Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy (paperback version), was written by David D. Burns, M.D. The book boldly claims to be the clinically proven drug free treatment for depression. It has sold millions of copies since its first printing, and is used worldwide to treat depression naturally.

The Basics
763 pages
Published in 2008 (reprint edition)
Focuses on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) as treatment
Interactive style contains questionnaires, worksheets, and checklists

What I Liked Most
Dr. Burns does an excellent job of immediately displaying sensitivity, compassion, and a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding depression and anxiety. His writing style is detailed and clinical, but extremely personable. He refrains from inundating the readers with medical jargon or overwhelming the reader with data.

One of the most useful features of this book is the fact that the questionnaires and checklists can be - and should be - revisited at any time. Whether you are in the depths of a severe depressive episode or your depression is in remission, revisiting the book is extremely helpful. This is to encourage you to stay in tune with your feelings, help you avoid potential triggers for negative feelings, and to be proactive in your recovery.

What I Liked Least
There were a few random instances of profanity that I found oddly placed and unnecessary. I thought the obscenities were a distraction and detracted from the contextual content. Thankfully, it was sparse enough to avoid undermining the professionalism of the writing.

I also thought the paperback version a bit unwieldy with number of pages it contains. It can be a bit difficult to comfortably access the pages that require writing.

Library or Purchase?
Should you buy this book or borrow it? Definitely make the modest investment and purchase a copy of Feeling Good. Being able to refer to the book again and again makes its truly worth your money.


NOTE:I purchased this book with my own resources, read it and provided this review with no incentive from the author or publisher.