Natural Causes

I have no idea what I've just read. It began as I had expected: ranting against the American overtreat/overworry medical system and against the insane microoptimizations so many people obsess over in diet, exercise, “wellness”. Then... I'm not sure. Ehrenreich took me on a careening tour of medical history, molecular biology, comparative religions, and eventually metaphysical questions of self and facing death. Plus occasional detours to snipe at Silicon Valley. It was rather more than I was prepared for; in a good way, absolutely, but I was just not in the proper mindframe for it. If I'm still around in a year or two, I may want to reread this.

For the one or two people who might read my words: do read it, just, be prepared for what feel like digressions. The content is insightful, educational, even enjoyable. I gained new perspectives on subjects I thought myself informed about (scientific mindset, immunology, religion) and some I was and still am woefully ignorant of (a woman's-eye view of gynecology). I paused often to digest. This is worthwhile material, just, I had trouble figuring out what her central argument is. If you're reading this, you may be better prepared and may then get more out of the book. I hope you do.

Oh, and if anyone reading this happens to know Ehrenreich, I have a recommendation to pass along to her: I encourage her to find a trustworthy guide and to take one of the spiritual journeys she writes too briefly about. I think she could learn more than she can imagine right now, and I think she's prepared for it.

Barbara Ehrenreich, who has bravely taken on minimum wage in her classic book, Nickel and Dimed, now takes on all the buzz-worries of my Baby Boomer generation in her book, Natural Causes. I was fascinated with her take on screenings and annual exams: unnecessary, all. This is not just her opinion, mind you; this is what science is telling us. Fascinating. And why haven't I read this before now?

Probably just me, but I loved this sentence: “Once I realized I was old enough to die, I decided that I was also old enough not to incur any more suffering, annoyance, or boredom in the pursuit of a longer life.” Amen, sister.

I was intrigued by (but not entirely clear about, to be frank) the role of macrophages and inflammation and the body's own immune system in some of the biggest problems to our health. I would love to read more about these.

I was not as taken with chapters on mindfulness and cells. These felt like they were tossed into this book to beef it up, size-wise.

And, as much as I agree with her with her social system rants, they were rants, and I felt like these took away from her scientific approach to the book.

Overall, then, I liked it, but I didn't love it. I'd say to read the chapters you like and skip over the parts you don't.