on suffering, resilience, and how to find purpose even in the most extreme adversity, making it valuable for understanding existential emptiness.

A companion to "The Noonday Demon," this work delves deeper into the understanding of suicide as one of the most tragic and often misunderstood consequences of depression and loneliness. Solomon addresses the invisible pain and complex world of those contemplating suicide, reinforcing the importance of conversation and connection.

This short novel by Dostoevsky is a poetic meditation on loneliness, melancholy, and the desperate search for human connection. Through the story of a dreamer and his brief but intense relationship with a young woman in St. Petersburg, the author explores the pain of isolation and the fragility of hope—feelings that can resonate deeply with the experience of depression.

A semi-autobiographical novel that offers one of the most powerful and visceral portraits of depression and mental illness in literature. Sylvia Plath narrates a young woman's experience with a nervous breakdown, exploring feelings of imprisonment, loss of identity, and the difficulty of finding meaning in a world that seems increasingly distant and threatening.

A semi-autobiographical novel that offers one of the most powerful and visceral portraits of depression and mental illness in literature. Sylvia Plath narrates a young woman's experience with a nervous breakdown, exploring feelings of imprisonment, loss of identity, and the difficulty of finding meaning in a world that seems increasingly distant and threatening.