Book Review: "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy"

Book Name: Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

Author: David D. Burns MD

Audiobook Narrator: George Newbern

Audiobook Listening Length: 13 hours and 20 minutes

Overall Rating (By me): 4.2 out of 5 stars

Reading Dr. David D. Burns' "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" I was transported into a realm where the separation between mind and body blurs like the edges of a watercolor painting. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) struck a chord in me as if plucked gently on the vibrations of one guitar molding them onto another.

The Power of Metaphor and Simile

Just as a skilled gardener prunes overgrown shrubs to allow new shoots, so does one challenge unhelpful beliefs in their brain. The device of metaphor and simile employed by Burns is a genius way to condense the subtle into relatable words.

A New Perspective

He compares it to wearing a pair of glasses every day where the lenses are smeared in negativity: everything will look grey and grim. We can shift our perspective, like a sunrise over the horizon when we clean those glasses.

Real-Life Examples and Relatability

Every time you read one of the stories interwoven in this book, it is an example of how the human spirit endures. They weave the shards of our shared suffering into an homage and outcast for similar struggles, which snuggles over us like a warm quilt in iridescent hues.

But I could not help feeling that the book is occasionally mired in scientific jargon, with too little actual advice and real-life examples of problems to illustrate concepts. I wanted a more concise form of CBT advice. It is a way to boil down the essence of CBT into something you can fit on an index card.

A Comprehensive View of CBT

However, as far as I got through this book I liked the comprehensive view it gave into CBT. I started to think about my thought processes and behavior as I made my way through the chapters, and I found a few areas where perhaps it would help me tighten up.

The emphasis on CBT in the book is a good thing, but that may not be what you want or expect first; using it effectively will take patience and effort.

Audiobook Limitations

Unfortunately, the audiobook only gives an overview of the chapters in the original book. I was so bothered by the worksheets and charts that were frequently mentioned in the audio but not provided (at least right away) that tracking your progress along with the information you received could be helpful.

Well, that might work for some, like me who prefer listening over reading. You may like to explore the audiobook version on Amazon through their free trial offer.

Read Disclosure: This article may contain Amazon affiliate link(s) to help me support the continued creation of quality content.

Valuable Principles

I also found that the author's excitement over his writing came across as almost a promotional campaign rather than anything useful toward making this book better. Despite this drawback, the main message and principles of CBT were priceless, even with some rough edges around how it was presented.

Conclusion

My impression overall is that Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns serves as an excellent book for those seeking to enhance their mental health. While the course is not without its flaws, its many strengths mean that it can be an excellent resource for anyone interested in applying CBT principles.