"Depression can be devastating, leading to family breakups, loss of employment, even
             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 who had been
             and were still struggling with depression. It was extremely heart wrenching for me to read each
             individual's battle with depression. It humbled my soul by bringing compassion for those who
             suffer hourly with depression. On some level I can relate to those who struggle with depression.
             "The Two central feelings typifying my depression were frantic anxiety and a sense of
             grief. These feelings coupled to generate a sort catastrophic thinking about events in my life as
             concrete as the next day's lecture and as amorphous as the quality of my relationship." (I. P. 6.
             David Karp) Throughout Chapter One Karp links depression to a feelings of isolation and
             complete loneliness. He explains ...