The Upward Spiral - 2nd Edition by Alex Korb (Paperback)

About the Book

Depression can feel like a downward spiral, leading to increased sadness, fatigue, and apathy. Newly revised and updated, this second edition of The Upward Spiral demystifies the neurological processes in the brain that contribute to depression, and offers readers small yet effective ways to alleviate their worst symptoms. Readers will discover that there isn't "one big solution" to their depression; instead, they will learn that dozens of tiny steps can be taken each day to reshape their brains and create an upward spiral toward a happier, healthier life.

Book Synopsis

There isn't "one big solution" to ease depression--instead there are several small, simple steps you can take to alter your brain activity and chemistry. This newly revised and updated 10th anniversary edition of The Upward Spiral offers actionable strategies to help you reshape your brain and build the life you want.

Depression can feel like a downward spiral, pulling you into a vortex of sadness, fatigue, and apathy. In The Upward Spiral, neuroscientist Alex Korb demystifies the intricate brain processes that cause depression and offers a practical and effective approach to getting better. Based on the latest research in neuroscience, this book provides dozens of straightforward tips you can do every day to rewire your brain and create an upward spiral towards a happier, healthier life.

If you suffer from depression, this book offers an engaging and informative look at the neuroscience behind our emotions, thoughts, and actions. This updated edition also includes new research on the impact of social media and smart phones on mental health.

Small steps in the right direction can have profound effects―giving you the power to become your best self as you literally reshape your brain, one small change at a time.

Review Quotes

"The Upward Spiral is a helpful and eminently sensible approach to changing the thoughts and behaviors associated with depression. Alex Korb provides a practical guide for getting a handle on the disruption and pain caused by this common and painful condition."
--Kay Redfield Jamison, author of An Unquiet Mind and Pulitzer Prize finalist for Robert Lowell

--Kay Redfield Jamison

"Alex Korb has created a compassionate, scientifically grounded road map for anyone navigating depression and other emotional challenges. The Upward Spiral translates cutting-edge neuroscience into useful insights and actionable steps that empower readers to make meaningful, lasting change. This book is powerful--not just for those struggling with depression, but for any leaders, professionals, and caregivers who want to support resilience and well-being with real science."
--Emma Seppälä, PhD, lecturer at the Yale School of Management and author of The Happiness Track and Sovereign

--Emma Seppälä, PhD

"Alex Korb shows how to tip the brain's chemistry in your favor--one step, one habit, one neurotransmitter at a time. It's science with soul, and it just might change your life."
--Eric Barker, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Barking Up the Wrong Tree

--Eric Barker

"As someone who knows the ups and downs of mental health, I love how The Upward Spiral makes healing feel possible. Alex Korb shows that even the smallest steps can create real change. And that's exactly the kind of hope we all need."
--Rachel Platten, multiplatinum singer-songwriter and mental health advocate

--Rachel Platten

"Illuminating, deeply necessary, and tangible. Alex Korb is my favorite neuroscientist because he takes extremely complex neurological processes, explains them better than any expert I've ever interviewed, and then paves a pathway of practicality. He is a unique luminary in his field."
--Catherine Gray, journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author

--Catherine Gray

"Korb explains the science of anxiety and depression in a way that makes sense--and offers real tools to fight back. He provides a clear road map showing how small changes like better sleep, exercise, and gratitude can literally rewire your brain. Finally, a book that explains why you feel stuck and equips you with scientifically proven ways to set you free."
--Jonas Horwitz, PhD, author of How to Stop Feeling So Damn Depressed

--Jonas Horwitz, PhD

"Many people silently struggle with everyday challenges like anxiety, hopelessness, and self-doubt, believing that this is just how life is. But it doesn't have to be. The Upward Spiral does a fantastic job of explaining why the brain sometimes gets stuck in these cycles and, crucially, provides a guide to lasting brain changes--maybe not overnight, but one small, intentional shift at a time, backed by real science."
--Nicole Vignola, neuroscientist, author, speaker, and corporate consultant

--Nicole Vignola

"This newly updated edition of The Upward Spiral continues to offer an engaging, accessible, and informative synthesis of the evolving science of depression and its treatment. With clarity and precision, Alex Korb skillfully interweaves the latest neuroscience research into practical, actionable strategies and tools for both patients and clinicians to support recovery and promote long-term emotional resilience across the clinical spectrum."
--Helen S. Mayberg, MD, director of The Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics; and professor of neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

--Helen S. Mayberg, MD

About the Author

Alex Korb, PhD, is a neuroscientist who has studied the brain and mental health for more than twenty years. He earned an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is currently adjunct assistant professor at UCLA in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences. Outside of academia, he is a speaker, leadership consultant, and personal development coach. His coaching program helps high achievers break free from overthinking, anxiety, and self-doubt. He has also coached the UCLA Women's ultimate frisbee team for two decades, and even spent several years doing stand-up comedy.

Foreword writer Daniel J. Siegel, MD, is executive director of the Mindsight Institute and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He is author of The Developing Mind, The Mindful Brain, and other books, and founding editor of the Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology.