suicide." Depression is a national problem, engulfing some ten to fifteen million Americans within

its bitter grasp. In Speaking of sadness, Karp captures the human face of this widespread

affliction as he brings forth his own experience and that of others in a heart felt, personal work.

Speaking of Sadness had a powerful impact on my life. Though the sort of depression that I

faced was not clinical depression, I still learned quite a bit from Karp's own experiences. The

sort of depression I encounter is a result of heavy drug use throughout my high school years, so

it affected my life in a different sort which is very difficult for me to explain. From personal

experience when I have a serious problem I enjoy taking advice from those who have felt my

pain, especially some of my adult friends from church and my youth pastor. Karp has struggled

with depression for the majority of his life so he writes from the heart and his own experiences.

When people write the truth out of their own experiences, it is very easy to gain lasting

Throughout the book Karp included personal interviews with real people

His book is directed to letting people speak about their personal experiences with depression,

detail of their sickness. This inability to share builds a wall between family and friends. People

of life can only be found in the infinite love of Jesus Christ.

Depression not only affects the depressed, but also bears down on family and friends.

for hope in "Dr. Right". Those who struggle with any form of illness understand the task of

stronger person somehow. I mean in learning to handle this kind of thing" (unemployed female.)

stand back and watch the light of earth fade as we drift back into the dark holes of space. A

them, but when I was alone in my room, my true feelings emerged. I felt that I couldn't associate

and the next you feel like the weight of the universe is crashing on your shoulders. "A sense of

"Only rarely do suffers of depression relate their condition to the kinds of broad cultural

"For some, the world loses its very dimensionality, appearing flat, lifeless, and colorless.

like something was not quite right. Identity of depression evolves over time. "... a depression

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Approximate Word count = 2998
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)