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A review by lory_enterenchanted
The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health by Ellen J Langer
Did not finish book.
Something about this book made me uncomfortable. Even though I agree mind and body should be seen as a unity, it seemed to be suggesting that there is no physical reality apart from our thoughts and feelings, a kind of gnostic denial of matter. I am concerned about the "toxic positivity" that can result when we believe we can think ourselves out of all illnesses and troubles.
I looked up Ellen Langer and found that there has been some criticism of some of the studies that made her famous and that she continues to cite in this book; they were discredited or never published in peer-reviewed journals.
I am also skeptical about the placebo effect. I have struggled with health issues for many years. I have taken many remedies and tried many therapies. I really wanted to believe these would work, and for a time some seemed to be working. Then my symptoms would come back. Do placebos not work on me? What about the remedies that do seem to work better? What is the difference, when my attitude has not changed?
Again, I fully agree that the mind has an effect on bodily health, and vice versa. And I'm not a fan of conventional medicine, either. But the claims here seem extreme.
Langer's painful experience with her mother, who experienced a spontaneous remission of cancer but then was treated as if she was still sick, and subsequently died,, may have clouded her judgment. She seems to so strongly wish that we could overcome our illnesses with the power of the mind, that she is finding evidence to show that it is true. But I don't feel as though I can trust her. Something is out of balance in her work, which is a shame, because it could be so valuable.
Stopped reading a bit over halfway through when my trust in the author failed. Although it would be important to read as an example of current thinking on the topic, I decided not to spend my time on that.
I looked up Ellen Langer and found that there has been some criticism of some of the studies that made her famous and that she continues to cite in this book; they were discredited or never published in peer-reviewed journals.
I am also skeptical about the placebo effect. I have struggled with health issues for many years. I have taken many remedies and tried many therapies. I really wanted to believe these would work, and for a time some seemed to be working. Then my symptoms would come back. Do placebos not work on me? What about the remedies that do seem to work better? What is the difference, when my attitude has not changed?
Again, I fully agree that the mind has an effect on bodily health, and vice versa. And I'm not a fan of conventional medicine, either. But the claims here seem extreme.
Langer's painful experience with her mother, who experienced a spontaneous remission of cancer but then was treated as if she was still sick, and subsequently died,, may have clouded her judgment. She seems to so strongly wish that we could overcome our illnesses with the power of the mind, that she is finding evidence to show that it is true. But I don't feel as though I can trust her. Something is out of balance in her work, which is a shame, because it could be so valuable.
Stopped reading a bit over halfway through when my trust in the author failed. Although it would be important to read as an example of current thinking on the topic, I decided not to spend my time on that.