Book Review: Đại dương đen by Đặng Hoàng Giang

On the Reading Experience:
First, it should be noted that I experienced this book in audiobook format via the Fonos app. Most of the narrators did an excellent job, making me feel as though I were hearing the characters recount their stories in real life. Compared to the most recent book by the same author, ‘Vẻ đẹp của cảnh sắc tầm thường’, this was a highly positive experience.

On Personal and Authorial Branding:
Dr. Đặng Hoàng Giang is one of the first—and perhaps still the only—author in Vietnam over the past decade to successfully establish himself in the non-fiction, social commentary genre. His success stems from a combination of factors: astutely tapping into hot-button issues, wielding a distinctive voice, adopting a systematic approach to personal branding, and receiving support from big publishers. Against the backdrop of a Vietnamese market craving authentic local content and serious discourse on pressing societal issues, Đặng Hoàng Giang has built a loyal readership that is, in my observation, significant. This is undoubtedly a positive achievement, as encouraging people to read is better than having them scroll social media or watch YouTube.

On Đại dương đen:
The book is built around a central thesis: Depression is a real psychological illness, akin to any physical ailment. People suffering from depression deserve understanding, help, diagnosis, treatment, and, above all, respect—just like any other patient.

This is a progressive topic, presented in a thoughtfully structured format with strategic editorial decisions to cater to the book’s goals and target audience:

• Powerful storytelling: The book opens with accounts of depression told from the perspectives of sufferers. These stories retain raw, sharp, and emotional language to make a strong impact. The 12 narratives come from individuals of diverse ages, genders, occupations, educational backgrounds, and life circumstances, ensuring that every reader can find something relatable.
• Gradual introduction of knowledge: After capturing the reader’s empathy in the first chapter, the second chapter delves into more technical information about depression.

This structure is effective because readers often enjoy “eavesdropping” on personal stories and feel more emotionally connected to them. A book that immediately dives into dry arguments and serious issues would struggle to become a bestseller. Moreover, with the goal of educating readers—many of whom are first-timers to foundational knowledge about depression and harbour harmful misconceptions—the strategy of building trust through real-life stories is highly effective. Once trust is established, readers are more open to psychological education in the later parts of the book.

Criticisms:
However, the book’s strengths amplify its weaknesses, which I find worth examining critically:

1. Lack of Expertise:
   Đặng Hoàng Giang is not a professional in psychology, psychiatry, healthcare, or public health. The book lacks consultation with experts in these fields.
2. Overly Ambitious Goals:
   By highlighting flaws in Vietnam’s perception and treatment of depression, the author sets out to write a book that fills these gaps:

“Đại dương đen is simultaneously a work of psychological education, providing foundational knowledge about depression: its manifestations, origins, destructive effects, therapeutic methods, and what each of us can do to help those less fortunate live with dignity.” (Introduction on Fonos.)

3. Lack of Practical Solutions:
   While the book identifies existing problems, it fails to offer actionable, reliable solutions. Both the personal stories and the author’s analysis repeatedly emphasize Vietnam’s lack of resources for diagnosing and treating depression. While this observation is accurate, it adds little value for readers seeking help.

Potential Risks:

1. Misinformation Risk:
   The sources of the book’s foundational information on depression are derived from materials backed by teams of leading experts, continually updated to reflect the latest research. However, Đại dương đen is authored solely by someone without the expertise, authority, or responsibility to ensure the accuracy of evolving scientific knowledge—a critical shortcoming.
2. Self-Diagnosis and Self-Treatment Risk:
   The combination of foundational educational content presented without actionable solutions and real-life examples of successful therapy risks misleading readers. Readers might fall prey to quacks or self-proclaimed “online experts.” While the author defends self-diagnosis as akin to taking one’s temperature to check for fever, he also acknowledges in the chapter on Bipolar Disorder that psychological conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose accurately, with misdiagnosis severely impacting treatment outcomes. This contradiction highlights a lack of thoroughness and professional insight.
3. Ethical Concerns in Data Collection:
   Depression is particularly severe as it often involves individuals with suicidal ideation or attempts, placing them among the most vulnerable groups. Reviving their most painful memories during interviews may have caused psychological harm. Ethical standards, such as risk mitigation for both researcher and participant, are not addressed in the book, raising serious concerns.

Suggestions for Improvement:
The author can consider the following adjustments:

1. Refine the Scope and Goals:

• Instead of aiming for psychological education, the book could focus on raising public awareness about depression. Scientific knowledge and real-life interviews could be reorganized to support one key thesis: Depression is real and profoundly impacts individuals, families, and society. The author could collaborate with specialists, health organizations, and experts to provide credible discussions.
• Sections on diagnosing and treating depression should be excluded, positioning the book firmly in the realm of social commentary rather than venturing into medical territory. Readers should be directed to credible professionals for diagnosis and treatment.
• Professional consultation is essential to ensure accuracy and uphold ethical standards during fieldwork.

2. Concentrate on Core Strengths

• A stricter approach would involve Đặng Hoàng Giang focusing on issues within his expertise instead of venturing into unfamiliar domains. Writing on “hot” topics to attract attention, making authoritative claims, and producing books every two years as part of a polished PR strategy may not be a sustainable or responsible model.

Conclusion:
Does Đại dương đen provide value and hold its place? Yes. As a reader, I purchased the book. Some readers may find solace and comfort in it. As a fellow writer, I sympathise with and appreciate the author’s effort but will remain critical in assessing the book’s quality.

While Đặng Hoàng Giang excels as a social activist spotlighting critical issues, his foray into sensitive topics requiring medical expertise—like depression—seems less commendable. Unlike philosophical or self-help content, scientific topics like depression demand a more rigorous approach.

Original review in Vietnamese can be found on Facebook or Goodread.