What readers and critics are saying
"Just Another Statistic follows Axel Reid's long, confusing, and often frightening medical journey as he battles invisible autoimmune disease while navigating a healthcare system that keeps misreading the clues."
"I found myself drawn into the rawness of the author's voice. There's no polish, no tidy narrative arcs, and that's what makes it hit harder. The repetition and spiraling thoughts, especially in the sections where the illness affects his cognition, gave me a weird cocktail of sympathy and discomfort."
"The author writes the way someone thinks when they're scared and exhausted... It's messy in a way that feels honest. Some chapters had me sitting back, just letting the weight of it settle, especially when he describes moments where his mind simply stops working. These parts aren't dramatic. They're just unsettling, and that simplicity made them powerful."
"I'd recommend this memoir to anyone who wants to understand autoimmune disease beyond medical definitions, and to readers who appreciate raw, unfiltered life narratives. It's especially powerful for anyone who's been dismissed by doctors or felt lost in a system that values test results over lived experience."
Read the full review →In-depth interview with Axel Reid discussing the challenges of writing during active illness, the importance of documenting medical negligence, and what medical professionals can learn from patient experiences.
Read the full interview →Highly recommended
I was genuinely struck by this account. The author's unpolished, honest writing style offers an intimate window into the progression of their illness, allowing the reader to feel closely connected to their experience. The rawness of the narrative conveys not only the personal horrors that severe illness can bring, but also the resilience and compassion that shine through despite it all. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, it's remarkably readable and incredibly difficult to put down. A powerful and deeply human story—highly recommended.
An excellent account of one man's battle to uncover the truth about his health
A genuine and heartfelt account from a truly honest man who tells his story without bitterness. A gripping account of one man's long, frustrating search for answers in a complicated healthcare system. The story is clearly told and holds your attention as he uncovers mistakes and encounters a system that quickly protected itself once those errors came to light.
A must-read
A very moving account of the challenges that often face patients in the UK healthcare system and their damaging effects on the patient's journey to diagnosis. Despite some of the horrors described, the writer somehow still retains an air of brio and hope for the future. A must-read.
Amazing book
I enjoy reading books centred on the medical world but this one went much deeper, you can really put yourself in the author's shoes and almost feel what he goes through. Recommending to anyone who's interested in the medical field or wants to read a very interesting memoir.
Honest and raw story of one man's quest for a diagnosis and accountability
This is a well written and interesting journey of one man's challenge to attain a diagnosis in a complex medical environment which closed ranks when errors were exposed.
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