Books to read when depressed
15 of the best books for when you feel depressed
depression | bibliotherapy
ByLucy Fuggle
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“We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy’s impossible. But if a piece of fiction can allow us imaginatively to identify with a character’s pain, we might then also more easily conceive of others identifying with our own. This is nourishing, redemptive; we become less alone inside.”
David Foster Wallace
I didn’t really know what depression actually felt like until the last year or so. It was then that I started suffering from it in a way that was just as obvious as my previous bouts of anxiety and PTSD, both of which I had a lot of therapy for about a decade ago.
My own way out of this required time, a lot of gentle kindness, and eventually being able to change my environment. I also accepted that I’d likely feel depressed again at some point, so I wanted to find some self-help tools I could turn to in the future.
One strategy to help heal my depression was, of course, reading – or bibliotherapy.
Rereading favourite books can be a welcome source of comfort during depression. But I’ve also found that there are five other good types of books to read for depression. Here they are with some of my best picks:
- The best self-help book about depression: The Upward Spiral
- The best feel-good book for depression: A Psalm for the Wild-Built
- The best book to remind you of the beauty of life: All the Light We Cannot See
- The best depressing book that might actually make you feel better: Notes from Underground
- The best unputdownable book to escape into when you have depression: Daisy Jones & the Six
A quick note: I am not a therapist, and these are just the books that have helped me (as a sample size of one).
I’ve also relied a lot on therapy myself. Books can provide comfort, but often can’t fix everything, so please take care of yourself and see a professional for help if you can.
The best books about depression for self-help
The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time by Alex Korb, PhD
Read The Upward Spiral for… neuroscientist Alex Korb’s guide to setting in motion an upward spiral to help you start feeling better.
Depression isn’t something that you can just pull yourself out of and deal with. But as neuroscientist Alex Korb explores in The Upward Spiral, you can gradually try and do more things to take the best care of yourself.
Alex Korb has also published a fantastic companion workbook and even a card deck of 52 ways to rewire your brain and reverse the course of depression, one small change at a time.
Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety by David D.
BurnsRead Feeling Great for… Dr. David Burns’ fast-track way to start working through your depression yourself (or accompanied by a professional) and finding your way back to joy.
According to Dr. Burns in this accessible book for depression, our negative thoughts don’t result from what’s wrong with us, but rather what’s right with us.
Our minds are trying to tell us something, and our job is to listen. Only then can we realise that we don’t need most of these negative thoughts anymore.
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Read Reasons to Stay Alive for… one of the best books about depression from the last decade – and one of the most popular too, by the talented and comfortingly honest Matt Haig.
Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt Haig’s story of depression, written with the trademark honesty and vulnerability that he’s become so well-known for in the last few years.
In particular, it’s one of the best books about depression for men.
It’s packed with memorable takeaways to revisit on the most difficult days, including a reminder that, with time, the light will come back into your life.
The Illustrated Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett
Read The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris for… a mindfulness-based guide that offers a different perspective on the idea that we’re always supposed to be happy… which is, quite frankly, making us all miserable.
In this self-help book for depression, Russ Harris offers a user-friendly introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): a simple, self-administered therapy based on mindfulness.
It’ll help you start living more fully, reduce stress, and treasure the range of emotions that make up a satisfying life.
Feel-good books for depression
What about lighthearted and uplifting books for depression? Sometimes these books are welcome, but other times you might wish that the cheeriness would shut up.
If you want to add more uplifting books to your reading list though, here are some of my best picks. You might also like my recommendations for the best feel-good books of all time.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Read A Psalm for the Wild-Built for… what Martha Wells describes as “an optimistic vision of a lush, beautiful world”, offering feel-good vibes and hope for the future.
For uplifting and utopian books, read Becky Chambers. In this hopeful sci-fi world, it’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered together into the wilderness, and faded into myth and urban legend.
But one day, the life of a tea monk is turned upside down by a robot at their door. And most problematically, the robot wants an answer to the question of “what do people need?”
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Read The Secret Garden for… what Reddit user Back2Bach describes as “an uplifting story for both young readers and adults that takes the person on a journey from darkness into light”.
In this classic feel-good story, the gardens surrounding the property are orphaned Mary Lennox’s only escape from her uncle’s grand house.
When Mary discovers a secret garden enclosed by walls and locked with a missing key – as well as two unexpected companions – she becomes determined to bring it back to life. I find that reading this book brings me back to life, too.
