Book Review: "Lost Connections" by Johann Hari

Oh please, I have heard about Johann Hari and his sketchy research, I know about his strange secondary sources and his weird bibliographies that often contain pop-science books more than scientific research but I do have to say that this book was very interesting to read even though I don't take it too seriously. First of all, before we go into the review I'd like to thank May Contain Lies by Alex Edmans and whoever wrote How to Lie With Statistics for their contributions to my warped perspective upon everything that is nonfiction I read nowadays. Now, on with the review in which I liked the book, though I do have to check out its data problem. Here we go again...

Hari begins by recounting his own struggles with depression, which led him to rely on antidepressants from a young age. Like many, he was told that his condition was due to a serotonin imbalance in his brain—a narrative that became widely accepted in modern psychiatry. However, despite years of medication, he continued to feel disconnected and unfulfilled, prompting him to investigate alternative explanations for his condition. Even though this provides the heart of the book, I'm going to say one thing: it is too much. It goes on forever. I don't care about the sufferings of Johann Hari that much to read an entire chapter in which he does nothing but 'first world problems'. I cried for a week over a Kafka novel, he cried in Kafka's house. I didn't write a chapter of a nonfiction book about it. There's a difference.

The first part of Lost Connections focuses on the causes of depression and anxiety, which Hari argues are deeply rooted in societal and personal disconnections. These causes include disconnection from meaningful work, other people, meaningful values, childhood trauma, status and respect, the natural world, and a secure future. Hari also addresses the biological and genetic components of depression but stresses that these factors are often overemphasised at the expense of understanding broader social and environmental influences. This is where I direct you to a book called The Inner Level which is perhaps better than this book at explaining this whole situation than Hari is but, has some of the same talking points. The difference is: if you like simplistic language which is straightforward and littered with anecdotes (nothing wrong with that) then read Hari. However, if you enjoy the science and psychology more, then The Inner Level is for you. Enjoy both of them if you can.

Disconnection from meaningful work is a central theme in the book. Hari explains how many people feel trapped in jobs that lack purpose or autonomy, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and despair. He cites research showing that workplaces where employees feel valued and engaged have significantly lower rates of depression. The industrialised, profit-driven nature of modern employment, he argues, often strips workers of a sense of agency and pride, leaving them vulnerable to mental health issues. Johann Hari has his Dr Peterson moment here. For those of you who are fans of Dr Jordan Peterson like I am, I have to say - job satisfaction theory is starting to grow on me even though I still believe that passion and work should be kept as separate as possible in order to live well. My theory, if you care, is that we need to keep them separate so that we don't have overlords exploiting our passions by giving us more work for less, which seems to be part of the job satisfaction theory that nobody has accounted for.

Hari also examines disconnection from meaningful values, arguing that consumerism and materialism have distorted our sense of purpose. Many people chase wealth, status, and possessions, believing these will bring happiness, only to find themselves unfulfilled. Hari connects this to what psychologists call "extrinsic goals" and contrasts them with "intrinsic goals" like building relationships and contributing to the community, which provide a more enduring sense of satisfaction. I have to say though this sounds good on paper, in reality it doesn't actually work since everything costs money in society. Even if you want to sit in your home and 'be present' (whatever that means), it still costs money since you are using light (and possibly heat) in order to live. So, the theory that we shouldn't be consumerist is alright, but the extrinsic/intrinsic argument is a bit shoddy since everything he mentions still has some sort of monetary value.

Disconnection from the natural world is a lesser-discussed but significant contributor to depression, according to Hari. He argues that modern lifestyles have separated us from nature, depriving us of the calming and restorative effects of outdoor spaces. Research cited in the book demonstrates the mental health benefits of spending time in green environments, including reduced stress and improved mood. Now, I'm not saying that I don't believe this is true - but I do think that the research around it is sketchy at best. We have been made to believe through hundreds of years that if we make our houses homes then we should feel safe and secure. Then, why should we be told all of a sudden that leafy green areas will fix any issues we have? It's like in fifty years they'll say: "hey, are leafy areas your thing but they're bringing you down? Go home and try spending time there." It's a bit here and there for me.

In the second part of the book, Hari shifts focus to potential solutions, advocating for a more holistic approach to mental health. He emphasises the importance of reconnection—to work, relationships, values, and the natural world—as a means of addressing the underlying causes of depression and anxiety. His proposed solutions are grounded in both scientific evidence and real-world examples, many of which are inspiring and thought-provoking. Yes, they are inspiring and thought-provoking but the main issue here is that they have been said over the last decade or so and yet have not been implemented in any degree.

Hari also advocates for systemic changes in the workplace, such as giving employees more control over their tasks and fostering a sense of purpose. He shares examples of companies that have implemented these practices, resulting in happier and more productive employees. Similarly, he calls for a shift away from consumerism and towards values that prioritise relationships, creativity, and personal growth. As a teacher, I have absolutely no control over what I get to teach and to be honest, I find this alright since now I have no responsibility over what's being learnt to any degree. I know it sounds 'lazy' and 'disconnected' but there are people getting paid way more than me, doing way less work who's prime job is to think about this stuff. Why should I be doing it? This is the danger. This sort of thinking leads to 'thankless work' to people who would want to exploit it (those at the top). Forget 'seizing the means of production' and all that communist nonsense. We should seek to allocating work by pay. If you are paid more, you should do more work - it doesn't matter whether you're happy or not.

I'll spare you the rest but I still think you should read it. Lost Connections though not entirely scientific, is a nice place to start when it comes to reading books about mental health, consumerism and how work culture has ruined our lives. However, more scientific books such as The Spirit Level (referenced in this book) and The Inner Level are absolutely brilliant scientifically.