This is a very famous and a very influential book. This was not the first time I checked the book out of the library but I now know much more about antidepressants and the related issues than I did when I first became familiar with Kramer's book. What I found on my quick survey of the book this time amazed me. This is not a book supported by research. It is a book of stories. The stories, one after the other, are about Kramer's patients (Kramer is a psychiatrist) and how taking Prozac dramatically transformed lives overnight. Consider these four examples.
1. Sam: "Sam not only recovered from his depression, he declared himself better than well. He felt unencumbered, more vitally alive, less pessimistic. Now he could complete projects in one draft, whereas before he sketched and sketched again. His memory was more reliable, his concentration keener. His memory was more reliable, his concentration keener. Every aspect of his work went more smoothly. He appeared more poised, more thoughtful, less distracted. He was able to speak at professional gatherings without notes.(Page x.)
2. Sally: After four months on Prozac, she looked brighter, calmer, self-assured, in control of herself. The most important effect of the medication, Sally felt was that it cleared her head...After ten months...she negotiated a small promotion and pay raise at a time when the bank was cutting back staff...More remarkable was the change to her private life. She started going to dances...(Page 147.)
3. William M: The patient's low self-esteem, which had been present since his earliest childhood, began to disappear...On medication William M. experienced a sense of self-worth superior to any he had felt before. (Page 203.)
4. Ms. B: For the first time in her memory she felt perfectly relaxed and happy sitting at home reading books or listening to music and felt less of the free-floating anxiety that was previously quelled by going out...Off Prozac, Ms. B. bar-hopped in search of men. Prozac moderated her sense of aloneness and allowed her to enjoy a variety of social settings.
Dozens of other examples could be cited. The point is, this is essentially the book. It is a book which convinces the reader of the almost magic power of Prozac by sharing stories like these. What is disturbing is that I now know the truth. Research investigations have found that the power of antidepressants has increased dramatically. They are now more effective because our belief in the power of a pill to cure social shyness, anxiety, depression, and a bad temper has increased dramatically. We have come to believe, as Kramer puts it, "biology is destiny" (page xiv). No where does Kramer explain that the longest of the clinical trial used to get approval of Prozac to market was only 8 weeks long. No where does he share that a tranquilizer was given to study subjects and the other tricks used to make the effectiveness of the drug appear greater than it really is. The dangers of long-term use (diabetes, Parkinson's disease, permanent muscle jerking, etc.) are never discussed. (Of course, these problems were still unknown when Kramer wrote.) See Timothy Scott's wonderful, and unlike Kramer's book, carefully documented book America Fooled: The Truth About Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and How We've Been Fooled to find the dangers as well as what does bring good mental health. Yes, this book has been influential. Thus, Kramer bears some of the responsibilty for the myth surrounding antidepressants. (They do not work as well as exercise even--numerous studies.) It's funny how, as our knowledge grows, a great book beomes a harmful book, but it is just that.

This is the book that launched the myth that pharmacology could do to the psyche what cosmetic surgery does for the human body. After all the hype and hoopla in the media the reality that SSRI's in general are breakthrough medications for depression have fallen to the sidelines. Prior to 1993 Prozac was handed out only to patients who had severe cases of ocd and depression. Although the SSRI's have a better side effect profile they are not more effective then older meds. Kramer claims to have witnessed miraculous changes in a handful of patients where no other doctor has.

I WONDER WHY KRAMER NEVER WROTE A FOLLOW UP REGARDING THESE PATIENTS WHO HAD UNDERGONE SUCH MAGICAL TRANSFORMATIONS. MAYBE BECAUSE THE EFFECT (IF THERE WERE ANY AT ALL) WERE SHORT LIVED ANY POOPED OUT AFTER A SHORT TIME. HAD THEY BEEN REAL AND LASTING I AM SURE THAT KRAMER WOULD HAVE CASHED IN WITH ANOTHER BESTSELLER. FOOLED AGAIN!

This is a great book to read if you want to know about Prozac. It isn't written with all the medical lingo to where you don't understand. It is written for the average person and easy to understand and comprehend. Loaded with tons of great information. Highly Recommended.

This is another of those books that I have lent and given to many people dealing with mild to major mental illness and wondering what to do about it. This book gives the reader a better understanding of what ways the chemistry of the brain might manifest itself and shows case studies of what has worked for some people. The book discusses the morality of the use of medication in functioning adults. After all the years that have passed since the initial publication, I have yet to find a better or more reader friendly book on this important subject.