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A Body Made of Glass: A Cultural History of Hypochondria
Part cultural history, part literary criticism, and part memoir, A Body Made of Glass is a definitive biography of hypochondria. Caroline Crampton’s life was upended at the age of seventeen, when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a relatively rare blood cancer. After years of invasive treatment, she was finally given the all clear. But being cured of the cancer didn’t mean she now felt well. Instead, the fear lingered, and she found herself always on the alert, braced for signs that the illness had reemerged.
Now, in A Body Made of Glass, Crampton has drawn from her own experiences with health anxiety to write a revelatory exploration of hypochondria—a condition that, though often suffered silently, is widespread and rising. She deftly weaves together history, memoir, and literary criticism to make sense of this invisible and undercovered sickness. From the earliest medical case of Hippocrates to the literary accounts of sufferers like Virginia Woolf and Marcel Proust to the modern perils of internet self-diagnosis, Crampton unspools this topic to reveal the far-reaching impact of health anxiety on our physical, mental, and emotional health.
At its heart, Crampton explains, hypochondria is a yearning for knowledge. It is a never-ending attempt to replace the edgeless terror of uncertainty with the comforting solidity of a definitive explanation. Through intimate personal stories and compelling cultural perspective, A Body Made of Glass brings this uniquely ephemeral condition into much-needed focus for the first time.
Now, in A Body Made of Glass, Crampton has drawn from her own experiences with health anxiety to write a revelatory exploration of hypochondria—a condition that, though often suffered silently, is widespread and rising. She deftly weaves together history, memoir, and literary criticism to make sense of this invisible and undercovered sickness. From the earliest medical case of Hippocrates to the literary accounts of sufferers like Virginia Woolf and Marcel Proust to the modern perils of internet self-diagnosis, Crampton unspools this topic to reveal the far-reaching impact of health anxiety on our physical, mental, and emotional health.
At its heart, Crampton explains, hypochondria is a yearning for knowledge. It is a never-ending attempt to replace the edgeless terror of uncertainty with the comforting solidity of a definitive explanation. Through intimate personal stories and compelling cultural perspective, A Body Made of Glass brings this uniquely ephemeral condition into much-needed focus for the first time.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 11, 2024
124 people are currently reading
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About the author
Caroline Crampton
8 books68 followersCaroline Crampton writes non-fiction books about the world and how we live in it. She is also the creator and host of the Shedunnit podcast which unravels the mysteries behind classic detective fiction.
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June 24, 2024
I probably would not have picked up this book if I hadn't been familiar with the author, Caroline Crampton, through her Golden Age mystery podcast Shedunnit. She's articulate and thoughtful in that context and I [rightly, as it turns out] assumed that would carry over to a broader and deeper topic.
To be honest, I had also just passed through a personal situation which landed me in the ED and then an overnight hospital stay. None of the doctors who treated me had an explanation, and it took a couple of weeks for a specialist to figure it out. During that time I experienced that longing for certain knowledge about my body that is at the core of this book.
Crampton is brilliant at interweaving her personal history of illness with explorations of how hypochondria has been perceived by the medical community from the time of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks through the present. If the history portions had been presented without breaks it would probably have made for dry reading. But by interspersing stories of historical and literary figures who have suffered from hypochondria, as well as her own experiences, she held my attention all the way through.
Her personal story provides a vivid backdrop to the research and ideas she presents. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 17, did not respond to the initial treatment, and went through extensive and invasive additional procedures before being pronounced cancer-free. That set of circumstances left her with elevated, life-long suspicions about her body. Was there a lump that signified a return of the disease? Was that cough just a tickle in her throat or the sign of a dread disease? (Needless to say, COVID was a particularly trying time for her.) Every possible symptom had to be investigated through visits to doctors and online searches, the latter of which often drove her anxiety even higher.
Her status as an educated, well-spoken Caucasian woman, Crampton says, paved the way to more respect and quicker treatment by her NIH doctors than would be the same for someone with a different demographic. She is at pains to point out the benefits of the British healthcare system when compared with the profit-driven American version. Note: My own experience of the NIH was somewhat different. .
The line between mental and physical health for someone struggling with hypochondria is virtually non-existent, since one so often feeds the other. Even at present there is little help available to sufferers, although Crampton mentions psychotherapy techniques that have provided relief to some. In the meantime, her eminently readable documentation of the history of the disease at least provides context and validity.
There is a lot to like about this book, and not much to dislike. It will definitely be among my top non-fiction reads for the year.
To be honest, I had also just passed through a personal situation which landed me in the ED and then an overnight hospital stay. None of the doctors who treated me had an explanation, and it took a couple of weeks for a specialist to figure it out. During that time I experienced that longing for certain knowledge about my body that is at the core of this book.
