My Age of Anxiety

Scott Stossel delivers a raw and unflinching memoir of his lifelong struggle with anxiety, weaving his personal torment with a sweeping history of how this common mental illness has been understood and treated across centuries. He masterfully connects his own debilitating panic attacks and phobias with the scientific, philosophical, and literary efforts to comprehend this pervasive condition, creating a narrative that is both deeply intimate and expansively educational. The book provides a profound look into the anguish produced by anxiety disorders, making the invisible struggle viscerally real for the reader.

What makes this account so compelling is its dual nature as both a confessional and a work of reportage, as Stossel investigates the afflicted generations of his own family while also profiling famous historical figures who battled similar demons. This approach not only destigmatizes the experience but also provides a rich context that helps readers understand their own anxieties within a broader human story. Anyone who has ever felt the grip of panic or the weight of persistent worry will find a powerful sense of recognition and solidarity in these pages, offering both comfort and crucial insight into one of the most common yet misunderstood human conditions.