In the telling, American Breakdown expands from a depiction of the ills of health care into a sweeping critique of late-stage capitalism ... Lunden provides, among other insights, a detailed and absorbing tale of the ill effects of chemicals in our lives ... As the book unfolds, Lunden takes an increasingly strong social justice stance not only on equitable access to health care but also on environmental and economic justice.
The author has woven a complex story of industrialization, environmental degradation, capitalism, and the crumbling state of healthcare in the United States ... Lunden offers hope in the form of action. Having found some relief in the retraining of her brain, an actual rewiring through consistent action, she asks us to consider the value of neuroplasticity in our own lives.
This is an important book not only about perseverance and determination but also about practical things (such as paying for medical bills one can’t afford), and especially about gender bias in health care.
Throughout, Lunden deftly interweaves her story with that of James ... Lunden shines a sobering light on CFS ... Blending theory and memoir, the author personifies her struggle for wellness and its associated costs and consequences.