Crampton is brilliant at interweaving her personal history of illness with explorations of how hypochondria has been perceived by the medical community from the time of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks through the present. If the history portions had been presented without breaks it would probably have made for dry reading. But by interspersing stories of historical and literary figures who have suffered from hypochondria, as well as her own experiences, she held my attention all the way through.
Her personal story provides a vivid backdrop to the research and ideas she presents. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 17, did not respond to the initial treatment, and went through extensive and invasive additional procedures before being pronounced cancer-free. That set of circumstances left her with elevated, life-long suspicions about her body. Was there a lump that signified a return of the disease? Was that cough just a tickle in her throat or the sign of a dread disease? (Needless to say, COVID was a particularly trying time for her.) Every possible symptom had to be investigated through visits to doctors and online searches, the latter of which often drove her anxiety even higher.
Her status as an educated, well-spoken Caucasian woman, Crampton says, paved the way to more respect and quicker treatment by her NIH doctors than would be the same for someone with a different demographic. She is at pains to point out the benefits of the British healthcare system when compared with the profit-driven American version. Note: My own experience of the NIH was somewhat different. .
The line between mental and physical health for someone struggling with hypochondria is virtually non-existent, since one so often feeds the other. Even at present there is little help available to sufferers, although Crampton mentions psychotherapy techniques that have provided relief to some. In the meantime, her eminently readable documentation of the history of the disease at least provides context and validity.
There is a lot to like about this book, and not much to dislike. It will definitely be among my top non-fiction reads for the year.
January 7, 2024
I had two good reasons for reading this. One: the author is the creator of my favorite podcast (Shedunnit), and two: I also suffer from hypochondria/health anxiety. I found the book very interesting - it has two focuses, the historical context of hypochondria, and the author’s own experience with it. The latter was the most interesting to me, but the former had plenty to offer, too - I didn’t know that John Donne, or Moliere, or Jane Austen’s mother (possibly explaining all the hypochondriacs portrayed in her novels) all suffered from hypochondria. The book addresses the stigma associated with the term, and helped put my own experience in a wider context, encouraging me to view my periodic struggles with greater compassion.
June 9, 2024
3.5 stars. It was good, informative, and well researched. I also loved the personal perspective. It started to feel repetitive at the end, and I was never really excited to pick it up (which is a bummer because I was excited when I started).
April 30, 2024
This was really fascinating. I’m already a fan of Caroline’s with the Shedunnit podcast, but even if this wasn’t hers it would be fascinating. It maybe wasn’t the best book to read while dealing with a few issues I need to get checked out (*this* migraine is actually cancer/stroke, the spot in my nose is actually a tumor), but in a way it was as it helped show that none of us are alone in whatever health anxiety we may have. I really loved the ancient sources and examples from more modern history and literature. I got a bit glassy eyed towards the end with all the modern techniques for dealing with these health issues, but that’s a me thing, not a book thing. Really great book about hypochondria and health anxiety. I highly recommend the audiobook as it’s narrated by the author and I think she has a great voice.
(For some reason the kindle book ends on ~280 and then the next page for acknowledgments is 311…?)
(For some reason the kindle book ends on ~280 and then the next page for acknowledgments is 311…?)
June 20, 2024
Have you ever known a hypochondriac? Well, actually the Diagnostic and Staristical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition now has replaced hypochondriasis as a diagnosis. Now we can refer to somatic sympton disorder and illness anxiety disorder. Both involve anxiety over one's health, but somatic symptom disorder is also characterized by chronic physical symptons. In both disorders, the patients can worry so much about being ill or becoming ill that it takes over their lives.
I chose this book because I was interested in what makes hypochondriacs tick. How do some people with or without with illnesses manage to carry on with living while others can become so obsessed with their health that they seldom think or talk about anything else. Can they change their obsessive focus so they can live happier lives? Can it be fixed? A Body Made of Glass is a scholarly and comprehensive look at the history of the term hypochondria, which originated hundreds of years ago. Its meaning has evolved, but most people now understand the term to mean an individual who worries excessively about their health. The author sites medical history as well as literary examples.
My criticism of the book is the bias of the author, a self admitted "hypochondriac" who spent many pages defending against society's suspicion and rejection of hypochondriacs over the past hundreds of years. Also, the author underwent cancer treatment as a teen, so her concerns about her health are based in that trauma. Either way, when real or imagined health anxiety takes over, this is an individual who is thwarted from living life to its fullest because they can make themselves (as well as their family and friends) miserable. When an author's position is so subjective though, it feels a little less scholarly and scientific and more like someone has done extensive research to prove their own position. Still it was interesting, and I would recommend it if this is an area of interest for you.
