Out of Joint: A Private and Public Story of Arthritis (American Lives) - Hardcover

Mary Felstiner is a professor of history at San Francisco State University and the author of To Paint Her Life: Charlotte Salomon in the Nazi Era.

"In her brilliant, poetic memoir Mary Felstiner blends her personal story with the larger and often hidden story of millions of Americans who suffer chronic pain and arthritic disabilities. A major achievement and a great read."--Gerda Lerner, author of The Creation of Patriarchy, Why History Matters, and Fireweed "A startling, poignant depiction of the progression of arthritis and of the person who is afflicted. Written from the heart with great lucidity and power, this book will alter forever the way you think about chronic illness."--Irvin Yalom, MD, author of The Schopenhauer Cure: A Novel "Has there ever been a disease that is so widespread, about which there has previously been so little thoughtful writing? Mary Felstiner has created a landmark in the literature, as Susan Sontag did with her book about cancer."--Adam Hochschild, prize-winning author of Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves "Although this memoir is a mediation on illness, pain, suffering, loss, history and mortality, it does all these things charmingly and effortlessly. It is a quirky, brave, heartening book that is easy to curl up at night with, yet cannot be forgotten in the morning."--Melanie Thernstrom, author of The Dead Girl "Out of Joint remins us how the words we use as health professionals can have a profound negative effect on the recipient's appraisal of the stiuation... THis book is inspiring and easy to read."--Nursing Standard, November 1, 2006