Book Review - New Light on Depression
New book will shed some light
Biebel and Koenig's book New Light on Depression is an overview, an introduction, and also a bit of a broad 'how to.' Perhaps 'Depression 101' would be an adequate description.
I read the book as one who has known depression (albeit not severe) and who has been close to others who have battled more greatly than I.
And so my measure for this book was to ask two questions.
'Does this book engage with my experience relevantly?' and 'Does it do it helpfully?'
The answer to both questions is 'Yes.'
I found the arrangement of anecdotes, stories and examples particular helpful.
In my experience a depressed person (or their loved one) often has an 'epiphany' moment when they come to the realisation that they are depressed and know it in themselves, rather than just being told by outsiders. I can imagine this book instigating such an epiphany.
The subtitle suggests 'Help, Hope and Answers.'
There is certainly help and hope, and there are broad introductions to various types of counselling and medications. But in the end, it is not so much about 'answers' but that this book would help someone to start asking the right questions, and so seek help more deliberately.
The third part of the book was the part that I, standing on the other side of depression, appreciated the most.
Of particular meaning was the chapter entitled 'Faith: Acknowledging God's Gift' where there is an excellent unpacking of how God's grace can be found even in the darkest times:
'...to equate something evil with the good that God can bring from it is to confuse cause and effect. Something very difficult may be the occasion for growth, and this is good, but the pivotal truth is that the grace of God is so powerful that he can transform even our suffering into something that advances his kingdom purposes in our pain-filled world.' (p265)
This book will shed light and clear away some fog. If you are close to someone who you think is depressed I wouldn't recommend just handing this book over unless that person is genuinely beginning to recognise a problem and look for ways to handle it.
Rather, read the book yourself - it has wisdom and advice - then pray and proceed with wisdom, love and gentleness.
New Light on Depression, Help, Hope, and Answers for the Depressed and Those Who Love Them by David B. Biebel, Harold G. Koenig 320 pp. Published by Zondervan
By Will Briggs, an edited review taken from his weblog