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Read Good Omens for… a winning combination of the laugh-out-loud humour of Terry Pratchett and the gravity and dark comedy of Neil Gaiman for a wonderfully inventive take on the apocalypse.
In a thread about books for hope when you’re feeling depressed, Reddit user sept_douleurs shared:
“As silly as it seems, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett has been my go-to book whenever I’m in a rough spot for going on seven years now.
It’s fun and easy to read and makes me feel like if the characters in the story can take the Apocalypse in stride and with humor, I can handle whatever less-Apocalyptic troubles I’m having.”
Books about the beauty of life
For hope and a reminder of the good in the world, take a look at these next books on the list. You can also read my post on the most soothing books about the beauty of life.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Read All Thing Light We Cannot See for… a heartbreaking yet beautiful book that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster and make you feel everything.
All of the friends to whom I’ve gifted a copy of All Thing Light We Cannot See have loved it.
It’s the story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. I really hope you find it as memorable and well-crafted as I did.
“But it is not bravery; I have no choice. I wake up and live my life. Don’t you do the same?”
All the Light We Cannot See
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
Read How to Be a Good Creature for… a beautiful memoir of a life well-lived with animals, offering comfort, hope, and a gentle nudge to appreciate the wonder in the world.
This gorgeous book is a wonderful reminder of the kindness, generosity, and love that are innate parts of you, just like the other creatures that accompany us through life.
Your Life in Bloom by Lucy Fuggle
Read Your Life in Bloom for… the book I wrote during my bout of depression, compiled of musings on re-discovering my strength, courage, and direction forwards, supported by the natural world around me.
Unputdownable books to escape into“Commit to falling in love with the good in the world. Stop to notice the beauty in all things.
And with time, but no rush, remember how you are just another part of the universe, just like the birds, trees, mosses, and animals that warm your heart.”
If you’re feeling lost and disconnected from the world, gripping can’t-put-down books can give you something to occupy some of your thoughts and look forward to. Here are some of the best unputdownable books (and you can find more here).
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Read Project Hail Mary for… a fantastically nerdy and lighthearted sci-fi hit that’s easy to read and difficult to put down.
If you loved The Martian, Andy Weir’s latest bestseller is one of the best new books to read next. Here’s how Bill Gates described it:
“[Project Hail Mary] is a wild tale about a high school science teacher who wakes up in a different star system with no memory of how he got there.
The rest of the story is all about how he uses science and engineering to save the day. It’s a fun read, and I finished the whole thing in one weekend.”
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Read Daisy Jones & the Six for… the perfect novel if you’re struggling to find a book that can grab your attention. Over the last year or so, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books became my go-to for escapist reading.
I flew through the excellent audiobook edition (featuring a whole cast of voice actors) of Daisy Jones & the Six in a couple of days. Walking around the park, cooking dinner, tidying the house… I was always listening to it. Definitely give this a go if you don’t know what to read.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Read The Count of Monte Cristo for… the same gripping themes of wrongful imprisonment and justice as Shawshank Redemption, just 150 years earlier.
The Count of Monte Cristo is an unlikely contender for a binge-worthy book. For one, it was originally published in 1846. Secondly, the Penguin paperback is 1276 pages long. But it’s so, so good.
Reddit user Mammoth-Corner shares my thoughts in this comment: “Monte Cristo is ridiculously good. I put the audiobook on while I was taking a walk and wound up going in loops for two hours because I didn’t want to go back inside and turn it off.”
Books that are actually depressing themselves
Sometimes, knowing that someone else has been through crap times can actually help you feel better. This strategy doesn’t work well for me, but research suggests that depressing books can help some readers feel better.
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Read Notes from Underground for… a short and very grumpy book that is so depressing, it might actually make you feel better.
Reading Russian literature isn’t always a bundle of joy, but that’s not really the point.
Nor does it mean that it isn’t fantastic reading.
The unnamed narrator of Dostoevsky’s most revolutionary novel is a former official who has defiantly withdrawn into an underground existence to scrawl an angry, obsessive, and often self-contradictory attack on social utopianism.
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Read The Terror for… an Arctic expedition in the 1840s that absolutely does not offer uplifting reading, but might make you feel slightly better. (Personally, when I’m feeling low I’d rather read feel-good books.)
