The Age of Diagnosis

Why people recommend it

The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O'Sullivan is a perceptive medical nonfiction book that explores how society's increasing obsession with medical labels and over-diagnosis may actually be causing harm and making people sicker. During the March 2025 episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, host Steve Levitt discussed healthcare and medical perceptions before turning his attention to O'Sullivan's literary contributions at the end of the show. Levitt enthusiastically told listeners that he highly recommended all four of her published books, but he specifically singled out her most recent release, The Age of Diagnosis. By highlighting this particular work, Levitt drew attention to the contemporary medical phenomenon of over-labeling and the psychological as well as physical impacts of modern diagnostic practices. The endorsement served to direct listeners toward O'Sullivan's critical analysis of medical culture, encouraging an alternative perspective on how society approaches illness, symptoms, and the pervasive culture of medical categorization in everyday life.