Depression And How To Survive It

Description

Spike Milligan reveals the dark side of his life in this book which is co-written with his psychiatrist Anthony Clare. He recalls the traumas of his childhood, his highly-strung mother, his largely absent father, the cruelties of a colonial upbringing and of sadism towards animals, the break-up of his first marriage, the mortar bomb which blew him up in Italy and the overwork which gave him a mental breakdown during the "Goon Show". This book charts the development of this depression and his strategies for dealing with it were improvised, as both when he would get drunk with Peter Sellers, and clinically in his discussions with Clare. Spike Milligan's previous books include "Silly Verse for Kids" and "Where have all the Bullets Gone?". Anthony Clare is the author of "Psychiatry and General Practice" and presents the BBC Radio series, "In the Psychiatrist's Chair".

Spike Milligan was an English comedian, poet, writer and musician, perhaps best known as one of the goons in the classic BBC radio programme The Goon Show. He went on to become one of Britain's leading comic writers and performers. His bestselling titles include Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall, Puckoon and Where Have All the Bullets Gone? He died in 2002. Anthony Clare was an Irish psychiatrist and TV presenter, best known for his popular radio and TV show In the Psychiatrist's Chair, in which he interviewed a range of celebrities and leading national figures, including Bob Monkhouse and Paddy Ashdown. He was Professor and Head of Department of Psychological Medicine of St Bartholomew's Hospital, as well as Professor of Psychiatry at Dublin University.

Interesting and entertaining * Times * Anyone worried about a depressed friend or relative should read this book * Daily Telegraph *