The Hilarious World of Depression
John Moe, 2020
St. Martin's Press
304 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781250209283
Summary
For years John Moe, critically-acclaimed public radio personality and host of The Hilarious World of Depression podcast, struggled with depression; it plagued his family and claimed the life of his brother in 2007.
As Moe came to terms with his own illness, he began to see similar patterns of behavior and coping mechanisms surfacing in conversations with others, including high-profile comedians who’d struggled with the disease.
Moe saw that there was tremendous comfort and community in open dialogue about these shared experiences and that humor had a unique power. Thus was born the podcast The Hilarious World of Depression.
Inspired by the immediate success of the podcast, Moe has written a remarkable investigation of the disease, part memoir of his own journey, part treasure trove of laugh-out-loud stories and insights drawn from years of interviews with some of the most brilliant minds facing similar challenges.
Throughout the course of this powerful narrative, depression’s universal themes come to light, among them,
• struggles with identity
• misunderstanding of symptoms
• challenges of work-life
• self-medicating
• fallout in the lives of our loved ones
• tragedy of suicide
• hereditary aspects of the disease.
The Hilarious World of Depression illuminates depression in an entirely fresh and inspiring way. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth—July 10, 1968
• Raised—Federal Town, Washington, USA
• Education—B.A., Whitman College
• Currently—St. Paul, Minnesota
John Moe has served as host of national public radio broadcasts such as Weekend America, Marketplace Tech Report and, from 2010- 2015, Wits.
His reporting has been heard on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace, Day to Day, and more.
Moe's writing appears in humor anthologies, the New York Times Magazine, McSweeney’s, and the Seattle Times. He’s a much in-demand public speaker and the author of multiple books, including The Hilarious World of Depression. (From the publisher.)
Book Reviews
(Starred review) Moe… wryly reflects on life as a "saddie" in this stirring memoir.… [S]ide-eye commentary separates Moe’s story from the trite "70s self-help" he loathes…. Moe’s edifying, enjoyable take on the realities of living with depression will uplift any reader.
Publishers Weekly
Moe is exactly the right person to give an attentive, irreverent voice to those suffering with depression.
Booklist
The narrative gains considerable momentum when Moe shifts into his adult years…. Here, the author focuses more attention on the origins and evolution of his series…. The book would have benefited from a tighter structure, but it’s inspiring and relatable .
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
We'll add publisher questions if and when they're available; in the meantime, use our LitLovers talking points to help start a discussion for THE HILARIOUS WORLD OF DEPRESSION … then take off on your own:
1. This book is a personal account of John Moe's battle with depression. He says that after years of depressive thoughts, his wife urged him to find help for what he refers to as his desire "not so much to die as simply not to be alive anymore." Do you understand what Moe means? Does that comment have any resonance with you?
2. Talk about Moe's family background, especially his father's alcoholism and brother's addiction. To what degree has his family history contributed to his own depression?
3. (Follow-up to Question 2) What is known about the hereditary aspects of depression?
4. Moe says he came to recognize the signs of depression early in his life—in middle school. What particular symptoms during those adolescent years did Moe see in himself?
5. What effect does his brother's suicide have on Moe? He writes of a "salad of regret, anger, confusion, and horror."
6. Moe digs deeply into the various characteristics of depression. Talk about the problems of identifying the disorder and then acknowledging it, of self-medicating, and of the way depression affects the lives of families and loved ones.
6. If you are comfortable doing so in a group, talk about how Moe's book relates to your own life—if not to you, specifically, than perhaps to to someone you know and love, a family member or a friend.
7. Why the book's title: what is "hilarious" about depression?
8. Talk about what led up to Moe's podcast, which has the same name as his book. Have you listened to the podcast?
9. Are you surprised at some of the well-known people who suffer with depression? Do you know others?
10. What have you learned about depression after reading this book? What in particular surprised you? Do you ever think that, as a society, we have over diagnosed depression—and we are over-medicated—as some skeptics have claimed? Or do you think the disorder is actually under-diagnosed?
(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online and off, with attribution. Thanks.)