As Reddit user bibliophile222 describes in a thread about the purpose of depressing books:
“I find that depressing books provide weirdly satisfying escapism because they make my own life seem fantastic in comparison. I’ve been reading The Terror, about an Arctic expedition in the 1840s, and I’ve been so happy while reading it because I’m not in brutal cold, dying of scurvy and starvation, and having a demon polar bear stalking me.
Life is good and I have plenty of Vitamin C.”
Looking for more books to add to your to-read list? You might also like…
- The best books to read if you don’t know what to read
- The best new feel-good books for 2023
- The best self-help books for when you can’t get to therapy
If you’re currently struggling with depression, I also love Sydney Smith’s list of 20 antidotes to low spirits from 1820, including “amusing books” and “good blazing fires”. Why not head over to the list and soak in its wisdom?
Enjoy more from me
- Retreat into my new book, Your Life in Bloom: Finding Your Path and Your Courage, Grounded in the Wisdom of Nature.
- I'm also the author of Mountain Song: A Journey to Finding Quiet in the Swiss Alps, a book about my time living alone by the mountains.
- If you love books, are feeling a little lost right now, and would love some gentle comfort and guidance, join The Sanctuary, my seven-day course to rebalance your life.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA
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SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Also visit the online treatment locator.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.
English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.
In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs.
In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.
No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.
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Suggested Resources
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems.
Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse.
Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.
Last Updated
Last Updated: 08/30/2022
How to overcome depression: 6 books with examples and tasks
Every person has experienced depression at least once in their life. And what can I say, the statistics of ongoing studies speak volumes - more than three million people around the world suffer from this problem. More than relevant, right? And it must be taken into account that not every person will turn to a specialist, especially when it comes to men. And for such cases, there is a special literature from professional psychologists who develop and practice methods that help a huge number of people. We have prepared just such a selection for you. And we really hope that you will find exactly “your” book.
Hormones of happiness. How to train the brain to produce serotonin, dopamine, endorphin and oxytocin" Loretta Breuning
According to scientists, many processes in our bodies are directly dependent on hormones. This is a well known fact. But the most interesting thing is that we can independently exercise control over them. How to do it? Dr. Loretta Breuning claims that in just 45 days you can develop certain habits in yourself that provoke a regular release of endorphin into the blood, that is, the so-called "hormone of happiness." An interesting practice with curious tips and tricks. And most importantly, everything is very accessible and clearly written!
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“Your own psychotherapist. How to Change Your Life with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Corinne Sweet
The book from the British psychologist Corinne Sweet carries the main message through the principle of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
Namely: our feelings and emotions no longer depend on the situations themselves that happen to us in life, but on how we treat them. All the negativity that we accumulate due to problems at work or at home results in a depressed state.
Sweet's technique is aimed at making people able to control their attitude to external stimuli, and hence their thoughts and feelings. There are also homework assignments in this book that will help you better understand your own feelings.
Fall in love with life. How to Learn to Live Again When You're Nearly Destroyed by Depression by Matt Haig
This book is for those who are very seriously disappointed in life. The thing is that its author himself was at some point on the verge of suicide. But I realized in time that committing suicide is the path of a weak person, whom I did not consider myself at all.
First and foremost, Matt Haig encourages his readers to go to their own selves and see if things are as bad as they think.
Reading this book, you will feel as comfortable as if the author is your close friend, who himself once struggled with his anxieties. And now he shares with you how he managed to get out of this overwhelming state.
“Depression is cancelled. How to get back to life without doctors and medicines by Richard O'Connor
Prolonged stress and subsequent depression are almost inseparable things. The neural connections in the brain are thus destroyed, and a distorted manifestation of our emotions takes place. It is very similar to being under anesthesia - no feelings (neither positive nor negative). This is described in detail by the American psychologist Richard O'Connor, who combines elements of introspection, meditation, and other techniques in his therapy. By the way, the author has been specializing in this problem for over twenty years and has already helped so many of his patients!
“Demon noon.
Anatomy of Depression by Andrew Solomon
The most interesting thing about Andrew Solomon's book is the approach that reveals the problem from several sides at once. Three main angles: personal experience, cultural side and, of course, scientific. At first glance, the book may seem too frivolous due to the presentation of information alone. But then you will understand why it made it to the list of the best books of the decade according to the Times edition. It has also been translated into two dozen different languages of the world.
“Say NO to depression. Universal Rules” by Andrey Kurpatov
A book from a well-known psychotherapist and TV presenter, which explains how brain resources are depleted due to constant stress. Only 5 steps in the author's methodology and you will forget about what "depression" is. The book is full of real life examples, specific advice for each of the steps - all in a very easy form, accessible to everyone.
