Varieties of Melancholy
by The School of Life
Melancholy, distinguished from depression, as a dignified response to the sadness built into life: on Sunday evenings, old friends, unrequited love, autumn, cities at night. It is a beautiful small book and an argument for allowing sadness its place.
Read it if…
you are sad in a quiet, ordinary way and want it respected rather than fixed.
Skip it if…
you are clinically depressed; see a professional, not this.
Three things you will actually use
- Melancholy is sadness with wisdom in it.
- Not every low mood is a problem to solve.
- Beauty and sadness are neighbours.
Do this first
Read the essay on Sunday evenings.
Our verdict
Sadness, respected.
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