Posted on January 14, 2010 by Johanna De Rosa

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
By David D. Burns, M.D.
Harper-Collins, 1980

Often quoted and recommended, this self-help guide for depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and similar problems is easily the best I have ever read. That’s quite an achievement, coming from a greedy devourer of the self-help genre. The treatment avenue it introduces is cognitive therapy, also known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However it is also a very good general guide to many of the other treatment options available, and the proposed causes of the problems discussed.

One of the biggest challenges with depression is motivating the sufferer to keep an open mind when it comes to treatment options. This proves no great challenge for Burns, who is an extremely engaging and witty writer, on top of being one of the leading professionals in his field. Reading a nonfiction work like this, which simply oozes the passion, professional knowledge, and talent of the author, is a rare joy.

I think that must be what the unique appeal of this book is – there’s nothing more convincing than a verifiable sales pitch from a sincere and credible person, who truly believes in what they are offering, with all their heart. Burns easily grabs just enough trust and hope from the reader, so that despite the personal challenges and inertia they are currently suffering, they are willing to just try some of the techniques and principles of cognitive therapy. Like taking a needed gasp of fresh air, most readers grab on with both hands after the first thrilling moment when they discover that cognitive therapy truly can change the way they think and feel.

This work has been hailed as one of the most significant books to appear in the last third of the 20th century, and is still available from most bookshops without having to place a special order. Research shows that this book is just as likely to improve depression as taking an antidepressant medication. It comes recommended by me, and by almost everyone I have ever recommended it to.