Natural causes : life, death and the illusion of control
Barbara Ehrenreich (Author)
Barbara Ehrenreich explores how we are killing ourselves to live longer, not better. She describes how we over-prepare and worry way too much about what is inevitable. One by one, Ehrenreich topples the shibboleths that guide our attempts to live a long, healthy life, from the importance of preventive medical screenings to the concepts of wellness and mindfulness, from dietary fads to fitness culture. We tend to believe we have agency over our bodies, our minds, and even over the manner of our deaths. But the latest science shows that the microscopic subunits of our bodies make their own "decisions," and not always in our favor. We may buy expensive anti-aging products or cosmetic surgery, get preventive screenings and eat more kale, or throw ourselves into meditation and spirituality. But all these things offer only the illusion of control. How to live well, even joyously, while accepting our mortality -- that is the philosophical challenge of this book
xv, 247 pages ; 20 cm
9781783782420, 1783782420
1107694466
Midlife revolt
Rituals of humiliation
The veneer of science
Crushing the body
The madness of mindfulness
Death in social context
The war between conflict and harmony
Cellular treason
Tiny minds
"Successful aging"
The invention of the self
Killing the self, rejoicing in a living world