A companion volume to Bob Rich's popular From Depression to Contentment: A Self-Therapy Guide, this little book is a collection of short stories and essays, each with a brief discussion that reveals a path to a good life. If you like a clearly laid out map to contentment, regardless of your circumstances, it's in From Depression to Contentment. If a ramble with surprising twists and turns is more your thing, that's Lifting the Gloom. And actually, the two go together like main course and dessert. Among the essays and excursions you'll find are:

• Laughter: the best antidepressant of all
• Defeating the Blood-Red Dragon: the legacy of childhood trauma
• Armor-coating our kids: become a great role model
• A Lucky Break: how to cope with anything
• Labels: us and them
• Plant Something Beautiful, Feed it with Sunshine, Water it with Love
• Buddhism concepts: equanimity is your friend
• Forgiveness is not just for other people
• The More You Give, The More You Grow
• Where Did You Put Your Attention?
• and more!