Abel invited the reader to reexamine how centuries old notions on the nature of fatigue have shaped unconscious personal outlooks and continue to guide Western medical trends. Fantastically written, combining historical recounting with anecdotes, this book just rang so true for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I'm always a little on the fence when memoir and non-fiction are combined. It is rarely done successfully.

I didn't realize, going in, that the author had dealt with cancer in the past and that contributed to her fatigue. That made this book a little less personally relevant, as I was expecting something more along the lines of A History of Madness. Despite the author's personal connection to the subject, I still felt like it was trivialized. Especially when we were presented with exercise, bedrest, and sports as treatments. (I guess that shows I was expecting it to be more along the lines of depression fatigue.)

Not terrible, if you were looking for information or the topic of the memoir interests you.

If you're someone who lives with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, dysautonomia or are a cancer survivor, you know things about fatigue that the general public misses. You know what it's like to live with stigma, labels, assumptions, and withheld opportunities. In Sick and Tired, Emily Abel digs into the history of how fatigue is understood medically and socially in a way that is both enlightening and infuriating. I didn't expect the book to be so interesting and relevant, but there's validation and fascinating detail a-plenty for those who live with illness-induced fatigue and those who love them. Recommended.

A very thorough and detailed examination of a long-neglected affliction: chronic fatigue. The author is a victim of it herself, suffering from exhaustion for many years after successful cancer treatment. As an academic, she decided to confront it on her turf: doing scientific research and querying the sources. She studies the phenomenon itself and everything related to it: stress, depression, rest, energy boosters, and many other things.

I think that this work is especially relevant today, with chronic fatigue experienced by many COVID "long-haulers".

Thanks to the publisher, University of North Carolina Press, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

This book felt like two books in one. On one hand, the author is writing a memoir on her experience with her health post-breast cancer treatment. It also details the history of fatigue and sickness in women in American history. I enjoyed both stories but it really felt like it should have been two separate books. Post-cancer treatment fatigue seems too different from diagnosed diseases that contain an element of fatigue to be combined into this single book.

‘Sick and Tired’ is a book written by a medical historian on the subject of fatigue and how it has been perceived throughout history. It is a short yet fascinating book that covers a lot succinctly.

Abel, the writer, was diagnosed with cancer and was surprised at the level of fatigue that persisted after chemo and the cancer went into remission. She writes academically on the subject of fatigue and yet with use of case studies, anecdotes, various studies and literary references this is far from dull and the reader is kept engaged. The book looks at fatigue in relation to religion, the effect capitalism had on ideas of work, rest and illness, scientific approaches and how today there is still such a stigma attached despite an increased effort to change this.

I really enjoyed this and thought Abel tackled what is a very big subject well and sensitively. It’s clear from this how much biases on fatigue play such a large role in how it’s dealt with or not and the negative impact this has on sufferers. Perfect for anyone working in health or social care, anyone who wants more insight and people who struggle with fatigue as a result of illness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

sometimes you decided to read a book because the cover is cool, and then the book changes your life. Sick and Tired is a wonderful hybrid of history and memoir. perhaps what's most compelling is what Abel discusses at the conclusion of her book: the narratives and lens used to study the history of illness helped her gain perspective on her own cancer diagnosis and following fatigue. as a cancer survivor myself, this book felt like finally meeting someone who understands you completely!

i really enjoyed the structure of the book. i actually find historians who include their connections to the subject material way more engaging as a reader. i found the sections on the links between fatigue and capitalism SO interesting (especially the idea that rest is not for the self but for productivity!).

my biggest critique of the book would be: where was hysteria!?! it was mentioned near the end but was largely absent from the sections of neurasthenia. i know it technically fits under that umbrella but i wanted more women's history before the ending chapter!

OH my goodness, I love it when a book teaches me something that I had no idea about. I seriously though that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was just NOT getting enough sleep. She patiently described exactly what she felt like, how her life had changed, and how horrendous it was.
The author shared her personal experience, but also dove deeper. She brought up the history of fatigue, bed rest, and exercise programs as cures for malaise.
Usually I say that books need to be longer, this is one book, where I learned so much, that I needed it to be longer.
I truly appreciated this book and every person who knows someone going through cancer treatments, chronic Fatigue syndrome, or just a little down should read this book.