Book dossier

Prozac Diary

by Lauren Slater

Today millions of people take Prozac, but Lauren Slater was one of the first. In this memoir, she describes what it's like to spend most of your life feeling crazy - and then to wake up one day and find yourself in the strange state of feeling well. And then to face the challenge of creating a whole new life. Once inhibited, Slater becomes spontaneous. Once terrified of maintaining a job, she accepts a teaching position and ultimately earns several degrees in psychology. Once lonely, she finds love with a man who adores her. Slater is wonderfully thoughtful and articulate about all of these changes, and also about the downside of taking Prozac: such matters as dependency, sexual dysfunction, and Prozac "poop-out."