Now in its third edition, this book has become a seminal addition to the growing body of guided self-help books for depression since it was first published 9 years ago. Written by one of the most prolific CBT self-help clinicians, and backed up by his own evidence-based research, it has become a popular and effective resource for depression for both patients and therapists; hence its recommended use in low intensity Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services (IAPT).

As with previous editions, it is divided into highly structured workbooks complete with psycho-education and interspersed with diagrams, cartoons and tables. The workbooks have been reorganized in this latest edition to link directly into Williams’ five areas approach and readers are encouraged to use his two websites as an additional tool. Among the additions are examples of case studies, followed by a diagram of how these vignettes fit onto the five areas model (people and events around me, altered thinking, altered physical symptoms, altered behaviour/activity levels, and altered feelings and emotions).

In Part One, “Understanding why you feel as you do”, the book gently directs the reader to be mindful about how long they should take over each work book and how to decide which ones to work through. In Part Two Williams turns the reader into a thought detective and then a scientist. People are asked to put their thoughts and behaviours under the microscope in the next 14 chapters, from practical problem-solving to overcoming anxiety and avoidance and how to change unhelpful thinking. People are encouraged to complete notes between therapy sessions.

Cosmetically it is much smaller and discrete compared to the original textbook format. However, for those who do not have the second edition, it is a substantial revision of its first incarnation. Some may find it unhelpful that the original index was dispensed with, but arguably the workbooks are small enough for this not to be too much of a problem. People are likely to find the jargon-free and easily readable style very accessible.