Keeping the Feast

I enjoyed Paula Butturini's first-person account of living with a loved one who has severe depression as her portrayal of an excruciatingly painful disease is written with humor, grace and a remarkably keen sense of empathy and understanding. After sustaining a near-fatal gunshot wound while covering the collapse of Romania's communist regime in the 80's, her husband, New York Times correspondent John Tagliabue slides into a severe depression reminiscent of the author's mother's descent years before which resulted in her suicide. This inspiring memoir of love, family, food, friends and healing set against the background of their adopted home in and around Rome, Italy is recommended for all. -DB

Did you Know?

Michael Yapko, Ph.d takes on depression in Depression is Contagious: How the Most Common Mood Disorder is Spreading Around the World and How to Stop It. Yapko asserts that our current biochemical approach to depression does not do enough to help heal those suffering from this very common condition. As depression is both formed and healed in the world of people more emphasis must be placed on learning positive social skills. A detailed action plan is provided to build stronger, healthier social connections. This book will give the reader a whole new take on depression and its effects on relationships, work environments, and communities. You will think differently about what the World Health Organization predicts will be the second greatest cause of human suffering and disability by 2020. PM