I thought it was interesting that the book mentioned that people are going to the doctors more than ever about health concerns; concerns that people did not take notice of before. I did not understand why the book saw this as a bad thing. It seemed to be suggesting that people were taking more health precautions and going to the doctor. Isn’t this a good thing? Of course there will be people who will be over exaggerating their symptoms. However, isn’t this pattern of going to the doctors about health concerns before the health incidence occurs a good thing? It is essentially preventative primary actions, something that our society is encouraging.
I think I agree with the authors that the people we hang around influence us. I grew up in a town that heavily emphasized education. It was expected to succeed academically, go to college, and have a successful career, enforced by parents, teachers, and students themselves. Therefore, I grew up in an environment that emphasized that education was something that should be invested in. I think maybe that is why I prioritize my education so much. The people around us shape our beliefs and, consequently, parts of ourselves.
I think this book did not do the best at framing their messages. It reminded me of when we studied how the general public responds to health promotions, and how to optimize this. Personally, I thought the book was a bit messy in its recommendations. There were certain instances where it seemed to take a positive stance, telling us that we would gain aspects of health if we did this. Other times, it would tell us that if we didn’t do something, we increased our chances of dying. I thought the book’s information was interesting, but I do not think it was executed in an effective manner.
I thought it was surprising that the book said that family biology was not as important as it really is. I think that I would have to disagree. In every illness, family history is taken into account because it makes sense; the genes that affect one family member is more likely to affect another family member because the genes are shared. Specifically about psychiatric illnesses, it is always taken into account the probability of it affecting other family members. With twins, the chances of developing psychiatric illnesses are higher if one has one, lending to the idea that family biology is important and should be taken seriously.