Book Review: Suzette Haden Elgin, Staying Well
For the 50bookchallenge. I'm now done with 50, and going for 100. Must finish posting reviews!
50) Staying Well with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense, by Suzette Haden Elgin, 243 pages
This time, Elgin delves into the power of language to affect the human body. She does not claim that you can "think" your problems away, but she does present a compelling case for stress causing unpleasant health problems. Reducing tension by reducing the amount of hostility coming at you will alleviate stress, and will yield health benefits both in the short term and in the long run. And the techniques of verbal self-defense she lays out are invaluable in reducing the amount of verbal conflict in the environment, something most of us have to put up with on a daily basis, and something that is even more of a problem to people who have to deal with the medical community on a regular basis.
She devotes a large part of the book toward the stresses caused by interactions with the medical community, and how to avoid being confused, frightened, or bullied by what she calls "Mdeityspeak."
A fascinating and important book, and one I would unhesitatingly recommend, especially for anyone facing illness, infirmity, or repeated interactions with doctors.
50) Staying Well with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense, by Suzette Haden Elgin, 243 pages
This time, Elgin delves into the power of language to affect the human body. She does not claim that you can "think" your problems away, but she does present a compelling case for stress causing unpleasant health problems. Reducing tension by reducing the amount of hostility coming at you will alleviate stress, and will yield health benefits both in the short term and in the long run. And the techniques of verbal self-defense she lays out are invaluable in reducing the amount of verbal conflict in the environment, something most of us have to put up with on a daily basis, and something that is even more of a problem to people who have to deal with the medical community on a regular basis.
She devotes a large part of the book toward the stresses caused by interactions with the medical community, and how to avoid being confused, frightened, or bullied by what she calls "Mdeityspeak."
A fascinating and important book, and one I would unhesitatingly recommend, especially for anyone facing illness, infirmity, or repeated interactions with doctors.