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PRAISE FOR 'THE NOBLE LIE' 'Impressive and fascinating round-up' New Scientist 'What is an illness? What is good health? What, for that matter, is medical science really for? Greenberg will make you think about these questions in ways that I'm willing to bet you haven't. Along the way, he will enlighten and amuse and provoke you in equal measure. A wonderful book from a terrific writer.' William Finnegan, author of Cold New World: Growing Up in a Harder Country
Product Description
According to the Office of National Statistics, depression occurs in 1 in 10 adults in Britain at any one time. But what constitutes depression? And what role have the pharmaceutical companies played in creating an idea of depression that turns human beings into neurochemical machines? Where does that leave the human spirit? Do we ask and expect too much of science, rather than accepting that there are important matters about which we may always be unsure? Could this lack of certainty be at the heart of what it means to be human? In his fascinating account of the close relationship between psychiatric diagnosis and the pharmaceutical industries, Gary Greenberg uses his personal experience over a two-year exposure to drug testing and different therapies for depression, backed up by twenty years of professional practice as a psychotherapist, to answer these questions and unravel the "Secret History of a Modern Disease".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
One of a number of books critical of the psychiatric business and as a psycho therapist he comes to the conclusion that psycho therapy is the best cure if depression is an illness.He predictably does not think much of psychiatrists,medication or CBT but it is a well written and interesting book,even if you aren't overly impressed with psychotherapy.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
51 reviews
57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
It's about time!
16 Feb 2010
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
Insightful and Funny
1 Feb 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
Challenging and enlightening, yes. Pat, easy answers, no
4 Feb 2010
Format:Hardcover
Gary Greenberg has stepped into the 'treacherous waters of anti-depressant
research' 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...
research' 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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