Meghan O'Rourke Bücher

A young woman's memoir of a year of grieving after her mother died, written with anger, insight, wisdom and grace

Selections from the "Pandemic Files" published by The Yale Review , the preeminent journal of literature and ideas“If only our response to the pandemic on other fronts could have been as speedy and potent as this literary one.”— Kirkus Reviews , starred reviewIn beautifully written and powerfully thought prose, A World Out of Reach offers a crucial record of COVID-19 and the cataclysmic spring of 2020—a record for us and for posterity—in the arresting voices of poets, essayists, scholars, and health care workers. Ranging from matters of policy and social justice to ancient history and personal stories of living under lockdown, this vivid compilation from The Yale Review presents a first draft of one of the most tumultuous periods in recent history.Contributors:Katie Kitamura • Laura Kolbe • Nitin Ahuja • Rena Xu • Alicia Christoff • Miranda Featherstone • Maya C. Popa • Major Jackson • John Witt • Octávio Luiz Motta Ferraz • Joan Naviyuk Kane • Nell Freudenberger • Briallen Hopper • Brandon Shimoda • Yusef Komunyakaa • Laren McClung • Eric O’Keefe-Krebs • Sean Lynch • Millicent Marcus • Meghana Mysore • Rachel Jamison Webster • Emily Ziff Griffin • Rowan Ricardo Philips • Kathryn Lofton • Monica Ferrell • Russell Morse • Randi Hutter Epstein • Noreen Khawaja • Victoria Chang • Joyelle McSweeney • Khameer Kidia • Emily Greenwood • Elisa Gabbert • Emily Bernard • Hafizah Geter • Emily Gogolak • Roger Reeves

Chronic illness and autoimmune diseases are at the forefront of a silent epidemic affecting millions, often overlooked and misunderstood. Meghan O'Rourke investigates these 'invisible' illnesses, including long COVID, drawing from her personal health journey and extensive interviews with experts. She critiques historical medical definitions and highlights the neglect faced by marginalized groups. Blending personal narrative with broader social commentary, O'Rourke advocates for a transformative approach to understanding and treating these complex conditions, offering hope and insight for those affected.

This landmark exploration delves into the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases, a silent epidemic affecting millions of Americans. These conditions are often poorly understood, marginalized, and can remain undiagnosed. Renowned writer Meghan O'Rourke presents a revelatory investigation into this elusive category of 'invisible' illness, which includes autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and long COVID. Drawing from her own medical experiences and a decade of interviews with doctors, patients, researchers, and public health experts, O'Rourke examines the history of Western definitions of illness. She reveals how inherited ideas about cause, diagnosis, and treatment have led to the neglect of complex medical conditions that resist simple explanations or cures. As America grapples with this significant health crisis, vulnerable populations, including women, the working class, and people of color, are often overlooked. Blending lyricism with erudition, candor, and empathy, O'Rourke synthesizes her roles as critic, journalist, poet, teacher, and patient. This monumental project advocates for a seismic shift in our approach to disease, offering hope for the sick and insight for their loved ones, while fostering a radical new understanding of our bodies and health.

De ziekte en het overlijden van de moeder van de schrijfster op 55-jarige leeftijd leiden bij haar tot talrijke gedachten over de dood.