Sick and Tired: An Intimate History of Fatigue

Studies in Social Medicine

by Emily K. Abel

Medicine finally has discovered fatigue. Recent articles about various diseases conclude that fatigue has been underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Scholars in the social sciences and humanities have also ignored the phenomenon. As a result, we know little about what it means to live with this condition, especially given its diverse symptoms and causes. Emily K. Abel offers the first history of fatigue, one that is scrupulously researched but also informed by her own experiences as a cancer survivor. Abel reveals how the limits of medicine and the American cultural emphasis on productivity intersect to stigmatize those with fatigue. Without an agreed-upon approach to confirm the problem through medical diagnosis, it is difficult to convince others that it is real. When fatigue limits our ability to work, our society sees us as burdens or worse. With her engaging and informative style, Abel gives us a synthetic history of fatigue and elucidates how it has been ignored or misunderstood, not only by medical professionals but also by American society as a whole.

Genres: Nonfiction, Disability, Medicine, History, Health, Memoir, Science

206 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2021

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

sometimes you decided to read a book because the cover is cool, and then the book changes your life. Sick and Tired is a wonderful hybrid of history and memoir. perhaps what's most compelling is what Abel discusses at the conclusion of her book: the narratives and lens used to study the history of illness helped her gain perspective on her own cancer diagnosis and following fatigue. as a cancer survivor myself, this book felt like finally meeting someone who understands you completely!

i really enjoyed the structure of the book. i actually find historians who include their connections to the subject material way more engaging as a reader. i found the sections on the links between fatigue and capitalism SO interesting (especially the idea that rest is not for the self but for productivity!).

my biggest critique of the book would be: where was hysteria!?! it was mentioned near the end but was largely absent from the sections of neurasthenia. i know it technically fits under that umbrella but i wanted more women's history before the ending chapter!

thanks to netgalley for the arc

[Fern A · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Sick and Tired’ is a book written by a medical historian on the subject of fatigue and how it has been perceived throughout history. It is a short yet fascinating book that covers a lot succinctly.

Abel, the writer, was diagnosed with cancer and was surprised at the level of fatigue that persisted after chemo and the cancer went into remission. She writes academically on the subject of fatigue and yet with use of case studies, anecdotes, various studies and literary references this is far from dull and the reader is kept engaged. The book looks at fatigue in relation to religion, the effect capitalism had on ideas of work, rest and illness, scientific approaches and how today there is still such a stigma attached despite an increased effort to change this.

I really enjoyed this and thought Abel tackled what is a very big subject well and sensitively. It’s clear from this how much biases on fatigue play such a large role in how it’s dealt with or not and the negative impact this has on sufferers. Perfect for anyone working in health or social care, anyone who wants more insight and people who struggle with fatigue as a result of illness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough and detailed examination of a long-neglected affliction: chronic fatigue. The author is a victim of it herself, suffering from exhaustion for many years after successful cancer treatment. As an academic, she decided to confront it on her turf: doing scientific research and querying the sources. She studies the phenomenon itself and everything related to it: stress, depression, rest, energy boosters, and many other things.

I think that this work is especially relevant today, with chronic fatigue experienced by many COVID "long-haulers".

Thanks to the publisher, University of North Carolina Press, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

[Jen Juenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH my goodness, I love it when a book teaches me something that I had no idea about. I seriously though that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was just NOT getting enough sleep. She patiently described exactly what she felt like, how her life had changed, and how horrendous it was.
The author shared her personal experience, but also dove deeper. She brought up the history of fatigue, bed rest, and exercise programs as cures for malaise.
Usually I say that books need to be longer, this is one book, where I learned so much, that I needed it to be longer.
I truly appreciated this book and every person who knows someone going through cancer treatments, chronic Fatigue syndrome, or just a little down should read this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this fantastic book in exchange for this review.

[natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

as someone who deals with chronic fatigue it’s so nice to know you’re not alone and understanding society’s views on fatigue is super eye opening

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading.

[Jennifer W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very interesting information on the historic recognitions and treatments for fatigue. Who gets what kind of treatment has long been a part of medical issues and ethics. Women with TB were subject to rest cures of weeks or months in bed without any stimulation where men were encouraged to move to sunny western states and take up horseback riding. And that's assuming you were white and wealthy enough to undertake either cure. The poor and POC were shipped off to isolated hospitals and received little treatment at all.

But what do you do if you're fatigued? Some research says rest and do as little as possible (or nothing). Others say exercise regularly, even if that makes you bedridden for days afterwards. What medications, diets, or supplements should you take? Since the time of snake oil salesmen (and no doubt before), people and companies can legally say "reduces fatigue" or "improves stamina" with no evidence needed. It's one of the few areas where subjectivity is allowed (eye roll). If you've experienced fatigue or pain, someone- a doctor, a family member, a friend, a boss- has doubted or downplayed your experience. You yourself have probably doubted and downplayed the experience. How tired is too tired? Do I have to literally be unable to get off the bed before I don't have to make dinner for the family? And forget trying to exempt yourself from work. If you're not working, you're not of value to society. This message is *insanely* strong. If you're too tired, it's because you haven't tried the right diet, or supplement, or exercise or seen the right doctor. Or it's all in your head. In America, we're just starting to have conversations (or at least we were a few years ago) about systemic racism. I don't think we're yet ready to have conversations about systemic healthism (I hesitate to use the word ableism, but that may be the more appropriate choice. Forgive me, I'm tired [as usual]). There is this idea that any health problem is a mountain to be climbed, a river to be crossed, a victory to be had. And if you don't overcome it, it's *entirely your own fault*. Overweight? Quit eating so much junk. Addicted? Follow the 12 steps. Burnt out? Take a vacation. Dying of cancer? Shoulda seen a doctor sooner. If you're not a posterchild for the victoriously afflicted, please go away and stop spoiling everyone else's joy. And also, don't even think about pointing out your social, economic, or environmental etc obstacles to the victory that is yours to be had if you would just scrounge up the motivation to do it, dammit.

So what's to be done? This is where I feel like the book fell short. The author mentions how things like "rest cures" were scientifically favored, until they weren't. Or how the men sent west to ride horses still dropped dead of TB. Or how chronic fatigue sufferers have had to document how exhausting extra exercise is to get (recent) retractions of that idea. But there weren't really practical ideas for self or systemic advocacy around fatigue. I suppose that wasn't the purpose of this book, but I would have liked it to be in there. At least some resources for those who want or need to advocate with their doctors, family, jobs, etc, or those that would like to take on the larger fight of the demands that all people are top producers or they're faking it, entitled, depressed, or learnedly helpless. Because like all people who need advocacy, people with fatigue won't be able to pull it off ourselves. We just don't have the energy.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I'm always a little on the fence when memoir and non-fiction are combined. It is rarely done successfully.

I didn't realize, going in, that the author had dealt with cancer in the past and that contributed to her fatigue. That made this book a little less personally relevant, as I was expecting something more along the lines of A History of Madness. Despite the author's personal connection to the subject, I still felt like it was trivialized. Especially when we were presented with exercise, bedrest, and sports as treatments. (I guess that shows I was expecting it to be more along the lines of depression fatigue.)

Not terrible, if you were looking for information or the topic of the memoir interests you.

[Jennie Chantal]

DNF 24%