Review of Keys to Harmony
Posted: 18 Jul 2025, 16:02
[Following is a volunteer review of "Keys to Harmony" by Margalit Jakob.]
Are you struggling with depression, or want to read a good nonfiction book? Give this book a chance. “Keys to Harmony” by Margalit Jakob is a deeply personal memoir that narrates the author's struggle with depression and healing. The story is intertwined with her love for music. The book is uniquely structured, mimicking a musical composition with each chapter titled in reference to harmonic progressions, which beautifully symbolize the emotional phases of her life. Do you want to know if she wins against her depression?
She details how rejection from her dream diploma program shattered her self-image and identity, leading her to struggle with depression. As a result of this, she was unable to work, lost her dream, and went into isolation. Tired of numbing herself, she dipped deep into therapy and eventually became a therapist herself. She found her purpose in life again in helping other people struggling with mental issues. She says that reclaiming life and creativity is key to healing. The book also touches on her Jewish background as her father was a holocaust survivor, which adds historical and emotional weight to her personal struggles.
I really enjoyed how she structured the book with each chapter named after musical concepts, making it unique and artistic. Her narration had artistic expression like music imagery. She was raw, honest, and descriptive about her daily life struggles, societal misunderstandings she faced in battling the depression. She focuses on the fact that recovery is not about fixing ourselves, but about rediscovering our dreams and growing despite rejections. The book is error-free and professionally edited.
I didn’t dislike anything in particular, but the raw depiction of suicidal thoughts can be emotionally heavy for some readers. Also, it wasn’t in chronological order, which can disorient or throw off some readers. But for me, I really enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Therefore, I would give it a solid rating of 5 out of 5 stars. It was a hit for me. I would highly recommend “Keys to Harmony” to people struggling with creative blocks, fear of failure, and depression. Or anyone who wants to read an inspiring journey of her fighting her depression and rejection.
******
Keys to Harmony
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Are you struggling with depression, or want to read a good nonfiction book? Give this book a chance. “Keys to Harmony” by Margalit Jakob is a deeply personal memoir that narrates the author's struggle with depression and healing. The story is intertwined with her love for music. The book is uniquely structured, mimicking a musical composition with each chapter titled in reference to harmonic progressions, which beautifully symbolize the emotional phases of her life. Do you want to know if she wins against her depression?
She details how rejection from her dream diploma program shattered her self-image and identity, leading her to struggle with depression. As a result of this, she was unable to work, lost her dream, and went into isolation. Tired of numbing herself, she dipped deep into therapy and eventually became a therapist herself. She found her purpose in life again in helping other people struggling with mental issues. She says that reclaiming life and creativity is key to healing. The book also touches on her Jewish background as her father was a holocaust survivor, which adds historical and emotional weight to her personal struggles.
I really enjoyed how she structured the book with each chapter named after musical concepts, making it unique and artistic. Her narration had artistic expression like music imagery. She was raw, honest, and descriptive about her daily life struggles, societal misunderstandings she faced in battling the depression. She focuses on the fact that recovery is not about fixing ourselves, but about rediscovering our dreams and growing despite rejections. The book is error-free and professionally edited.
I didn’t dislike anything in particular, but the raw depiction of suicidal thoughts can be emotionally heavy for some readers. Also, it wasn’t in chronological order, which can disorient or throw off some readers. But for me, I really enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Therefore, I would give it a solid rating of 5 out of 5 stars. It was a hit for me. I would highly recommend “Keys to Harmony” to people struggling with creative blocks, fear of failure, and depression. Or anyone who wants to read an inspiring journey of her fighting her depression and rejection.
******
Keys to Harmony
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon