August 2025 Reading Club: Chronic Pain

Posted by liaison on August 4th, 2025 Posted in: All Members, Opportunity to Participate

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This August, the NNLM Reading Club invites you to explore the complex experience of chronic pain—a condition that affects more than 1 in 5 adults in the United States. Through powerful storytelling and thoughtful insight, this month’s selections shed light on the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of living with persistent pain.

We’re excited to feature three compelling reads that approach the topic from different angles:

• All’s Well by Mona Awad – A darkly comic and surreal novel blending Shakespeare and chronic pain.

• Sick by Porochista Khakpour – A raw memoir chronicling the author’s journey through late-stage Lyme disease and chronic illness.

• The Song of Our Scars by Haider Warraich – A thought-provoking look at the cultural and medical history of pain and how society treats those who live with it.

This month’s theme and book selections were curated by our dedicated NNLM Reading Club Advisory Group—a team of NNLM members who bring diverse perspectives and shared expertise to the table. Thanks to their work, we’ve also developed book discussion guides to help you dive deeper into each story and spark meaningful conversations.

Visit the NNLM Reading Club page to explore the books, access discussion materials, and find trusted health information resources related to chronic pain.