How to Be Depressed

We released this bonus episode on depression and politics in July, and it quickly became a favorite of our Patreon subscribers. A number of them asked us to make it available in front of the paywall so they could share it with friends and family who have experienced depression and other mental-health issues—so that's what we decided to do. Topics discussed include: Matt's review of George Scialabba's memoir about depression; how left and right understand moral desert; and the struggle to build a society based on human frailty, our vulnerability to bad luck and bad breaks, and how much we need each other. Further Reading: Matthew Sitman, " Muddling Through: A Depression Memoir Like No Other ," Commonweal , July 14, 2020. Johanna Hedva, " Sick Woman Theory ," Mask Magazine , January 2016. Gabriel Winant, " Coronavirus and Chronopolitics ," n + 1, Spring 2020 And Listening: Steve Earle, " My Old Friend the Blues " (1986)