Book excerpt: There are many self-help books about overcoming depression. This one is special; it is not written by an academic, but by a person who overcame his own depression by following the techniques in this book. This means that people suffering from depression will find themselves being able to identify with the author and the text. This book was written by someone who really understands how you feel. Imagine being Administrator of NASA the day after John F. Kennedy promised to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. It must have seemed overwhelming. You cannot complete such complex projects in a single go; you need to divide them into many small and achievable tasks. Then, just take on the individual tasks one at a time. You can follow the same strategy to overcome depression. Kristian Hall went through eleven years of deep depression as a teenager and student. He overcame his depression by practicing techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology. His personal development did not stop there - he used the same techniques to overcome life's other challenges, and to become a thoroughly happy person. You can improve your life a lot - and your path may start with this book!