Natural Causes audiobook cover - An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer

Natural Causes

An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer

Barbara Ehrenreich

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Categories:
Health & Nutrition

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Natural Causes
Medical Overreach+
Fitness Obsession+
Technological Toll+
Rethinking Aging+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
Why does Ehrenreich believe doctors continue to heavily screen elderly patients for diseases like cancer?
  • A. To gather extensive data for long-term medical research.
  • B. To increase overall profits for the health-care industry.
  • C. Because older patients actively demand more preventative care.
  • D. Because early detection dramatically increases life expectancy in the elderly.
Question 2 of 6
How does the author view the traditional medical procedures associated with mid-twentieth-century childbirth, such as the use of enemas and the knees-up posture?
  • A. As necessary precautions to prevent infection and protect the baby.
  • B. As well-intentioned practices that were limited by the technology of the time.
  • C. As rituals primarily designed to humiliate and dominate women in labor.
  • D. As highly efficient methods to reduce the physical pain of childbirth.
Question 3 of 6
What does the text suggest about the effectiveness of yearly cancer screenings, such as mammograms and prostate exams?
  • A. They are highly effective but too expensive for the average citizen to afford.
  • B. There is no solid evidence that they lead to significantly lower rates of cancer-related mortality.
  • C. They are only necessary and effective for individuals with a family history of cancer.
  • D. They have successfully eradicated late-stage cancers in patients over the age of 65.
Question 4 of 6
According to the author, what is the underlying driver of Western society's obsession with fitness and going to the gym?
  • A. A ruthless, competitive economic landscape that equates fitness with superior social standing.
  • B. A genuine increase in public awareness regarding cardiovascular health and longevity.
  • C. Government-sponsored public health campaigns initiated in the early 1980s.
  • D. The evolutionary biological need to attract a mate in an increasingly populated world.
Question 5 of 6
What does the author identify as the primary cause for the shrinking attention spans of modern adults and children?
  • A. The increasing complexity of modern jobs and school curriculums.
  • B. A lack of physical exercise and poor dietary habits.
  • C. The overprescription of medications like Ritalin and Adderall.
  • D. The obsessive use of modern technology and electronic devices.
Question 6 of 6
How does the author suggest we should approach the aging process?
  • A. By combating it with rigorous diet and exercise routines six days a week.
  • B. By relying on preventative medicine to maintain a youthful appearance and vitality.
  • C. By accepting it and focusing on the psychological and creative benefits of growing older.
  • D. By isolating ourselves to avoid the societal pressures of 'successful aging.'

Natural Causes — Full Chapter Overview

Natural Causes Summary & Overview

Natural Causes (2018) reveals the truth behind the medical world’s encouragement of common procedures, treatments and screenings. It scrutinizes why Western society is averse to aging and obsessed with exercising, and, along the way, explores the effects of modernity on our mental capabilities.

Who Should Listen to Natural Causes?

  • People over the age of 60
  • Those interested in the social influence of modern medicine
  • People who spend a lot of time concerned about their health

About the Author: Barbara Ehrenreich

Barbara Ehrenreich is the author of the New York Times best-selling Nickel and Dimed, which is an exposé of low-paying jobs in America. She also holds a PhD in cellular immunology.

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