With exceptional humanity, unparalleled frankness, sharp intelligence, and encyclopedic knowledge, Andrew Solomon takes us on a deep journey into one of the most widespread and destructive mental illnesses. His contribution to our understanding of mental illnesses—and humanity itself—is truly remarkable.

The Noonday Demon explores depression from personal, cultural, and scientific perspectives. Drawing on his personal struggle with the illness and interviews with patients, doctors, scientists, politicians, and philosophers, Solomon reveals the various facets of suffering caused by depression. He addresses the challenge of defining depression and clarifies the wide range of available medications, the effectiveness of alternative treatments, and the impact of depression on different individuals worldwide and throughout history. He also explores the ethical questions raised by modern biological interpretations of mental illnesses.

The depth of the human experience Solomon narrates, his range of intelligence, boundless curiosity, and immense empathy; all of this will change the reader's view of the world.