Zest Climbing From Depression To Philosophy

ZEST is a personal account of how we can seek meaning and joy by facing and accepting our imperfections. Daniel, a Wellington King’s Counsel, describes his journey of depression with humour, wisdom, and philosophy — he sought more than wellness platitudes to manage these struggles. His book connects strands of philosophy from Stoicism and Buddhism, and draws from writings by George Eliot and Iris Murdoch.This is not a manual for how to ‘get well’. It’s for the many people in careers like Daniel, the high-fliers and the driven who don’t stop to smell the flowers, then hit the wall and wonder how to get over that wall.Daniel’s book can help people see there is no ‘cure’ as such, that they need to embrace this part of them to understand they can still live an enjoyable and successful life. Life is not all about running for the next prize, because what comes after that? Another prize? And then another? And what does that make you, in the end?An elegantly written book that will be an enormous help to many who wish to find a way through the fog to once more follow their North Star.

Review extract from 'At the Bar', December 2024, by Michael Heron, KC

Kalderimis's writing is enriched by his personal reflections. He describes how his depression felt like a form of constriction, making it harder to breathe and speak.

Zest reaches a level of quality of research, insight and writing that Daniel Kahneman or Malcolm Gladwell would be proud of.

I found his discussion and ultimate return to existentialism resonated with me.

“…no longer pushing against the webs of connection but trying to find ways to reach along them by being more open to the vibrations of possibility and love.”

In conclusion, "Zest" by Daniel Kalderimis is a learned and eloquent exploration of the human condition. It is a book that invites readers to reflect on their own lives and consider how they might cultivate a deeper sense of connection and purpose. Through his thoughtful analysis and personal reflections, Kalderimis offers a vision of what it means to live well.

Like others who have read it, I was moved by the book and ultimately reassured that each of us have permission to choose the meaning of our lives. Like Daniel, we can carry a compass, not a manifesto.

* Michael Heron KC is a KC based in Auckland and former Solicitor-General. He is one of New Zealand’s leading KCs and is a trusted legal advisor to New Zealand businesses, government entities, and public bodies.

‘Typically, our signposts from depression point towards wellness. But being forced to grapple with how to feel better led me to reflect on what it would mean to live better . . . I needed a different kind of con¬versation, which is what this book attempts. In it, I explain how I connected the differing perspectives which came my way to provide a ladder out of a dark hole and back into the sunlight. I offer my story to others also searching, not only for wellness, but for meaning.’

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