The Noonday Demon

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression is a memoir authored by Andrew Solomon, initially released in 2001 by Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster based in New York. Subsequently, a paperback version was issued under the Touchstone label. This work delves into the personal experiences, cultural context, and scientific aspects of clinical depression, featuring interviews with individuals affected by the condition, medical professionals, researchers, policymakers, and experts from the pharmaceutical industry. The book evolved from Solomon's 1998 article on depression published in The New Yorker.

Reception

Critical response to The Noonday Demon was overwhelmingly positive, with The New York Times commending its comprehensive approach and profound insight. It received the 2001 National Book Award for Nonfiction as well as the Lambda Literary Award for autobiography or memoir. Additionally, it was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2002. In 2019, The Guardian ranked it 23rd among the 100 greatest books of the 21st century.

Updated edition

In 2015, Charles Scribner's Sons released an updated version that included a new chapter focusing on recent advances in depression treatment. This revision was featured during an interview with Solomon on NPR's Fresh Air and in an article he wrote for The New York Times.