Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid by Mendenhall, Emily
Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid by Mendenhall, Emily

Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid

"An incisive study that illuminates the myriad complexities of chronic illness."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)"Movingly spotlights the struggles...
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Author: Emily Mendenhall
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: $49.63
Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid by Mendenhall, Emily

Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid

$95.99 $49.63
Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid by Mendenhall, Emily

Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid

$95.99 $49.63
Author: Emily Mendenhall
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Description

"An incisive study that illuminates the myriad complexities of chronic illness."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"Movingly spotlights the struggles of chronically ill patients."--Publishers Weekly

A moving cultural history of disability--and a powerful call to action to change how our medical system and society supports those with complex chronic conditions

From lupus to Lyme, invisible illness is often dismissed by everyone but the sufferers. Why does the medical establishment continually insist that, when symptoms are hard to explain, they are probably just in your head?

Inspired by her work with long COVID patients, medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall traces the story of complex chronic conditions to show why both research and practice fail so many. Mendenhall points out disconnects between the reality of chronic disease--which typically involves multiple intersecting problems resulting in unique, individualized illness--and the assumptions of medical providers, who behave as though chronic diseases have uniform effects for everyone. And while invisible illnesses have historically been associated with white middle-class women, being believed that you are sick is even more difficult for patients whose social identities and lived experiences may not align with dominant medical thought. Weaving together cultural history with intimate interviews, Invisible Illness upholds the experiences of those living with complex illness to expose the failures of the American healthcare system--and how we can do better.

Author: Emily Mendenhall
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 01/06/2026
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780520421523


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 11/17/2025
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2025

About the Author
Emily Mendenhall is Professor in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, a Guggenheim Fellow, and contributor to Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Vox.
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