I chose this book because I was interested in what makes hypochondriacs tick. How do some people with or without with illnesses manage to carry on with living while others can become so obsessed with their health that they seldom think or talk about anything else. Can they change their obsessive focus so they can live happier lives? Can it be fixed? A Body Made of Glass is a scholarly and comprehensive look at the history of the term hypochondria, which originated hundreds of years ago. Its meaning has evolved, but most people now understand the term to mean an individual who worries excessively about their health. The author sites medical history as well as literary examples.
My criticism of the book is the bias of the author, a self admitted "hypochondriac" who spent many pages defending against society's suspicion and rejection of hypochondriacs over the past hundreds of years. Also, the author underwent cancer treatment as a teen, so her concerns about her health are based in that trauma. Either way, when real or imagined health anxiety takes over, this is an individual who is thwarted from living life to its fullest because they can make themselves (as well as their family and friends) miserable. When an author's position is so subjective though, it feels a little less scholarly and scientific and more like someone has done extensive research to prove their own position. Still it was interesting, and I would recommend it if this is an area of interest for you.
July 29, 2024
There are so few new books on first hand experience with health anxiety and hypochondria, that as someone who suffers from health anxiety, I was very pleased to find A Body Made of Glass on a relatively "mainstream" bookshelf.
The book is well written and combines education and entertainment. To crudely summarize, it's 1/3 about the history of hypochondria (fascinating), 1/3 the author's personal experience with it (relatable), and 1/3 what I call random reflections/philosophical remarks (my least favorite) - the challenge being that the three are tightly intertwined, so at times I got bored and nearly gave up finishing it, until I got to the next interesting piece.
That said, I am now more educated on the history of hypochondria and those who have faced it over the course of history, thanks to this book.
The book is well written and combines education and entertainment. To crudely summarize, it's 1/3 about the history of hypochondria (fascinating), 1/3 the author's personal experience with it (relatable), and 1/3 what I call random reflections/philosophical remarks (my least favorite) - the challenge being that the three are tightly intertwined, so at times I got bored and nearly gave up finishing it, until I got to the next interesting piece.
That said, I am now more educated on the history of hypochondria and those who have faced it over the course of history, thanks to this book.
January 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for this DRC.
A History of Hypochondria told through the lens of history, science and personal memoir. Caroline Crampton takes us back to the first written records of hypochondria, how the word originated, and the many different ways it has been treated or ignored. Worked through-out with literary accounts from well-known writers and scientist, Crampton lets us in on her personal journey with cancer and hypochondria.
This was a fascinating and dense book written in a completely accessible style. The best parts for me were Crampton’s personal story. I learned so much, especially using the term Health Anxiety instead of hypochondria makes such a difference in perception.
#ABodyMadeofGlass #NetGalley
A History of Hypochondria told through the lens of history, science and personal memoir. Caroline Crampton takes us back to the first written records of hypochondria, how the word originated, and the many different ways it has been treated or ignored. Worked through-out with literary accounts from well-known writers and scientist, Crampton lets us in on her personal journey with cancer and hypochondria.
This was a fascinating and dense book written in a completely accessible style. The best parts for me were Crampton’s personal story. I learned so much, especially using the term Health Anxiety instead of hypochondria makes such a difference in perception.
#ABodyMadeofGlass #NetGalley
June 11, 2025
I'm so glad I read this! I'm learning that I love this genre of creative nonfiction, where there's some personal story and a big emphasis on broader history/context/cultural critique.
I knew incredibly/sadly little about hypochondria/illness anxiety disorder before reading this, and I learned a lot in a very enjoyable fashion. The historical anecdotes about the development of ideas around hypochondria (even if sometimes they were a bit of a stretch), broader exploration of mind-body connections (especially the pendulum swinging of hypochondria being physical, then mental, then physical, then maybe both), the history/present confusion of medicine (it's often that we don't know what's going on!), and the connection between sensitivity to body changes and past trauma with body changes were all so, so interesting. I appreciated the complexity of the author having serious medical illness (multiple bouts of severe cancer) and also hypochondria.
The description of trauma treatment and RDoC wasn't great, but I'm also picky about that. The EMDR and "Body Keeps the Score" emphasis was particularly unfortunate - but, I did appreciate that when the author wrote about CBT interventions, she emphasized the exposure element. Although, this was a moment where the book organization was tricky to follow (i.e., talking about CBT's emphasis on exposure then, later, looping to trauma treatment but without referencing the previous ideas on mental health intervention shared chapters earlier).
Overall, the organization of this was often unclear to me in a way that made some of the facts/reporting run together and then get a bit repetitive. The book concludes with an interesting note about hypochondria/illness anxiety disorder not being linear, but I don't think this take-away contextualizes the organization choices.
I listened to this (sped up, as always) on audiobook while recovering from a bad fever/cold that ripped through me. Interesting to listen to this while sick! Trippy. Loved that this was narrated by the author. The narration was excellent.