In addition, here you can find special text that will reveal how serious your problem is. According to Kurpatov's patients themselves, the technique really works. After all, it is not in vain that a psychotherapist has his own clinic specializing in neuroses.
Inspirational books that lift you out of depression
Feeling of emptiness, pessimism, sadness, loss of meaning in life... Today, depression is considered one of the most dangerous diseases, and more and more experts advise not just to run away from it, healing with potent drugs, but to act in a complex and get to the bottom of the true cause of its occurrence. According to experts, the only way to get rid of it forever. And here it is worth noting that sometimes, when the case has not yet been completely launched, in order to shake things up and start enjoying life again, a “magic kick” is needed. Books about the fight against depression, on the pages of which there are step-by-step instructions for getting out of stress, can become such a kick.
Below we have presented to your attention the best motivating books that will simply make you look at the situation from the other side and start acting right now.
“I want and I will: Accept yourself, love life and become happy”, Mikhail Labkovsky
One of the most brilliant books on psychology, on the pages of which the author tries to convey to the reader that the main secret of happiness is the absence of any secrets.
The methodology proposed by Mikhail Labkovsky seems radical to many, because he does not ask leading questions, but gives clear advice and attitudes, and also authoritatively states that the main healthy psyche is a person's love for himself.
The book “I want and I will” is a recipe for a healthy attitude not only to yourself, but also to the people around you. On its pages, the psychologist considers three main issues that concern each of us. The author devoted the first section to the Personality of a person.
Here he talks about how important it is to be able to hear yourself and negotiate with yourself. He also teaches to distinguish obsession from interests, get rid of the former and put the latter in the first place.
The second chapter is devoted to relationships, and here Labkovsky, unlike many psychologists, authoritatively states that no relationship can be improved with the help of psychology, because if the relationship is bad, they should end as soon as possible, and not try to save. The author says that relationships are compromises, but only when there is mutual understanding and support for each other. When there is physical violence in a relationship or only one loves in a couple, such relationships should be ended. And Labkovsky will tell you how to do it less painfully for yourself.
The third chapter is devoted to child psychology. Here the author also clearly explains how to raise your children to be independent, successful and happy people. The author teaches to listen to his children, accept their views and hobbies, and change with them.
In other words, this book is really for those who are ready for change.
"Lykke. In search of the secrets of the happiest people, Mike Viking
The book fully lives up to its name, because it will not only bring happiness into your life, but also introduce you to the various ways in which you can attract it.
This article provides simple and accessible advice. It could be burning candles, a romantic dinner, or watching a movie together. On examples of real people, the author shows how to find your way to happiness. At the same time, it cannot be said that after reading “Lykke” everything in your life will immediately become joyful, however, you will involuntarily begin to look for ways out of problematic and stressful situations, and most importantly, you will enjoy any little things.
On the pages of the book you will find many vivid drawings and photographs, which in themselves not only inspire thoughts of relaxation and joy, but also make you take action and strive to have as many happy moments as possible in your life.
"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: The Paradoxical Way to Live Happily" by Mark Manson
The book attracts attention with an unusual title, while the author clearly explains that in order to achieve that same indifference yourself, you need to work a little on yourself.
Mark Manson literally lays out the concepts of guilt and responsibility, and also reveals in detail the topic of accepting negative events, problems in life and setting the right goals. The author tries to explain that even if someone else is to blame for your misfortunes, it is up to you to decide how you will perceive this situation and what consequences it will bring to your life.
It is worth reading this book with a pencil in your hand, so you can write down short abstracts and reread them periodically so that you always live happily. This book is definitely worth reading for those who want to learn how to adequately perceive our ambiguous world.
"Book about depression", Sasha Skochilenko
Despite the fact that the book has a small format, it can become a ray of light for you even in the most critical situations. Using the example of the main character suffering from depression, the author talks about complex things in simple language.
The book will tell you in an accessible language about what depression is, that any person can get sick with this disease, regardless of gender and age. Moreover, from this work you will learn how people with depression feel, what are the main symptoms of this disease and how to recover from it. And this book is also a great helper for those who communicate with patients with depression, because the author explains how to behave with such people, what you can say to them, what you should never do, and how to show support so as not to harm.
“The pastor is depressed. How to fix anxiety and make life happy, Alex Korb
The author of this nonfiction book on depression is a neuroscientist, PhD, in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California.
