This author wishes to be very clear about his motive for writing this book on depression. There are literally thousands of books and articles on the subject. And the author has no intention of competing for a position alongside them or challenging the content of another writer.
The motive for this book is to take a massive amount of information on the subject of depression and condense it into something practical. And this must be done without taking away from empirical research and consequent truth derived.
It would be ludicrous for this writer to assume he could relate to and understand those who suffer from depression, with all its forms, without having experienced this mental disorder himself. Such is not the case. This author has struggled with Major Depressive Disorder since adolescence. Be assured there is sympathy and identity from him found through-out this book.