I knew incredibly/sadly little about hypochondria/illness anxiety disorder before reading this, and I learned a lot in a very enjoyable fashion. The historical anecdotes about the development of ideas around hypochondria (even if sometimes they were a bit of a stretch), broader exploration of mind-body connections (especially the pendulum swinging of hypochondria being physical, then mental, then physical, then maybe both), the history/present confusion of medicine (it's often that we don't know what's going on!), and the connection between sensitivity to body changes and past trauma with body changes were all so, so interesting. I appreciated the complexity of the author having serious medical illness (multiple bouts of severe cancer) and also hypochondria.
The description of trauma treatment and RDoC wasn't great, but I'm also picky about that. The EMDR and "Body Keeps the Score" emphasis was particularly unfortunate - but, I did appreciate that when the author wrote about CBT interventions, she emphasized the exposure element. Although, this was a moment where the book organization was tricky to follow (i.e., talking about CBT's emphasis on exposure then, later, looping to trauma treatment but without referencing the previous ideas on mental health intervention shared chapters earlier).
Overall, the organization of this was often unclear to me in a way that made some of the facts/reporting run together and then get a bit repetitive. The book concludes with an interesting note about hypochondria/illness anxiety disorder not being linear, but I don't think this take-away contextualizes the organization choices.
I listened to this (sped up, as always) on audiobook while recovering from a bad fever/cold that ripped through me. Interesting to listen to this while sick! Trippy. Loved that this was narrated by the author. The narration was excellent.
February 21, 2025
3.5 stars. Very fascinating, part memoir part informative novel on the very long history of hypochondria, as well as the author’s experience with cancer and subsequent health anxiety. I enjoyed learning so much about the deep history of hypochondria, but felt as if some of those sections dragged a little. But also I’m not much of a science/medical reader, so that may just be my opinion. Loved the author’s reflections and the ways in which she tied the historical lessons into her own experience.
I read this as a hypochondriac navigating the medical world, trying to find an answer to my question: what is wrong with my body? Knowing that there’s a problem but no test or appointment giving me any answers and leaving me questioning further. Having clear evidence that something is wrong, but that issue causing a spiral of health anxiety. Having chronic pain and having to convince myself and my doctors that it’s not all in my head. This book felt like an important read for this time in my life, and it made me feel a little less alone. It’s one I’ve talked a lot about and recommended to many. Hopefully more and more people read it and feel less alone too
I read this as a hypochondriac navigating the medical world, trying to find an answer to my question: what is wrong with my body? Knowing that there’s a problem but no test or appointment giving me any answers and leaving me questioning further. Having clear evidence that something is wrong, but that issue causing a spiral of health anxiety. Having chronic pain and having to convince myself and my doctors that it’s not all in my head. This book felt like an important read for this time in my life, and it made me feel a little less alone. It’s one I’ve talked a lot about and recommended to many. Hopefully more and more people read it and feel less alone too
June 4, 2024
Part history, part memoir. The history content adds a sense of continuity to human uncertainties that have been part of life for millennia, though it’s the memoir sections that resonate the most deeply.
I picked this up because of having enjoyed Caroline Crampton’s podcast work for several years. A solid and thoughtful read!
I picked this up because of having enjoyed Caroline Crampton’s podcast work for several years. A solid and thoughtful read!
January 18, 2025
3.5
Lots of thoughts. More coherent review to come, maybe
Lots of thoughts. More coherent review to come, maybe
April 18, 2024
I love it when my job (GP) intersects with great books (like this one).
Caroline Crampton has a very good reason to be anxious about her health - she starts off the book with her teenage cancer diagnosis, which was not as straightforward as initially hoped, but which she ultimately was given the ‘all clear’ from. It started her down a path - all too familiar to those who experience it and those who work in healthcare - of repetitive and obsessive health anxiety.
Here, as an eloquent narrator and remarkably objective analyst, she tries to understand the thought processes behind hypochondria, in what might have been a therapeutic exercise for her (or, as she alludes, might have made things worse).
She appears to have sifted through centuries of records and literature, finding what writings remain by those who helped shape the definition of hypochondria, as well as all those who we suspect (or know) suffered from it. We journey through all the aspects of the condition, in a delightful blend of history, art and philosophy. It’s all very entertaining and interesting, and even for someone with medical training like myself, it was full of trivia and reminders about how language, and the history carried within words, underpins our daily interactions and understandings related to health.
Topics touched upon include the inequality of healthcare, and how hypochondria is sometimes a luxury for the wealthy or the bored. One of the best chapters deals with quacks and the rise of the devious wellness industry, which of course feeds off fear and anxiety. The internet gets the attention it deserves, as do more recent smart devices which allow individuals to observe, own (and maybe obsess over) their own health data. The pages dedicated to the placebo and nocebo effect are also very well-written, showing how important these two factors have become in modern healthcare.
