BASW Readings for 4/22

Wow. I really enjoyed both readings a lot. First, "A Depression Switch" (121):

I loved the opening of this piece. Coming from a family with a history of severe depression, I was immediately drawn in by Deanna's story and curious to learn whether or not the surgery helped her overcome her disability. I also really liked the variety of people interviewed for this piece, from Deanna and her husband to experts in Neuroscience, to doctors practicing in the mental health profession. All of these people made the science stand out, and also lent the author a great deal of credibility as he made assertions about depression as a disease of the brain, and not some kind of weakness of character. This kind of talk really appealed to me, since I have experienced depression more like a disease than a mental state. It is not just sad, not just physical, either. This story really captured all that and made it very real.

Second, Looking for the Lie (44):

I like how this story begins with something personal, even though it is not about an individual case. The other thing I like about this story is the way Henig shows you how money drives research. Bottom of p. 45 is the first mention, but there are others (like p. 57).

I also love how Henig uses language in this piece. It is clear how much she loves language and how much she loves to write (I point to the fun she has on 46-7 with the word "lie"). She doesn't just tell us a story, she engages us in her experience, challenges us to understand the (extremely disturbing) situation without slapping us in the face with it. She tells us her story with verve, flair, and makes it a pleasure to read. It was a long piece, but it seemed short.

On p. 48 she has a little something to teach us about questions and topics in science... I learned something new about the scientific method here.