How to Tell When We Will Die, On Pain, Disability, and Doom By Johanna Hedva

How to Tell When We Will Die is Johanna Hedva's powerful essay collection that challenges our understanding of care and illness, illuminating the realities of living with chronic conditions. Emerging from the backdrop of the 2014 Ferguson riots, Hedva’s seminal essay, “Sick Woman Theory,” reframes illness as a social rather than merely biological experience. They argue that under capitalism, which equates worth with productivity, revolutionary self-care becomes essential.

In this collection, Hedva expands their paradigm-shifting perspective through a series of incisive essays that traverse a wide range of topics—from the influences of Deborah Levy and Susan Sontag to wrestling, kink, mysticism, and the symbolism of the color yellow. Drawing on personal experiences within America’s complex healthcare system, Hedva introduces archetypes such as The Psychotic Woman, The Freak, and The Hag in Charge, offering a critical view of the politics that exploit illness and perpetuate ableism.

With a blend of insight reminiscent of Anne Boyer’s The Undying and Leslie Jamison’s The Empathy Exams, along with the humor of Samantha Irby, Hedva's debut collection reshapes our collective understanding of disability. They invite us to see care and pain as interconnected, asserting that illness is not merely an inconvenience but a vital aspect of existence. Through their radical vision, Hedva encourages us to embrace the complexities of our bodies, asserting that living well in the face of illness is both a challenge and an essential part of being alive. 📚❤️