Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer Paperback – April 16, 2019

This is easily my favorite book by Barbara Ehrenreich, having already read 'Nickel and Dimed' and 'Bright sided'. In 'Natural Causes' this former biochemist exposes the body's own complicity in rendering the disease of cancer almost undefeatable. She reveals the body's own macrophages as the ultimate 3rd column enemy. In normal conditions they act the body's 'blue collar workers' - disposing of dead and injured cells, acting as a vanguard of defense- but they could also quickly deviate into a more sinister role. This occurs when they aid and abet any cancerous growth. In that case, "they served as cheerleaders of death accumulating at the site of cancerous tumors and encouraging their growth". And no amount of positive self-jabber, babbling happy talk or using glow globes stopped the disease and made you live longer. This was also one big reason she confessed in the book that after age 75 she'd submit to more cancer screening: no more mammograms, no more colonoscopies, nothing. She had come to the philosophical stance that 75 years was enough of this life and whatever happened, so be it.Beyond a certain age, in fact, the battle against mortality becomes essentially futile. In the case of prostate cancer it arrives with what's called "castration resistance". (As it has for me) That is, despite the fact testosterone levels have plummeted naturally - or from hormone therapy, the PSA continues to rise (Mine is now 16.1 even after high dose brachytherapy and focal cryotherapy). No further PSA testing will provide any useful info, say to save your life. (One of the reasons for this resistance is that prostate cancer cells are capable of making their own testosterone, hence driving prostate specific antigens higher. Macrophages in action!)In this respect, Ms. Ehrenreich's book has been of great value to me in seeing that chasing the next round of therapy or treatment can be self-defeating. All you are doing is exchanging quality of life for the years you may have remaining - for misery resulting from treatment side effects.To counter this, Natural Causes' beckons the cancer patient to question the “constant exhortations to be positive about the disease, to be cheerful and optimistic.” Why? When the bloody disease is eating you away from the inside out, and the medical cognoscenti push you to endure ever more outrageous treatments and therapies that'd make a Navy Seal cry?This book in my opinion may well be Ms. Ehrenreich's last, best legacy for those of us confronting cancer - or for that matter any other serious, life-threatening health issue.

Do all the testing and wellness examinations we put ourselves through enhance our lives or take away valuable time? How do you ‘eat right’ and ‘ exercise ‘? What does it mean to be healthy?These are the kinds of questions this book seeks to answer. It’s filled with research and Barbara’s usual wit and sense. I found parts of the more science-heavy chapters a bit dragging but all in all it’s tightly written and well done.I find myself thinking that there is not one way to eat right or exercise enough but rather I find myself looking for activities that I enjoy and found that is of higher quality. I won’t live to be 100 but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. I’d rather have 70 or 80 fun years than make myself sick trying to be healthy.

The science about macrophages and such was more than fascinating. When she discusses the "intelligence" on the cellular level, though, has she ever considered that God might have designed that very intelligence for a reason? The information about the history of medicine and the way that people used to treat doctors as MD-deities rang true, but is not necessarily so today. People now can and do "fire" their doctors if they are treated with condescension and arrogance. The notion that older people are superfluous in the evolutionary scheme of things and would have to be euthanized if they did not die off is cruel and nihilistic, to put it mildly All human beings have inherent worth and value because they are creations of God, not because they can "produce" anything, even if they are bedridden, severely disabled, or in the end stages of dementia. Ehrenreich is right that some people do go too far in thinking that they can fend off death and the decline that accompanies aging for most people. But it is not wrong to choose life, nor ways to extend it through medical means. She can choose to passively shorten her life, but there are many of us for whom every day of life is truly a gift, even with some of the infirmities that *may* accompany aging. God gave us modern medicine for many reasons. One of them is to love others and serve them until He calls us home. We can even do that from hospital beds and in long-term care. It is tragic that Ehrenreich, a gifted writer and person dedicated to improving the welfare of others, cannot see that.

A lot of truth in this book. We have been sold a bill of goods on many health issues to sell products!! I recommend this book to any and all that want to be more informed. None of us will live forever; and so many things are not controlled by us no matter what. Time to grow up and stop blaming and live a life worth living! FEAR of death and aging is promoted to sell so much; yet quality of life for so many has declined. I can only hope that people will wake up before they to have wasted their $$$ and lives chasing the unrealistic concept that we can buy or medicate ourselves into a better life with out always considering what the possible consequences that path can lead us down. If needed, find good Doctors who you respect, and who respect you; then make informed choices .Of course, take care of the serious things that happen as best as you can; I have had my own share of serious conditions, but I will not be chasing immortality or aging!

An interesting read and points out many things I had not thought about. (The most worrying personally is the very slow long lingering decline if you've been fit most of your life.)The one criticism is that she does not mention the mystery of all this, the world, our existence. But maybe this is not the book to do it.Still, 5 stars yes.

A terrific perspective and peaceful idea on what is self, dying and death. A family friend found beauty in everything around her, even her drinking cup, prior to her death. I now understand why.

Como siempre, los libros de esta autora, son una fuente de información. Como ella es bióloga y ha padecido cáncer, sabe muy bien de lo que habla

the person I got it for loved it

Barbara Ehrenreich has earned her right to take a well argued stand against the global healthcare industry that seeks to persuade us that we’re at risk of illness in order to sell us treatment. Introducing the intriguing observation that ‘modern’ science cannot contemplate applying the notion of agency to non human entities she debunks a multitude of myths about how we best maintain our health and longevity. Never pompous, always well informed, she offers an accessible and thought provoking review of the modern world’s attitude to health and mortality.