From Paralysis to Fatigue: A History of Psychosomatic Illness in the Modern Era [Paperback]

Edward Shorter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 1993

The first book to put the physical symptoms of stress in their historical andcultural context, Shorter's fascinating history shows how patients throughoutthe centuries have experienced symptoms of stress in tandem with the culturalshifts of larger society.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Shorter (history, Univ. of Toronto), whose most recent books include Bedside Manners ( LJ 3/1/86) and Women's Bodies (Transaction Pubs., 1990), here catalogs the aches and pains of countless legions from the 18th century to the present. His hypothesis is that "historical eras shape their own symptoms" of illness and that "these various paradigms greatly influenced the way patients presented psychosomatic illness to their doctors." It's a run-on litany of vapors, hysteria, weakness, exhaustion, fatigue, loss of ambition, low vitality, weak spells, neurasthenia, and sometimes just your "garden-variety somatizer such as would be found in any medical practice." The question of to what extent the times and culture influence the socially correct expression of physical and mental ills is not without interest to several scholarly fields, but this reader was plum tuckered out by the end.
- James Swanton, Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine, New York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (June 7, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029286670
• ISBN-13: 978-0029286678
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Dissociative Disorders

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, thought-provoking insights into the mind-body process, November 1, 2009

By 

D. Pook (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Paralysis to Fatigue: A History of Psychosomatic Illness in the Modern Era (Paperback)

This book is one of those hidden jewels: a masterful study of how powerful and pervasive psychosomatic illness has been (and likely continues to be) in human culture, accomplished via historical observation. The text is fascinating and enjoyable. After reading this, you may find yourself asking some interesting questions about many prevalent health issues that exist today, such as chronic back pain, GI problems, headaches, chronic fatigue, etc. How much of human suffering has hidden psychogenic roots, and how paradigms within medical science might be reinforcing them, are critical issues that deserve much greater attention. This important book convincingly illuminates how powerful and pervasive such phenomena can be. Really an eye-opener.

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitive book on psychosomatic illness, May 4, 2005

By 

David Jameson (Belfast, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Paralysis to Fatigue: A History of Psychosomatic Illness in the Modern Era (Hardcover)

This is a very well researched book which is also very easy and pleasant to read. The author has scoured libraries for contemporary accounts of psychosomatic illness, mostly from physicians but sometimes from patients as well.

Shorter describes the history of psychosomatic illness from the first written accounts up to the present day. In doing so he shows how theories have changed over the centuries, and also how the symptoms themselves have changed as patients unconsciously "choose" which symptoms will be believed (although I have my doubts about whether or not this is actually the case).

The book contains many accounts of psychosomatic illness, some of which are quite entertaining (although probably not for the patients themselves).

My only criticism of the book is the lack of science. Shorter doesn't try to give any theories about the nature of psychosomatic illness and seems to think that all psychosomatic symptoms are simply generated by the unconscious mind, which can change them at will. This seems to go against known physiology, which shows that certain psychosomatic reactions (such as the defecation response to fear) are hard-wired into the nervous system and happen in animals as well as humans. Perhaps there are different types of psychosomatic illness with different causes and different physiology, but Shorter doesn't address this. While this isn't a major shortcoming for a book that only professes to discuss the history of psychosomatic illness, Shorter does give the impression of having a mildly negative opinion of the "somatizers" he describes.

Overall, however, it is a very good read and I couldn't put it down. For anyone at all interested in psychosomatic illness this book is a must-have.

7 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The authors long term perspective challenges current fads, July 25, 1999

By 

Louis D Nettles - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Paralysis to Fatigue: A History of Psychosomatic Illness in the Modern Era (Paperback)

The author has successfully applied an historian's long range perspective to currents fads and trends in health care. His view will save us from the laughter of our grandchildren and perhaps keep us and them from making the same mistakes over and over. This is history that is useful today. History as a prescription for todays ills.