Well Enough Alone: A Cultural History of My Hypochondria

Written by Jennifer Traig

Narrated by Meg Savlov

The good news is Jennifer Traig does not have lupus, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Crohn’s disease, or muscular dystrophy. She discovers that she does not have SUDS, the mysterious disorder that claims healthy young Asian men in their sleep, nor does she have Foreign Accent Syndrome, the bizarre but real neurological condition that transforms native West Virginians into Eliza Doolittle overnight. What she does have is hypochondria. Jenny Traig’s inquiry into her ailment is not only an uproariously funny account but also a literary tour of hypochondria, past and present: the implied hypochondria of the Talmud, the flatulence-obsessed eighteenth century, and the malady’s current unfortunate lack of a celebrity spokesperson. At the same time, Traig provides an intimate look at the complement of minor conditions that have concealed her essential health and driven her persistent self-diagnosis: the eczema, the shaky hands, and, worst of all, the bad hair. To her surprise, she ends her journey more knowledgeable than she was when she started out, a little less neurotic, and—one might say—healthier. Well Enough Alone is the definitive book on being worried well, in all of its gruesome and hysterical detail, from one of our funniest and most distinctive literary voices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Listen & Live Audio
• Release date: Apr 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9781593164041

Jennifer Traig

Jennifer Traig is the author of Devil in the Details  and Well Enough Alone, and the editor of The Autobiographer’s Handbook  and Don’t Forget to Write. She holds a PhD in English from Brandeis, and lives with her family in Michigan.

Reviews for Well Enough Alone

[satyridae · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn't find this incredibly discursive memoir very funny. Traig paints herself as a whiny jerk, though she does so in a pretty readable manner. Mostly I rolled my eyes a lot, and was really glad to not know her in person. I had her earlier book on my TBR shelf, but reading this one is plenty.

[nitestar_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Jennifer Traig's previous book and I was looking forward to reading this one. Traig has a knack for taking a "serious" subject and turning it on its ear - all the while feeding us full of useful information on that very same subject. Well Enough Alone is one such book. The subject matter is somewhat taboo in our society and is never really discussed openly and yet, there are many, many people suffering in silence. Traig talks about it as if it she were talking about a pimple on her face - and does it with a senses of humour that I just adored. Yet, at the same time, the author gives us lots of pertinent information on the subject and more importantly, removes some of the stigma from it. The one thing I had a bit of a problem with (and why I rated the book 3 instead of 4 stars) is the fact that, at times, I found the storylines jumped around alot - and it took me a few seconds to situate myself - especially if I put the book down and picked it up a day later. Still, this is a great read on a difficult subject to talk about in "polite company".

[verbafacio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jennifer Traig has problems. Funny problems. Medical problems. Her life has been plagued by OCD, hypochondria, and real disease. Her previous book tackled her childhood compulsions; this book is all about hypochondria. Traig has a great sense of humor, and is never afraid to laugh at her own foibles. That said, this isn't just a self-deprecation exercise -- Well Enough Alone provides a fascinating cultural histroy of hypochondria in ancient and modern culture.While the word play and snarkiness wore a little thin by the end of the book, the content was engaging and more than a little endearing. A fun, quick read that will have you checking that weird rash a little more carefully next time...