"Cutting Through the Knot"

A humorous coming of age story, told in a conversational first person voice, recounting a young man's trials in overcoming mental illness.

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I found this book to be interesting, insightful, and blatantly honest. I originally bought it for my own sake, because I have bipolar disorder, but I found it was nice to know someone else could go through the same escalated highs and lows and turn out just fine. I've read other reviews that bash it and say that she repeats herself over and over again, and that her work has no point. THAT IS THE POINT. Wurtzel expresses that as soon as she thought she'd be alright at one point, she'd end up right back where she started, and worse. I understand this and at no point did I feel irritated with the book or her writing, because I could relate. If you think just reading her accounts of ten years worth of atypical depression was annoying and irritating and frustrating, try living through them. She was trying to connect on a deeper level with people who have been through it, and the people that surround the sufferers. If you don't have an open mind or have no experience with severe depression, I don't recommend you read this book. But I found it highly informative and interesting. A good read for anyone who has loved someone with depression, or someone that is suffering from it, that thinks that no one can understand what it is like to feel completely and utterly alone. She does an amazing job describing it, with the back and forth feelings and chaotic storyline. She hits in right on the mark.

It is difficult to say whether this is a great book or a disaster. Some paragraphs are beautiful, while others lead the reader into a big confusing wad of meaningless words. It think Wurtzel tried too hard to be poetic and forgot to make sense in many scenes. Furthermore, the route of her symptoms, her childhood background, her fear of abandoment, the way she associates with people, etc. leads me personally to believe that she was suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder which would explain a LOT more of her behavior than depression ever could, and depression often coincides with BPD. Whatever the case, it is a good read, partly, but if you are reading it solely with the purpose to learn about depression this is most likely not the best work of art to find it in.

I've gone through my share of depression, as many others have before me. As bad as I thought I had it, after reading this book I realize just how lucky I was.

Wurtzel's book was gripping, using very raw and blunt language, which I connected with easily. And such a quick, easy read. Made me want to continue nonstop until it was over. It was great in that it gave me a much better understanding about MY depression, about how bad it could have gotten, and about how lucky I am in that I was never committed, never on any drugs. It helped me understand other people and to have more sympathy for them, rather than bashing them over the head with my logic in that "it's all in your head...just try thinking a different way and you'll see a difference." I realize that is exactly what people who are like this want so badly, yet it's out of their reach somehow.

Prozac Nation, I think, should be required reading (if it isn't already) for high school and college students in order to get a better understanding of depression in general, rather than doping them up and distracting them with activities. But that's just my opinion.

This book is a memoir that holds true today. Anyone dealing with depression themselves or in their family must read this book. It helped me realize many things about myself that were critical to my healing. I loved it. It was real, raw, and interesting.