Crampton acknowledges that helping (and not getting frustrated by) hypochondriac patients can be difficult for doctors and other practitioners, but she made me realise how more effort is needed on my part, at least to try and understand what the less loud patients are saying. The importance of language and choice of words when one describes illness to a healthcare practitioner can unfairly affect the response, such as in cases of language barriers or difficulties with summarising or explaining vague and complex symptoms.
There are many dry articles, definitions and studies about this subject, but this powerful little book is the most clear and honest text I’ve come across. It ends rather suddenly, but not without explaining why, and like every good book of this type it looks towards the future and asks a number of pertinent, unanswered questions.
The author’s hard-earned insight allows her to explore hypochondria and lay it bare for the benefit of readers, doctors and co-sufferers. It is both a comprehensive overview of the topic and a very vulnerable, honest and detailed account of what it means to live in fear of illness.
Caroline Crampton has a very good reason to be anxious about her health - she starts off the book with her teenage cancer diagnosis, which was not as straightforward as initially hoped, but which she ultimately was given the ‘all clear’ from. It started her down a path - all too familiar to those who experience it and those who work in healthcare - of repetitive and obsessive health anxiety.
Here, as an eloquent narrator and remarkably objective analyst, she tries to understand the thought processes behind hypochondria, in what might have been a therapeutic exercise for her (or, as she alludes, might have made things worse).
She appears to have sifted through centuries of records and literature, finding what writings remain by those who helped shape the definition of hypochondria, as well as all those who we suspect (or know) suffered from it. We journey through all the aspects of the condition, in a delightful blend of history, art and philosophy. It’s all very entertaining and interesting, and even for someone with medical training like myself, it was full of trivia and reminders about how language, and the history carried within words, underpins our daily interactions and understandings related to health.
Topics touched upon include the inequality of healthcare, and how hypochondria is sometimes a luxury for the wealthy or the bored. One of the best chapters deals with quacks and the rise of the devious wellness industry, which of course feeds off fear and anxiety. The internet gets the attention it deserves, as do more recent smart devices which allow individuals to observe, own (and maybe obsess over) their own health data. The pages dedicated to the placebo and nocebo effect are also very well-written, showing how important these two factors have become in modern healthcare.
Crampton acknowledges that helping (and not getting frustrated by) hypochondriac patients can be difficult for doctors and other practitioners, but she made me realise how more effort is needed on my part, at least to try and understand what the less loud patients are saying. The importance of language and choice of words when one describes illness to a healthcare practitioner can unfairly affect the response, such as in cases of language barriers or difficulties with summarising or explaining vague and complex symptoms.
There are many dry articles, definitions and studies about this subject, but this powerful little book is the most clear and honest text I’ve come across. It ends rather suddenly, but not without explaining why, and like every good book of this type it looks towards the future and asks a number of pertinent, unanswered questions.
The author’s hard-earned insight allows her to explore hypochondria and lay it bare for the benefit of readers, doctors and co-sufferers. It is both a comprehensive overview of the topic and a very vulnerable, honest and detailed account of what it means to live in fear of illness.
April 15, 2025
3.5
Having a decent amount of health anxiety myself, I for sure laughed when my mom got me this for Christmas!!
Pluses:
- Such a great read, definitely focuses on the inner psychology and history of health anxiety/ hypochondria which I loved.
- Multiple times throughout I would find descriptions or thoughts that I would freak out and be like omg I've thought that before too!!
- Writing was amazingggg author really has a strong way with descriptions
Minuses:
- Only complaint was it felt like some of the anecdotes or historical examples would be wayy to dragged out over pages, and I would get bored or just lose the point of the chapter/ section, so with that think the book could've been shorter and still gotten the same points across.
Here are my fav quotes, for myself and bc I don't have a Kindle to highlight favorite lines haha that describe health anxiety perfectlyyyy:
" To be healthy is to be oblivious , to enjoy the luxury of never having the degredation of the body intrude upon the mind"
"Everyone has their niggling doubts, that internal voice that says what if? The hypochondriacs are just listening out for it that much more keenly"
"Hypochondria is not tied to any one condition or disease, but rather to the essence of the doubt itself"
"Humans are meaning makers, we make meanings because meaninglessness terrifies us above all things"
On first learning about COVID-19 as a new mystery virus in China: "I started to panic a little about my future panic- a very hypochondriac thought pattern, to be scared of the fear itself- but when cases started rising in my area, I largely found the experience oddly calming.... at least in the early months - everybody else was doing this too. We [the hypochondriacs] were no longer the outliers , with our irrational fears and our imaginary illnesses. Suddenly, we were normal"
"He isn't dying today, but what about tomorrow?"
