The New Black: Mourning, Melancholia, and Depression

I came across this book while reading an interview with a prominent Slovenian psychotherapist, and though I wasn't thinking I wanted to read a book of this type, I took a look at it on kindle, it seemed relatively easy and well written, so I read the whole thing. It's definitely not easy for a non professional or someone not very familiar with Lacanian therapy but the basic idea of delving deeper into mourning and melancholia, and contrasting it with our current culture which typically prescribes a drug for anything and everything that seems to be a mental disorder is an interesting and important one.I found the book thought provoking, making me wonder if there are some things I've glossed over in my way, and perhaps I've not properly mourned people that I've lost in my life. Psychoanalyzing oneself or getting into the meanings going on subconsciously is complicated, but the author explains it in a non-intimidating fashion.Overall a worthwhile, well written book.

Worth a read. Easy to follow. Complicated information digested for us by a great author.

The blurb on the cover from The Independent says that while this is not a self-help book, it could indeed be very helpful. I certainly found this to be the case. Leader continues with his ongoing theme (with Freud as his lodestar) that modern psychiatry is concerned less with the inner workings of a patient's mind and more with identifying symptoms for purposes of prescribing psychotropic drugs. Similarly, approaches to loss like "The Seven Stages of Grief" focus on the surface, the symptomatic behavior that all bereaved people supposedly experience, without explaining what drives this behavior. Leader shows that the processes of grieving, mourning, and melancholia--all distinct, and none served well by being placed under the rubric of "depression"--are complex, and vary in meaning for each individual. He notes that mourning isn't just a passive state of being, it's something that must be worked at. Some might find it disturbing when he points out that mourning is really an active effort to kill off the departed, but I think there's wisdom to it, as well as in many of Leader's other observations.So, an unlikely but very valuable "help" book, a resource for understanding the depth psychology of loss, a bit difficult to get through at times but definitely addressed to the layperson. Highly recommended.

I was recommended to read this book by my university honours programme supervisor who is also a Lacanian psychotherapist. It talks about phychoanalytical theory around loss and depression in a way that is intelligent while not so overly academic that it goes over your head. It covers clinical examples, art, literature and is very relatable. Obviously it is going to be most helpful for those people who are already interested in the subjects covered in the subtitle. Try it, it might make you see your way in the world in a new light.

The truth is, is that I havent finished the book yet, but the concept of the big Pharma's essentially inventing 'depression' as a chemical imbalance and over the past 40 years increasing the stat's on depression from affecting 3% of the popululation to well over 45%. Something's up.. Darian Leader's book is examining our society's rejection over time of long term mourning, which used to be recognised as taking time, and melancholia, which itself is now regarded as an aniquated term.. I came across Darian Leader on YouTube and despite hhim presenting as rather dry (he's an academic), he so makes sense..

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one weekend. Such insight into Melancholia. Draws upon Object Relations Theory of Melanie Klein. I understand myself so much better now. Thank you Darian.

As with all I've read by Darian Leader, 'The New Black' will only attract those who are already sympathetic to his orientations. Why are the author's vested interests any better or worse than any one else's in the field? It might well be that for analysts this is a timely revival of Freud's essay - i've no idea- but for the wider community the book will, i fear, do little to advance the cause of improving mental health treatment in the UK.

Interesting and direct I feel Darian to be very knowledgeable and purposeful with his choice of published information, I found this also with other books that I purchased from the same author.

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