43 Books Like The Long Covid Handbook

I love being challenged in how I think about ME/CFS, and Dr Perrin, in coming at the illness from such an unusual angle, does just that.

For Perrin, spinal rigidity and obstructed lymphatic flow are key components of the illness. My first reaction to such claims: what can these things possibly have to do with an illness of exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise?

Well, as I found from this lucid and engaging book, much more than you might think. The deal was sealed when an osteopath I visited confirmed that I also had all the problems Dr Perrin has noted in the spines of his ME/CFS patients.

A must-have in the ME/CFS patient’s book armoury.

Neuroplasticity (aka "brain retraining") is such a controversial topic in the ME/CFS and Long Covid world, and I am personally strongly against any suggestion that these illnesses are "only" the result of a hypersensitive nervous system.

However, I do also think that a maladaptive neuroplastic state is one part of these conditions and that neuroplasticity can help.

While I find Hopper’s book short on instructions, I regard it as highly valuable because of its multiple testimonials of recovery from using brain retraining. I think that these offer fascinating accounts of the potential utility of neuroplasticity for ME/CFS and related illnesses, and I would encourage anyone to read them with an open ⁠– though discerning ⁠– mind.

In all the ME/CFS world, I find the story of Whitney Dafoe and his father, Prof Ron Davis, to be the most emblematic.

For those who don’t know, Whitney is completely bedridden with severe ME/CFS, and his father, a renowned geneticist at Stanford, pivoted his entire research efforts to find a cure for his son.

I am deeply moved by the sheer tenacity and persistence of both father and son ⁠– the one in facing the brutal realities of the most devastating form of the disease ⁠– and the other in his unwavering commitment to advancing the research into it, not just for his son but for us all.

I found this to be a gripping read, an inspiring instance of the intersection of science, patient experience, courage, and love. 

Finally, I wanted to throw in a bit of a wildcard in the form of a book which details an as yet underused treatment, but one which could become an established option for patients with these illnesses.

In reading this, I was intrigued by Dr Propokov’s account of "intermittent hypoxic hyperoxic therapy" (IHHT), a treatment which ⁠– get this! ⁠– tricks the body into thinking it is at high altitude, along with all the benefits that entails (increased red blood cells, etc).

Given that ME/CFS is characterised by poor systemic oxygen extraction, I was really interested to learn of a therapy that can improve bodily oxygenation capacity at baseline, all the more so when paired with Dr Propokov’s accounts of healing among his chronic Lyme patients, an illness with myriad similarities to ME/CFS.

Could this become a widespread treatment for ME/CFS in the future? Having read this book, I wouldn’t… show more.

We cannot always guide ourselves into a self-care mindset and the true transformation definitely doesn’t happen all at once. A Year of Self-Care by psychologist Dr. Zoe Shaw offers an easy and enjoyable way to navigate your self-love journey without feeling cringy. The daily practices, tips, and strategies are incredibly insightful and practical, and will benefit anyone looking to improve their overall sense of well-being. 

Self-care always seemed so fluffy and out of reach for me. There’s no way that going to the spa or having bubble baths solves the real challenges real people face. I love Pooja’s book because it looks at the systemic issues while making self-care real and practical.

I know I need to take care of myself. I’ve heard all the stuff about putting on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else, and my response has always been “yeahhhh, but.” My biggest takeaway from the book? Boundaries are not co-created.

This book got me thinking about how we need to adapt our lives to align with nature and how challenging this can be in the world of work.

When we have to set our alarm for the same time every day, commute in all weathers and adhere to our work, not mother nature’s, schedule then it can feel really tough. This book was thought provoking and got me thinking about mapping my work life balance across the seasons and the difference some simple adaptations to my life could make to my work.

An interesting and thought-provoking read, really well written.  

I loved this book as it follows the author’s quest to reconnect with nature and rediscover a sense of enchantment following the challenges of the COVID lockdowns.

Split into the four elements – earth, air, fire, and water – the author describes her explorations of each element in her life and how if leads her back to herself. I love the book as it enabled me to see nature through the author’s eyes, and with a perspective that is in some ways almost entirely different to my own, and in others, in harmony with my own thoughts and feelings. It was indeed an enchanting read.

Body Respect was one of the first books that introduced me to the Health at Every Size® approach which changed how I thought about health. The book highlights the science behind health and weight in an approachable and easy-to-understand way. They break down the reasons why weight loss is not the key to health, the misconceptions of the BMI, and why fatness is not as linked to health as we’ve been led to believe.

I’ve read this book about a dozen times in the past fifteen years, and I find new nuggets of wisdom with each visit. I was first convinced that I could overcome anxiety by reading Dr. Low’s strong conviction that there are no hopeless cases. He breaks down the root causes of mental health issues and describes cognitive-behavioral techniques for overcoming anger, negative judgments against oneself, fears, interpersonal conflicts, and many other ailments. His pithy sayings are easy to remember and have become the backbone of the self-help program Recovery International. Written in the 1950s, the examples and language can be somewhat dated – such as streetcars, elevator operators, and clotheslines – but his great love for his patients and his understanding of the human mind are timeless.