"Hypochondria thrives in the absence of better information"
"The human craving for satisfying narrative demands an explanation for our suffering; to find a connection between all our disparate and worrying symptoms requires action: do something, it screams. Make an appointment, swallow a pill, take a test, tell a friend. Anything to avoid sitting with the anxiety in the awkward stasis of not knowing. Doing nothing requires a level of trust in the inner processes of the human body and medicine's understanding of them that most of us do not have."
"The present is ruined for the fear of what the future may bring"
"The mind plays tricks on us and says, oh, but what if it's not the health anxiety this time? What if it really is the illness?"
"I have spoken with people now living with long term, life altering diagnoses of conditions like MS and Parkinson's disease who, when initially presented their symptoms to doctors, were told- because of their previous anxiety - to stop inventing problems where there were none"
Plenty of history on women's health as well, CRAZYYY how women were just diagnosed by doctors with "hysteria" for wayy too long, one funny quote about a quack from the 1700s "who claimed to have discovered that the ultimate cure for a woman's sexual dysfunction was a night between the sheets with him." RIIIIGHT BUDDY
Having a decent amount of health anxiety myself, I for sure laughed when my mom got me this for Christmas!!
Pluses:
- Such a great read, definitely focuses on the inner psychology and history of health anxiety/ hypochondria which I loved.
- Multiple times throughout I would find descriptions or thoughts that I would freak out and be like omg I've thought that before too!!
- Writing was amazingggg author really has a strong way with descriptions
Minuses:
- Only complaint was it felt like some of the anecdotes or historical examples would be wayy to dragged out over pages, and I would get bored or just lose the point of the chapter/ section, so with that think the book could've been shorter and still gotten the same points across.
Here are my fav quotes, for myself and bc I don't have a Kindle to highlight favorite lines haha that describe health anxiety perfectlyyyy:
" To be healthy is to be oblivious , to enjoy the luxury of never having the degredation of the body intrude upon the mind"
"Everyone has their niggling doubts, that internal voice that says what if? The hypochondriacs are just listening out for it that much more keenly"
"Hypochondria is not tied to any one condition or disease, but rather to the essence of the doubt itself"
"Humans are meaning makers, we make meanings because meaninglessness terrifies us above all things"
On first learning about COVID-19 as a new mystery virus in China: "I started to panic a little about my future panic- a very hypochondriac thought pattern, to be scared of the fear itself- but when cases started rising in my area, I largely found the experience oddly calming.... at least in the early months - everybody else was doing this too. We [the hypochondriacs] were no longer the outliers , with our irrational fears and our imaginary illnesses. Suddenly, we were normal"
"He isn't dying today, but what about tomorrow?"
"Hypochondria thrives in the absence of better information"
"The human craving for satisfying narrative demands an explanation for our suffering; to find a connection between all our disparate and worrying symptoms requires action: do something, it screams. Make an appointment, swallow a pill, take a test, tell a friend. Anything to avoid sitting with the anxiety in the awkward stasis of not knowing. Doing nothing requires a level of trust in the inner processes of the human body and medicine's understanding of them that most of us do not have."
"The present is ruined for the fear of what the future may bring"
"The mind plays tricks on us and says, oh, but what if it's not the health anxiety this time? What if it really is the illness?"
"I have spoken with people now living with long term, life altering diagnoses of conditions like MS and Parkinson's disease who, when initially presented their symptoms to doctors, were told- because of their previous anxiety - to stop inventing problems where there were none"
Plenty of history on women's health as well, CRAZYYY how women were just diagnosed by doctors with "hysteria" for wayy too long, one funny quote about a quack from the 1700s "who claimed to have discovered that the ultimate cure for a woman's sexual dysfunction was a night between the sheets with him." RIIIIGHT BUDDY
October 1, 2025
3.5 stars
First of all, it is satisfying to be seen in a book. As someone who has struggled with health anxiety for years, the ways in which Crampton describes her own experiences and those of others were so resonant and affirming to me.
The chapters in which she chronicles her own journey with hypochondria and examines current trends, beliefs, and practices were the most compelling for me personally. I learned a lot about the evolution of the term hypochondria and its classification as a mental health disorder, including its connections to PTSD and OCD. I was also intrigued by the modern developments of connecting mind and body: your mind has powerful control over your body and someone with health anxiety can develop real physical symptoms. The psychosomatic effects are real and can be debilitating. I know this all too well, and I'm glad the medical field is finally catching up to this reality for so many people.
The chapters in which she examines the history of hypochondriacs (many of whom are writers) and how early medicine used to classify and treat hypochondria were too dry and long; she included lengthy direct quotes from medical journals and repeated the same ideas/themes across multiple chapters but not to a productive recursive effect.
If you are diving into hypochondria for the first time, the organization of this book, coupled with its density, might feel inaccessible. So I'm not sure I recommend this book for those of you who don't know anything about health anxiety but I do wish that the more general population would understand the depths of this disorder and stop telling people like me who suffer from it to just "not worry" or "you're fine." It is complicated, deeply entrenched psychologically, and has real impacts on physical health and wellness. It is a real mental health disorder and not a bid for attention. And the medical field is only starting to figure out what therapeutic methods actually work.
