The Invisible Kingdom Audiobook By Meghan O'Rourke cover art

The Invisible Kingdom

Reimagining Chronic Illness

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The Invisible Kingdom

By: Meghan O'Rourke
Narrated by: Meghan O'Rourke
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About this listen

A landmark exploration of one of the most consequential and mysterious issues of our time: the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases

A silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans: These are diseases that are poorly understood, frequently marginalized, and can go undiagnosed and unrecognized altogether. Renowned writer Meghan O’Rourke delivers a revelatory investigation into this elusive category of “invisible” illness that encompasses autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and now long COVID, synthesizing the personal and the universal to help all of us through this new frontier.

Drawing on her own medical experiences, as well as a decade of interviews with doctors, patients, researchers, and public health experts, O’Rourke traces the history of Western definitions of illness, and reveals how inherited ideas of cause, diagnosis, and treatment have led us to ignore a host of hard-to-understand medical conditions, ones that resist easy description or simple cures. And as America faces this health crisis of extraordinary proportions, the populations most likely to be neglected by our institutions include women, the working class, and people of color.

Blending lyricism and erudition, candor and empathy, O’Rourke brings together her deep and disparate talents and roles as critic, journalist, poet, teacher, and patient, synthesizing the personal and universal into one monumental project arguing for a seismic shift in our approach to disease. The Invisible Kingdom offers hope for the sick, solace and insight for their loved ones, and a radical new understanding of our bodies and our health.

©2022 Meghan O'Rourke (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Medical Physical Illness & Disease Chronic fatigue syndrome Inspiring Mental Health Chronic Illness

Critic reviews

“An authentically original voice and, perhaps more startlingly, an authentically original perspective….The book is not only a memoir of her illness, but also a document of years of research.” Andrew Solomon, National Book Award-winning author of The Noonday Demon, in The New York Times Book Review

“The Invisible Kingdom is an important and powerful book in many ways, but perhaps its most valuable contribution is the way it articulates the loneliness and frustration of having symptoms that superficially resemble the pains and pressures of contemporary life in the United States while being much more severe.”—The Nation

“[O’Rourke] gives shape and color to the invisible life of patients whom society has failed. She offers hope for patient-driven change. Most important, she provides an account that many will be able to relate to—a ray of light into those isolated cocoons of darkness that, at one time or another, may afflict us all.” —The Wall Street Journal

Featured Article: Best of the Year—The 15 Best Bios and Memoirs of 2022


There are few stories more compelling or more intimately told than those soul-baring memoirs that seek not just to recount the experiences of one's own life, but to draw some greater commentary on the big existential questions. What does it mean to be human? What is our purpose in being here? How much of who we are is purely self-determined? Exceptional in both their prose and narration, these listens represent a few of the year's best memoirs.

What listeners say about The Invisible Kingdom

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Powerful Personal Account Beautifully Rendered Memoir Well-written Narration Relatable Personal Journey
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It is excellent

This is the most realistic explanation of living with chronic illness I have ever come across. I’m so grateful she wrote this book now. I’m high risk and the complete isolation covid quarantining has caused has been absolutely brutal. I’ve been abandoned by friends, family, medical professionals, and now society as you all force the embrace of a new normal. No matter the cost. I wish my family would listen to it, but they won’t. If you have a chronically ill friend or family member it would probably mean the world to them if you read this book and talked to them about it.

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the high i wont forget!

I've read lots of medical texts and different accounts on various topics but this one has lifted the curtain on people like me exposed us through the plight of our times

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Diagnosed with Endo on 3/14

I have been fighting for a diagnosis since 2011. Finally was diagnosed and treated for endometriosis at the beginning of this year, and was thrilled this book came out while I was in recover. Thank you so much for sharing your story, Meghan. And I’m so glad you narrated. I hate that it’s this way, but your story is so freaking relatable. It was amazing to feel seen and heard while listening to you. Thank you.

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A must for anyone suffering from ( mysterious) illness

O’Rourke bares her soul as she pours out metaphor after analogy of what it’s like living with chronic illness ( read: Lyme Disease, ME, EDS, autoimmune issues, and more). Her approach is candid, frank, yet friendly- the listener feels as if they are sitting with a friend unpacking the goings-on of health woes. I doubly appreciate the numerous literary references woven into the story. Anyone who is suffering from allopathic medicine failure will appreciate O’Rourke’s memoir.

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Enlightening

As the mom of a chronically Ill daughter, this book was like listening to her/our story. It’s sad that only now when doctors are getting these illnesses do they take notice to the true suffering that is among us. This book gives anyone who hasn’t fully understood or recognized the depth of illness that can be hidden in those around us. May this help those who suffer in their masked illnesses and awaken the caretakers to rise to this challenge.

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Exceptional !

Having an auto immune diagnosis just recently, and to hear Meghan O’Rourke share her story touched me deeply. Megan, your fight, your perseverance, your ability to find an answer is inspiring. Thank you for such a well written voice for those of us that suffer from an invisible illness. Your time, your effort, your attitude, it will change our health system hopefully to listen and empathize with patients. Those of us that are patients will be inspired to navigate, research, find the right provider(s),seek an answer to be well again.
A well written and researched book.

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Chronic illness

The author doesn’t pull any punches. Chronic illness is awful and victories are rare. I’m not sure I would recommend this book to someone with a chronic illness but I would surely recommend it to friends and family of those with a chronic illness- especially those with long COVID, ME-CFS, Lyme disease, and autoimmune diseases. I’m glad that I listened to the audiobook and that I didn’t read the book jacket - I listened based on a friend’s recommendation.

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Knowledge is power!

Nobody should judge anyone’s illness. Doctors are not the know all of our bodies; trust ourselves

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Insight into auto-immunity disease

Meghan’s journey through the jungle of symptoms, traditional and non-traditional medical treatments and experiences gave me a better understanding of my own and family members’ fight against auto-immune disorders. Thank you.

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Comforting, Validating with Fact Finding Reports

Thank you Meghan O'Rourke for your travel log and destination IK journal entries. As a fellow IK explorer, and now a guide for advanced hikers, you had me laughing and crying as so many of your expressions mirror my feelings and experience. One obstacle Ii haven't overcome on this adventure is finding the words to convey my own perspective. Thank you for giving me a better handle on the language and introducing new idioms to me. I hope all those struggling to accept their current quality of life while staying hopeful and motivated enjoy this book as thoroughly as I did. @hp_wellnesscoach for @chronicwellnesscollective I'd love to meet you for a Washington hike and see the whales.

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