Book description
Several years ago, Lewis Wolpert had a severe depressive episode.
Despite a happy marriage and successful scientific career, he could
think only of suicide. When eventually he did recover, he became aware
of the stigma attached to depression - and just how difficult it was
to get reliable information. With characteristic candour and
determination he set about writing this book, an acclaimed
investigation into the causes and treatments of this devastating
disease, which formed the basis for a BBC TV series. This paperback
edition features a new introduction, in which Lewis Wolpert discusses
the reaction to his book and television series, and recounts his own
recurring struggle with depression.
Lewis Wolpert is a distinguished developmental biologist, and is
Emeritus Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine at University
College, London. He is the author of, among others, The Unnatural Nature
of Science and Malignant Sadness, which was described by Anthony Storr
as 'the most objective short account of all the various approaches to
depression'. His most recent book, How We Live and Why We Die, was
published in 2009.