First of all, it is satisfying to be seen in a book. As someone who has struggled with health anxiety for years, the ways in which Crampton describes her own experiences and those of others were so resonant and affirming to me.
The chapters in which she chronicles her own journey with hypochondria and examines current trends, beliefs, and practices were the most compelling for me personally. I learned a lot about the evolution of the term hypochondria and its classification as a mental health disorder, including its connections to PTSD and OCD. I was also intrigued by the modern developments of connecting mind and body: your mind has powerful control over your body and someone with health anxiety can develop real physical symptoms. The psychosomatic effects are real and can be debilitating. I know this all too well, and I'm glad the medical field is finally catching up to this reality for so many people.
The chapters in which she examines the history of hypochondriacs (many of whom are writers) and how early medicine used to classify and treat hypochondria were too dry and long; she included lengthy direct quotes from medical journals and repeated the same ideas/themes across multiple chapters but not to a productive recursive effect.
If you are diving into hypochondria for the first time, the organization of this book, coupled with its density, might feel inaccessible. So I'm not sure I recommend this book for those of you who don't know anything about health anxiety but I do wish that the more general population would understand the depths of this disorder and stop telling people like me who suffer from it to just "not worry" or "you're fine." It is complicated, deeply entrenched psychologically, and has real impacts on physical health and wellness. It is a real mental health disorder and not a bid for attention. And the medical field is only starting to figure out what therapeutic methods actually work.
June 2, 2024
A Fascinating Dive into the History of the "Imaginary Invalid"
In her insightful book "A Body Made of Glass," Caroline Crampton takes readers on a captivating journey through the cultural evolution of hypochondria – that obsession with ailments both real and imagined. With a deft hand and meticulous research, Crampton illuminates how society's perceptions of this condition have shifted dramatically over the centuries.
From the hypochondriacal delusions of the 17th century to the modern-day cyberchondriacs diagnosing themselves online, Crampton deftly weaves together medical history, literature, philosophy, and popular culture. Her prose is engaging and accessible, making even the most arcane medical concepts understandable to the general reader.
What makes this book particularly compelling is Crampton's ability to humanize the often-ridiculed hypochondriac. She sensitively explores how factors like gender, class, and rapidly changing scientific knowledge shaped societal judgments about the "imaginary invalids" of different eras. The eccentricities of famous hypochondriacs like Charles Darwin and Andy Warhol are recounted with insight and empathy.
If there is one slight criticism, it's that the book's middle sections can get a bit bogged down in excessive historical detail at times. But this is a minor quibble in an otherwise richly researched and thoughtfully crafted cultural history.
Overall, "A Body Made of Glass" is a fascinating read that will likely have you scrutinizing your own aches, pains and WebMD searches in a whole new light. For anyone interested in the curious intersections of medicine and culture, this book is a compelling 4-star must-read.
In her insightful book "A Body Made of Glass," Caroline Crampton takes readers on a captivating journey through the cultural evolution of hypochondria – that obsession with ailments both real and imagined. With a deft hand and meticulous research, Crampton illuminates how society's perceptions of this condition have shifted dramatically over the centuries.
From the hypochondriacal delusions of the 17th century to the modern-day cyberchondriacs diagnosing themselves online, Crampton deftly weaves together medical history, literature, philosophy, and popular culture. Her prose is engaging and accessible, making even the most arcane medical concepts understandable to the general reader.
What makes this book particularly compelling is Crampton's ability to humanize the often-ridiculed hypochondriac. She sensitively explores how factors like gender, class, and rapidly changing scientific knowledge shaped societal judgments about the "imaginary invalids" of different eras. The eccentricities of famous hypochondriacs like Charles Darwin and Andy Warhol are recounted with insight and empathy.
If there is one slight criticism, it's that the book's middle sections can get a bit bogged down in excessive historical detail at times. But this is a minor quibble in an otherwise richly researched and thoughtfully crafted cultural history.
Overall, "A Body Made of Glass" is a fascinating read that will likely have you scrutinizing your own aches, pains and WebMD searches in a whole new light. For anyone interested in the curious intersections of medicine and culture, this book is a compelling 4-star must-read.
September 19, 2024
If I have to inhabit a fragile meat vessel that could disintegrate at any moment, at least don't make me think about it all the time.
