The Invisible Kingdom

Reimagining Chronic Illness

By: Meghan O'Rourke

Narrated by: Meghan O'Rourke

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A landmark exploration of one of the most consequential and mysterious issues of our time: the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases

A silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans: These are diseases that are poorly understood, frequently marginalized, and can go undiagnosed and unrecognized altogether. Renowned writer Meghan O’Rourke delivers a revelatory investigation into this elusive category of “invisible” illness that encompasses autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and now long COVID, synthesizing the personal and the universal to help all of us through this new frontier.

Drawing on her own medical experiences, as well as a decade of interviews with doctors, patients, researchers, and public health experts, O’Rourke traces the history of Western definitions of illness, and reveals how inherited ideas of cause, diagnosis, and treatment have led us to ignore a host of hard-to-understand medical conditions, ones that resist easy description or simple cures. And as America faces this health crisis of extraordinary proportions, the populations most likely to be neglected by our institutions include women, the working class, and people of color.

Blending lyricism and erudition, candor and empathy, O’Rourke brings together her deep and disparate talents and roles as critic, journalist, poet, teacher, and patient, synthesizing the personal and universal into one monumental project arguing for a seismic shift in our approach to disease. The Invisible Kingdom offers hope for the sick, solace and insight for their loved ones, and a radical new understanding of our bodies and our health.

©2022 Meghan O'Rourke (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“An authentically original voice and, perhaps more startlingly, an authentically original perspective….The book is not only a memoir of her illness, but also a document of years of research.” —Andrew Solomon, National Book Award-winning author of The Noonday Demon, in The New York Times Book Review

“The Invisible Kingdom is an important and powerful book in many ways, but perhaps its most valuable contribution is the way it articulates the loneliness and frustration of having symptoms that superficially resemble the pains and pressures of contemporary life in the United States while being much more severe.”—The Nation

“[O’Rourke] gives shape and color to the invisible life of patients whom society has failed. She offers hope for patient-driven change. Most important, she provides an account that many will be able to relate to—a ray of light into those isolated cocoons of darkness that, at one time or another, may afflict us all.” —The Wall Street Journal

It is excellent

This is the most realistic explanation of living with chronic illness I have ever come across. I’m so grateful she wrote this book now. I’m high risk and the complete isolation covid quarantining has caused has been absolutely brutal. I’ve been abandoned by friends, family, medical professionals, and now society as you all force the embrace of a new normal. No matter the cost. I wish my family would listen to it, but they won’t. If you have a chronically ill friend or family member it would probably mean the world to them if you read this book and talked to them about it.

the high i wont forget!

I've read lots of medical texts and different accounts on various topics but this one has lifted the curtain on people like me exposed us through the plight of our times

Diagnosed with Endo on 3/14

I have been fighting for a diagnosis since 2011. Finally was diagnosed and treated for endometriosis at the beginning of this year, and was thrilled this book came out while I was in recover. Thank you so much for sharing your story, Meghan. And I’m so glad you narrated. I hate that it’s this way, but your story is so freaking relatable. It was amazing to feel seen and heard while listening to you. Thank you.

A must for anyone suffering from ( mysterious) illness

O’Rourke bares her soul as she pours out metaphor after analogy of what it’s like living with chronic illness ( read: Lyme Disease, ME, EDS, autoimmune issues, and more). Her approach is candid, frank, yet friendly- the listener feels as if they are sitting with a friend unpacking the goings-on of health woes. I doubly appreciate the numerous literary references woven into the story. Anyone who is suffering from allopathic medicine failure will appreciate O’Rourke’s memoir.

Enlightening

As the mom of a chronically Ill daughter, this book was like listening to her/our story. It’s sad that only now when doctors are getting these illnesses do they take notice to the true suffering that is among us. This book gives anyone who hasn’t fully understood or recognized the depth of illness that can be hidden in those around us. May this help those who suffer in their masked illnesses and awaken the caretakers to rise to this challenge.

Exceptional !

Having an auto immune diagnosis just recently, and to hear Meghan O’Rourke share her story touched me deeply. Megan, your fight, your perseverance, your ability to find an answer is inspiring. Thank you for such a well written voice for those of us that suffer from an invisible illness. Your time, your effort, your attitude, it will change our health system hopefully to listen and empathize with patients. Those of us that are patients will be inspired to navigate, research, find the right provider(s),seek an answer to be well again.
A well written and researched book.

So relatable

She speaks with honestly, intelligence, and empathy. This book touched my heart and helped me come to terms with my autoimmune illness.

True insight

O’Rourke accurately and insightfully lays before the reader the difficulties the chronically ill face in our medical system and provides a window into the suffering, trauma, and hopelessness those of us with chronic illness face when doctors and friends alike suggest that the illness is “in our heads”

another masterpiece in the chronic illness library

a touching account of one woman’s journey into the illness community — a community that no one wants to join, but are so thankful is there. Meghan is open about the challenges faced by both the ill and those that love them — when there is no clarity. This is a well researched book with the flare of an english professor. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how others have traversed the modern medical world. As a lyme sufferer and caretaker, I also enjoyed her chapter on long COVID and share her hope that progress will be made to benefit the entire chronic illness community.

Tiring for all

Exhausting at times… always for Meghan!!! She us right about providers ….hope better by now!