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| Happiness Is a Choice: The Symptoms, Causes, and Cures of Depression | 
 enlarge | Authors: Frank Minirth, Paul Meier
Publisher: Baker Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.99
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $15.98 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 111311
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 244
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0801063140
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.8527
EAN: 9780801063145
ASIN: 0801063140
Publication Date: December 1, 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Happiness is a Choice is a clinically-proven, non-technical guidebook for families, as well as a resource for pastors, counselors, and family physicans, helping people realize that happiness is a matter of choice and not only of circumstances.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Worthwhile reading offering helpful suggestions although sometimes rather biased. September 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A Masters-level social worker for over 29 years, I read this book written by two well-meaning psychiatrists with interest. The book contains much detailed information describing depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive and histrionic personality types. It concludes with my favorite chapter, "Chapter 16: How Do You Find Lifelong Happiness?" I say this because the MOST useful suggestions for those suffering from depression seem to come from that chapter.
Where the book's flaws lie have more to do with a male bias that is infused into some of the work. I would disagree with some reviewers in their opinion that the authors are "fanatic" Christians. I do think they sometime come across as somewhat male chauvinistic. I agree with another reviewer that is not true that a battered wife is simply "satisfying an unconcious need to be a masochist". Many battered women grew up in homes where they witnessed their own mothers being battered by their husbands and were socialized into believing that this behavior was normal. They also are born and raised in a society where from the beginning women struggle with low self esteem because of the way they are treated from childhood. Thus their "learned helplessness" lead them to have low expectations of their male partners.
It is interesting though where the authors seem to condone violence against women they excuse men for what they call "righteous indignation" for their anger when their wives do not desire to engage in sexual activity with them. The authors come right out and say: "If a wife refuses her husband..she is violating his God given right...to each other's bodies."
I strongly disagree what the authors allege in "Chapter 10: What Precipitating Stresses Bring on Depression" that a "battered wife...may be subconsciously provoking his explosive behavior" as if it were HER fault that her husband was beating her! The author's ignorance about domestic violence comes across very clearly here. There is a tendency to victim blame here absolving the (male) batterer from the responsibility he holds in the violent behavior. Having been myself an educator in the field of domestic violence (as well as having worked with both male and female victims and perpetrators of domestic violence) I would suggest that the authors would do well to educate themselves more in this often ignored (or minimized) area in our society. I often wonder what a better, more peaceful world we would have if the so-called Christian community that delights in gay-bashing and speaking up for the "rights of the unborn" would spend HALF as much energy at trying to help children who have already BEEN born not to suffer from neglect and abuse and those spouses who have been physically abused by partners who feel it is ALSO their God-given right to make their wives totally submissive to them "or else".
This male bias comes across earlier in "Chapter 9: Can Depression Be Acted Out?" where the author alleges "Many a female hysteric seeks a good man to bring down sexually so she can tell everyone he seduced her, thus ruining his reputation." This is the argument male pedophiles use when they sexually abuse young girls and try to defend themselves by saying "but they were so cute. I couldn't help myself."
Despite the male bias often encountered in this work this IS nonetheless a valuable book worth reading offering many suggestions useful to those who suffer from depression and anxiety. Let's not "throw the baby out with the bath water". Spiritual beliefs are VERY important in helping someone cope and recover from depression. As much as good diet, exercise, medication, other self care methods, believing and trusting in a higher power (God to some of us) is crucial in being able to recover from very painful states of mind.
 Happiness is a Choice June 6, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A truly wonderful, enlightening book. These guys are right on target. An even better more in-depth book by Meier is "Blue Genes", a must-read also. Thank you for the way you blend God's Word with psychiatry. --Al Fike, Dallas, TX.
Stop complaining and READ May 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Listen, I am tired of people writing reviews about GREAT books that have strong Cristian ties and giving them 1 star. Christians have just as much right to create a great, beneficial book that has the power to help others without non-belivers whining. If you just want to be happy then look no further. You really can learn from this book. If it hurts you when you read it then chances are you are afraid and unhappy and just really don't want to be happy. The truth hurts but we need it and you will get a big dose in this well written, strong book. This man was on the Joyce Meyer program and explained his message in detail there.
 This book is disgraceful March 16, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It really upsets me when people release stuff like this; it should come with a warning DON'T READ unless you are a fantic christian.
Its disturbing because the people reading this are more likely to be depressed and looking for help, which is why I picked up this book. But to have phrases in it like;
"his sons become homosexuals and eventually commit suicide"
Is wrong, misleading and could potentially do untold damage.
I love books, but would quite happily burn this one.
My opinion of Happiness is a Choice September 6, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I feel that the title expresses the content very well. For those who are going through depression or will be in the future, there are steps given that can cure it. Also, in general the book gives suggestions on how to choose happiness. Itis a choice available to all.
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