Part memoir, part history, part literary analysis, part medical study - it's a lot of parts to put into one book, but Crampton mostly manages it. I found the strongest parts to be memoir and literary analysis, The memoir elements were insightful, she is able to put a lot of hypochondriac experiences into words, and she often made me laugh out of relatability. I thought that a lot of the history was interesting but was often presented in a slightly muddled way; I couldn't tell you the difference between the first few chapters and it felt a little circular until we move on to the other topics. I thought there was a really strong argument happening in the quackery section but I would have liked to see more attention given to the role the wellness industry plays in it all. Overall, I found a lot of it very enlightening and I enjoyed reading it.
Part memoir, part history, part literary analysis, part medical study - it's a lot of parts to put into one book, but Crampton mostly manages it. I found the strongest parts to be memoir and literary analysis, The memoir elements were insightful, she is able to put a lot of hypochondriac experiences into words, and she often made me laugh out of relatability. I thought that a lot of the history was interesting but was often presented in a slightly muddled way; I couldn't tell you the difference between the first few chapters and it felt a little circular until we move on to the other topics. I thought there was a really strong argument happening in the quackery section but I would have liked to see more attention given to the role the wellness industry plays in it all. Overall, I found a lot of it very enlightening and I enjoyed reading it.
March 12, 2025
One of my favourite topics is always the crossover of the body and the mind and this book doesn’t disappoint. I enjoyed the person insight into the author’s own experiences, including her illnesses.
My only critique would be that it does get quite repetitive after a while and it’s slightly longer than it needs to be.
My only critique would be that it does get quite repetitive after a while and it’s slightly longer than it needs to be.
February 24, 2025
Well worth the read. I always feel like I ought to be snobbish about bestseller histories but I feel genuinely challenged and TAUGHT. Impressed with Crampton’s unyielding compassion. Love a sneaky bit of literary criticism too, especially if it’s about my girl Jane Austen.
May 1, 2024
Well researched, highly informative. Has me wondering if I am a bit of a hypochondriac myself.
June 15, 2024
This book was beautifully written. The interweaving of the historical and personal was expertly done. I found the history of hypochondria fascinating and the personal story compelling.
July 11, 2024
Audiobook version
January 10, 2025
Heard the author speak at the Edinburgh book festival. Interesting, thoughtful and honest.
May 13, 2024
A really fascinating book, blending a personal story with the history of a diagnosis. Very much enjoyed it.
January 7, 2025
You know what’s sick? Having to live in a gross meat sack that a billion awful things can happen to
April 22, 2025
Nonfiction book all about hypochondria, including a thorough history back to the ancinet Greeks/ Romans. Apparently, way back when, some hypochondriacs thought their bodies were literally made of glass.
The hypochondria used to be considered an actual physical body part. Over time, it became what it is considered to be now, i.e. a borderline mental illness. The book covers the degree to which hypochondriacs were considered to be not taken seriously over time.
Ultimately, I felt this was one of those nonfiction books that could have just been a long article. Like hypochondria itself, it came off as somewhat navel-gazing .
The hypochondria used to be considered an actual physical body part. Over time, it became what it is considered to be now, i.e. a borderline mental illness. The book covers the degree to which hypochondriacs were considered to be not taken seriously over time.
Ultimately, I felt this was one of those nonfiction books that could have just been a long article. Like hypochondria itself, it came off as somewhat navel-gazing .
June 7, 2024
3.5* rounded up
This was a very intriguing history of hypocondria woven together with Crampton's own relationship with health, anxiety and hypocondria. It was interesting to learn about the term's ancient roots, how people have felt this way pretty much as long as there have been people and that there isn't just one specific way for it to manifest. A good read if you're interested in the interaction between physical and mental health.
This was a very intriguing history of hypocondria woven together with Crampton's own relationship with health, anxiety and hypocondria. It was interesting to learn about the term's ancient roots, how people have felt this way pretty much as long as there have been people and that there isn't just one specific way for it to manifest. A good read if you're interested in the interaction between physical and mental health.
August 21, 2025
3.5/5
Good book that takes a closer look at hypochondria. Obviously, this being a cultural history, don't expect this book as an attempt to medically identify and explain hypochondria, and this book specifically talks about the difficulty of such a task.
I went in without fully reading the title so was a bit disappointed by this aspect, but that's just the nature of this book, and still very much enjoyed both the personal experience of the author, the analysis of this condition throughout history, and its still nuanced contemporary nature.
A lot of the stories tended to feel a bit samey in a good few ways, but still, they provided valuable perspective and made for a pretty good experience. Not bad.
Good book that takes a closer look at hypochondria. Obviously, this being a cultural history, don't expect this book as an attempt to medically identify and explain hypochondria, and this book specifically talks about the difficulty of such a task.
I went in without fully reading the title so was a bit disappointed by this aspect, but that's just the nature of this book, and still very much enjoyed both the personal experience of the author, the analysis of this condition throughout history, and its still nuanced contemporary nature.
A lot of the stories tended to feel a bit samey in a good few ways, but still, they provided valuable perspective and made for a pretty good experience. Not bad.
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