The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death.

by Gene Weingarten

When every hiccup sounds like the call of doom, each stomach pang hints at incipient cancer, and a headache means it's time to firm up your last will and testament, The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death. provides just the relief you need. Gene Weingarten has spent his whole life immersed in the eclectic details of bizarre symptoms, self-diagnosing every minor ache as a potentially deadly disease. Weingarten

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Health, Medicine, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

A Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and humorist for the Washington Post and author of a number of books.

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really funny, until the book started going on about how fibromyalgia suffers were just "sissies" who faked a disease because they feel a little "icky-doody." Maybe talk to someone who actually has the disease instead of mocking the support group that wouldn't let you sit in because they're sensitive about people calling them fakers (which you did)? The same goes for the other diseases you hilariously called not real, including mental illness in general. The casual sexism and objectification of women was pretty annoying, too.

[Jason Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious, frightening, sexist, extreme, sometimes downright rude, and all at the same time! Weingarten offers no remedy for the suffering hypochondriac in his first book other than that he is one. This is not a self help book, but one could certainly use it to help themselves.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing, but sexist and dismissive of mental illness.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird going from a quiet book about Quakerism to this crazy masterpiece full of unseemly bodily functions, completely unwarranted panic, and dark hilarity. As a certified, insurance-card-carrying member of the hypochondriac club, Weingarten’s irreverent approach to life and death (and every failure, disease, malfunction in between) made me laugh so hard my stomach began to hurt and I couldn’t breathe. Which, in turn, made me worry that said stomach ache and shortness of breath could be my brain/skin/lung cancer or cirrhosis or axillary hyperhidrosis acting up. I immediately contacted my doctor, as any responsible human being would, but apparently severe laugh-induced discomfort is not “emergency” enough to warrant a call to her cell phone at 11:30pm. Outrageous.

Regardless, this book is a gem. It’s full of awesomely exaggerated and misleading reflections on all things physical health— and sickness. A lighthearted twist on an often difficult and irritating phenomenon generally referred to as “completely-neurotic-costly-ridiculous-worry.” I believe that’s in the DSM.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so you know this book is HILARIOUS! It's a non-fiction (I am assuming) but it's also a humor! And like practically all of it, if I am remembering correctly, is clean! I really like this book and I am really glad that I bought it.
Definitely recommend it! I want to go read it again just thinking about it...
I picked this up, not because I am a hypochondriac but because the title caught my eye. After reading the flip on the inside cover I just had to have it and I am so glad that I have.

[rockle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am a hypochondriac, and this book is one of the best books about hypochondria that i have ever read. i often use it as a reference book -- it doesn't explain hypochondria, or excuse it, but it does acknowledge it, and provide a pretty good list of some serious diseases that you may come down with if you are dedicated to your craft. like: did you know that hiccups could mean cancer? i love this book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gene Weingarten is an amazingly talented writer. If he wrote a stereo manual, I'm sure I would read it. I read this book during my commute to and from work and I found myself smiling the entire time I read it. It's on the short side so I was disappointed that it ended so quickly. If you want to read a book that will make you smile and learn a little something at the same time, this is the book for you.

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this a 5 star review not only because it was extremely entertaining, but because it really helped me realize that my constant thoughts of trying to figure out what is wrong with me are not near as bad as many. It was a great quick read.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really witty, cute and intelligent.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so stupid. I read about fifteen pages and it was a) not funny and b) unoriginal in its condescension. But I should have known that.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is funny. (But if you are already the paranoid type, don't read it.)

[Jeff Barnosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever anyone asks what's the funniest book I've ever read, this is the one I pick. Sorry Aristophanes and Roth!

[Susan Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to become a proper hypochondriac.. very funny. Gene Weingarten is a literary genius. Made me laugh out loud. I kept it in my bathroom, where I could read a bit at a time.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny and also highly informative for all of us hypochondriacs out there. Certain passages cry out to be shared with friends they are so odd and hilarious.

[Karen]

A very informative but hilariously funny book!

[Douglas]

Love this book now.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hilarious and somewhat poignant in the end when you find out his "cure" for hypochondria was getting diagnosed with Hep C.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hypochondriac writes a humorous book about being a hypochondriac but then ends with the way to cure the thought process - be diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

[Agris Fakingsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

..ļoti asprātīga un vienlaikus šausminoša (aprakstīto lietu ziņā) grāmata :D

[Irma Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I should watch out for any more signs indicative of Hodgkins Disease

[David Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather amusing look into minor complaints that could signal serious illnesses, peppered with trademark Goofy Dad Jokes. It gets a tad repetitive, but the chapters are all pretty short and it moves on to a new branch of medicine before it can overstay its welcome too much. It also mentions neat little diagnostic tests you can do at home to diagnose an illness. He also teases throughout the book that he was actually cured of his hypochondria, the method of which he reveals in the final chapter, which I won't spoil.

It's worth a word of warning: this book is certainly of a certain time. He insists that fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are imaginary diseases made up by whiners, and that women who get epidurals are "candy-asses." He mentions that one of his co-workers has "nice hooters." That shit might have flown in the late 90's, but it's awkward looking back on it now.

[Elisabeth Boas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s a humorist’s review of a serious subject, and all the more serious to hypochondriacs like the author. Readers of the WPost will be familiar with this guy’s droll way with words. The laugh-out-loud bits are the reasons to read the book. BTW, he claims his diagnosis of a life-threatening illness cured him of hypochondriasis. A good choice to chase off a glum mood.

[Desirae Topper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny.

[David Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very funny. It is in some places offensive, and in others outdated, but you will definitely laugh.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and interesting to read. Very relatable if you are a self-confessed hypochondriac. Read it in less than a day as it was an easy read, though troubling and graphic at times. Read the foot notes as it adds dimensions to the content.

[Penguin Gunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ātri aizmirstama, viegla izklaide. Kā dzeltenā prese.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might actually cure you of your hypochondria, but just don't read it before going to bed.

[jessicatekely · Rating 5 out of 5]

gene weingarten is seriously fucking funny.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud several times, and chuckled even more.