Ever heard of the glass delusion – the established fear of being made of glass? Did you know that before glass was commonplace, people used to think they were made of pottery? A great example of how contextual and historical health really is.
This book was a really interesting and layered look at hypochondria and the mind/body divide in medicine through the lens of individual experiences.
How did the theory of humours affect our understanding of health? How has psychology and the development of pathologies influenced and changed our understanding of pain and bodily maladies?
It’s simultaneously a really fascinating social history and a memoir that asks a lot of important questions. I liked the book’s explorative and meandering style, its emphasis on philosophy and societal practices.
One word: resonant.
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