The Age Of Diagnosis By Suzanne O’Sullivan

'Exceptional… Chapter by brilliant chapter, [The Age of Diagnosis] raises fundamental questions we should all be asking when thinking about illness, be it cancer or genetic disorders, never shying away from difficult truths.'
New Statesman – Hannah Barnes

These are incredibly difficult areas to explore...O'Sullivan is brave to take this subject on, and she hits the target… O'Sullivan is an excellent, fluid writer, and an eloquent speaker… In a world where medical misinformation and disinformation flourish, and people die as a result, it takes courage to counter them without pandering to stereotypes. But that is what The Age of Diagnosis does so well… Its overall message is clear: diagnosis is a tool to be wielded with the utmost caution, and tolerance for difference and for imperfection can go a long way in keeping us healthy.
The Guardian – Adam Rutherford

'The neurologist takes eloquent aim at a medical culture that, although well intentioned, is too quick to assign clinical labels to aspects of the human condition. The rise in diagnoses of ADHD and autism, she points out, have not produced healthier, happier children; increasingly sensitive cancer screening does not always seem to benefit patients. A brave and compassionate book.'
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The Age of Diagnosis covers so many topics that have been troubling me but which I hadn't been able to resolve myself. It slices through the confusion and the contradictions that have tied me in knots – both as a parent and as a clinician – with grace, elegance and compassion. It is scholarly and human, but an absolutely absorbing read from start to finish. There are very few people who could write this so straightforwardly and yet with endless compassion. I really cannot say good enough things about it.
Chris van Tulleken, author of ULTRA-PROCESSED PEOPLE

How does she carry off that high wire act, being so technical and expert and grounded in data, while telling stories in a way that makes them utterly addictive? I love the way she listens to people talking. It's a really important, intelligent, compassionate and brave book, and it speaks very eloquently to things happening in our ideas about ourselves.
Tessa Hadley

A humane and thoughtful observer of the oddities of the human mind… full of intriguing case studies and wise observations. Her new book ranges widely, taking in the drawbacks of mass screening for illnesses as well as the perils of overextending mental health categories… We make people sicker by by the simple act of diagnosing them with a medical problem. A fascinating book.
The Times – Robbie Millen

A brave and deeply compassionate book with a very important message.
Henry Marsh

The neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan has written insightful books about psychosomatic conditions. Here she turns her attention to the perils of over-diagnosis – including autism, allergies, ADHD and long Covid. Be prepared for compassionate and bracingly independent thinking.
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In my view the best science writer around – a true descendant of Oliver Sacks.
Sathnam Sanghera

A book of great wisdom as well as compassion – the result of decades working along the frontiers of brain, mind and body. Modern medicine is powerful; with care and with stories from her clinic, Dr O'Sullivan shows just how harmful it can be too.
Gavin Francis, author of ADVENTURES IN HUMAN BEING

I loved this beautifully written and provocative book. The Age of Diagnosis asks brave and important questions, taking on the medical establishment as well as contemporary societal norms. O'Sullivan's primary motivation in her writing, her philosophy and her work as a doctor is extreme empathy and advocacy for her patients.
Christie Watson, author of THE LANGUAGE OF KINDNESS