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Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

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Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#1

Post by bookofjoe »

I've had four episodes of major depression in my life, the last and longest lasting 1.75 years, during which I was pretty much non-functional and unable to concentrate enough to read.

Through trial and error I stumbled on two things that WERE readable and provided much comfort.

1. Patrick O'Brian's "Master and Commander" and its twenty sequels set during the Napoleonic Wars, featuring British naval captain Jack Aubrey and his ship's surgeon, Stephen Maturin.

2. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt.

I wish I'd known of more such books at the time.

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#4

Post by Keegs »

I tried to read Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays during an episode of major depression, thinking I’d appreciate the message, but it was too dense given the circumstances.

What I did finish, and what ended up becoming one of my favorite books, is Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams. He traveled around the world with a biologist to find endangered animals. It’s a funny and life-affirming book.

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#5

Post by bosch_mind »

Goldfinch is one of my favorites, so let me chime in as I’ve read during serious depression and understand the struggle.

- tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow

- 1Q84

- After Dark

- secret history (author of goldfinch)

- never let me go (bit sad-ish)

Note: I explicitly filtered my reads to be things I enjoyed during depressive states. Lots of other books I read during that period I didn’t enjoy/made depression worse

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#6

Post by antonkar »

I’m not sure if it’s relevant but I cured my depression by reading the primary source of the most effective treatment method. I found it reassuring and easy to read:

https://beckinstitute.org/cbt-resources/resources-for-profes...

After finishing that, there is also a new recovery-oriented therapy from them -it’s about finding interests and then finding some dream/goal to pursue. There is a story of treating the guy who thought he is god and was giving away everything: even his food https://www.amazon.com/Recovery-Oriented-Cognitive-Therapy-S...

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#7

Post by alumic »

OP, I apologize as it doesn't quite answer your question but I discovered this article [0] many years after going through what I later identified as a series of depressive episodes. I revisit it every so often to remind myself that even in those moments, life is worth the weight of your efforts.

Longform articles notwithstanding, do you have any interest in audiobooks? I recall Moby Dick filling a similar role.

[0] https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/10/lincoln...

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#8

Post by AHatLikeThat »

I reread Ursula K LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy during a really difficult time in my life. I hadn't read them since I was a teenager. They are simple to read, but deep, with themes of regret and hopelessness but also perseverance and grace. I find her attitude toward her characters to be both brutally honest and compassionate. I think I got more out of reading these books as an adult at that time, although they were among my favorite books as a kid.

Re: Ask HN: What books have you found understandable during serious depression?

#9

Post by alumic »

bosch_mind wrote: post #5

Goldfinch is one of my favorites, so let me chime in as I’ve read during serious depression and understand the struggle. - tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow - 1Q84 - After Dark - secret history (author of goldfinch) - never let me go (bit sad-ish) Note: I explicitly filtered my reads to be things I enjoyed during depressive states. Lots of other books I read during that period I didn’t enjoy/made depression worse

If I can tack onto this, "Hard-boiled Wonderland" by Murakami was one of the most fun and engaging books I've read in the last decade.
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