This is Styron's story of his descent into depression. It is a harrowing yet familiar journey for anyone who has suffered with the disease. For anyone who is fortunate enough not to have struggled with depression, Styron's very accurate description of the what he experienced should provide a basic understanding of what depression is.

Along the way he touches on a number of topics associated with the disease -- suicide, medication, hospitalisation and various types of therapy. I may not always have agreed on the conclusions he came to, but his opinions are worth hearing out.