Author: Will Rees
Publisher: Coach House
Paperback
Burley Fisher Books of the Year 2025
Forest says… Hypochondria as explored by Rees is a philosophical predicament. The book examines a five year period in this writer's life when he is plagued by mysterious physical symptoms which elude diagnosis. This space of doubt is explored in such a beautiful way examining sources from both literature, medicine and philosophy. How do we name a sensation in our body? Why does the act of doing so bring us solace? Who gets to classify illness and why? It is rich in Cartesian wondering. The poet Anne Carson in a recent interview spoke of the famous quote from René Descartes: “Cogito, er sum” I think therefore I am. Carson highlights the usual omission of the full quote which is “Dubito, Cogito, er sum” I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am. This space of doubt is such a slippery aspect of being that we all experience. This book is so rewarding to read and illuminates what it means to be human.