Poor Brook...its hard to be a hypocrite

I went through a similar ordeal during my first pregnancy/delivery. I was able to relate to Brook's experience, and I was pleased to see a person with such public visibility stand up and share her ordeal. There is a stigma associated with so many mental disorders...its time we, as a society start being more open. Seems Hollywood has no problem embracing individuals who struggle with substance abuse and other disorders related to the excess of their lives.

Now, I am sorry I ever considered purchasing this book! In Brook's efforts to defend her character against Tom Cruise's uninformed criticism, she had the nerve to say that she agrees with him that children shouldn't be drugged with Ritalin. What a hypocrite!! Until Ms Shields lives through the devestation that a family experiences when they have a child with ADHD...she should keep her ignorant, self-serving mouth shut. ADHD is as real as Depression. How dare she comment in a critical manner toward parents who are desperately trying to help their children?

I guess Brook is just another celebrity attempting to cash in on their noteriety and fame. For that reason I would not spend a dime on a product bearing her name.

A brave tale of her struggle through PPD

I was very impressed with the book. The writing probably wasn't the best but lets face it, Brooke Shields is one smart and brave chick. I think she was so brave to put a name to this sometimes silent disease women go through at what should be the happiest time in ther lives. While not a sufferer of PPD myself, I couldnt totally relate but I could empathize with her feelings of hopelessness. I felt sad when she described the terrible feelings she went through and the thoughts that came into her head as she struggled to take care of the baby on a daily basis. A book like this was definitely needed. I can't help but wonder about the millions of women who have suffered with PPD for years before it was thrust into the public eye. Brooke is a hero and a survivor and I wish her and her beautiful daughter all the best life has to offer!

Frank & personal account of postpartum depression & recovery

This book is a very intimate account of postpartum depression, with many of its symptoms, discussed in a very personal and detailed way. Brooke is very thorough in describing her experience with depression from onset through treatment. My only criticisms of the book are that, while it may be one of the most personal accounts of PPD out there, the book itself could have used more editing. Although I think it is important to include details about her depressive feelings, she rehashes them so many times throughout this short book that they seem disorganized and too repetitive. I had to skim over these parts in the second half because it seemed I had already read similar paragraphs earlier in the book. The writing itself is not very strong, but not bad for someone whose first profession is not writing.

Also, although I realize this is an autobiography of a famous (and I assume wealthy) person, she seemed a little out of touch with what the rest of us probably considers reality. For example, she describes her trusted relationship with her Filipino baby nurse, Gemma, who leaves her own son behind in New York City so that she can care for Brooke's baby while Brooke works long hours on a film set in California. In the book, Brooke does not discuss Gemma's leaving her son behind, she only mentions it. I thought that was odd because she is very explicit earlier about never having been one of those celebrities who hires help with daily life. She also writes about spending most of her pregnancy at her home in Los Angeles, then flying to her new, fairly unfurnished apartment in NYC for the birth because she wanted her baby to have a New York City birth certificate. Although it's an insignificant detail, the book includes several small insights that tell the reader that Brooke is very concerned about how things appear to other people. I found these little things distracting.

Overall, she speaks frankly about her depression and treatment, feelings about becoming a mother, and her relationship with her new daughter. She doesn't go into much detail about her relationship with her husband during this time which I thought was a major omission since I'm sure it affected their marriage in many ways. But, I assume her intent was to get the word out about PPD and I think this book accomplishes that.