Illness as a Metaphor

A different kind of book, Illness as a Metaphor, is Susan Sontag’s thoughts on how our society views diseases.  The book was penned in 1978 and provides a historical perspective on how Tuberculosis was first viewed, and then cancer.  The twist on this book is that Sontag is actually recovering from cancer so she uses her own perspectives and how she experienced what others thought and how doctors talked about it, though she never directly mentions going through treatment.  It was during that time when my own father had cancer, 1976, for the first time.  Though she notes how doctors rarely talked about it, (even the medical field was taboo on cancer as the medical records companies would send unmarked letters to send bills for payment).  Sontag goes through the 19^th and 20^th centuries and provides numerous examples of how society at the time viewed the diseases.  TB eventually become very romanticized by those who had it, being sent to a “sanatorium” to recover.  Many who were ill were seen as thin, but good looking.  Cancer on the other hand was viewed as the disease that tears one’s body apart.  The book is a quick read and covers the change in how disease is viewed over time.  While the thoughts shared were very much her opinions of the time, it is very interesting to see how cancer is not seen in the same light, especially with so much medical improvements in how it is treated and improved survival rates.  Interesting to note that in 1988 Sontag wrote another treatise on disease, this time on AIDS, in this book she does share her disease recovery in the book. A strange favorite book for a student to suggest.  While I always like to learn different issues, stories, etc., this was one I would not really view as a favorite as I am not sure what I learned from, though really helped me think differently about the topic.  It does provide the historical perspective, but there are other ways to gain it, plus it is really one person’s perspective. To her benefit, there are good historical quotes to support her beliefs.  Not what I would call a high recommendation to add to your list.