A Body Made of Glass cover art

A Body Made of Glass

A History of Hypochondria

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £13.99

Buy Now for £13.99

About this listen

An ache, a pain, a mysterious lump, a strange sensation in some part of your body, the feeling that something is not right. The fear that something is, in fact, very wrong. These could be symptoms of illness. But they could also be the symptoms of hypochondria – an enigmatic condition that might be physiological or psychological or both.

In this landmark audiobook, Caroline Crampton tells the story of hypochondria, beginning in the age of Hippocrates and taking us right through to the wellness industry today. Along the way, we encounter successive generations of doctors positing new theories, as well as quacks selling spurious cure-alls to the desperate.

Drawing on Crampton’s own experience of surviving a life-threatening disease only to find herself beset by almost constant anxiety about her health, A Body Made of Glass explores part of the landscape of illness that most memoirs don’t reach: the territory beyond survival or cure, where body and mind seem locked in a strange and exhausting kind of dance. The result is both a fascinating cultural history of hypochondria and a moving account of what it means to live with this invisible, elusive and increasingly widespread condition.

©2024 Caroline Crampton (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers Anxiety Disorders History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health Survival Medicine

Critic reviews

'This is a wonderful, poignant and personal journey into the world of hypochondria. We stand with Crampton on the precipice, where a small shift in perception can plunge us into an overwhelming dread of illness.' (Alastair Santhouse, author of Head First)
'And the writing is beautiful. This is a profound work, especially when Crampton weaves in her own story of illness anxiety and trauma.' (Dr Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know)
'Moving and fascinating. By combining her own experiences with a reflective and insightful study of hypochondria’s history, Crampton has created a unique exploration of the condition.' (Michael Brooks, author of The Art of More)
All stars
Most relevant
An honest and eloquent reflection on hypochondria that was an enjoyable listen and really resonated with me.

An honest and eloquent reflection on hypochondria

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A thoughtful, beautifully written book drawing together medical evidence, historical research and personal experience. I found myself pausing after each chapter to think about different aspects of Caroline’s words and think it is a book I will both return to and recommend.

Insightful, moving and honest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
what an interesting and relatable book. Incredible writing drawing together autobiography with history, medicine, science and the arts.

amazing writing, fascinating topic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well written, well researched … loved the historical detail, along with the bravery of the author for being so honest and open. I’m pretty confident that whatever a reader’s starting point with this book, there will be something relevant to them. I certainly found that, and am grateful for the author’s considered perspectives. An excellent audiobook.

An important and enlightening read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As a fellow sufferer of health anxiety every word felt true. The book is both a fascinating study of the condition and personal memoir and woven together seamlessly. I first came across Caroline in her fabulous podcast on BBC ‘Shedunit’, in which she discusses the golden years of the detective novel. I would never have thought for a moment that she has suffered so much, but I suppose that proves a point, so much suffering goes unseen. I devoured the audio book in one day and will be re listening many times more. There is not an ounce of self pity and I don’t think that I am doing the book justice because it is both fascinating and well written. She has a lovely dry sense of humour the book is not self-help in a conventional sense, but she has definitely helped me. If you read your reviews Caroline, thank you so much for this wonderful book!

Outstanding understanding and reflection of health anxiety

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.