NON-FICTION

Lost Connections By Johann Hari, Bloomsbury, £18.99 Review by Derek Watson

The bestselling author of Chasing The Scream turns his attention from addiction to depression.

At the centre of this thought-provoking work is his assertion that big pharma has made $100bn with the false story that chemical anti-depressants are the solution to an imbalance in the brain.

Hari, who endured years of misery on such drugs, says it’s more a case of life going wrong.

His comprehensible and penetrating study features extensive research and interviews with

everyone from leading scientists and medics to members of the Amish community.

Though he concedes some provide temporary relief, he questions the efficacy of drugs like SSRIs and the lack of unbiased, clinically proven evidence.

He points to disconnection, disempowerment and anxiety as the real villains, with advertising promoting materialism that leads to unhappiness.

A heartening and influential book.