Dr Alastair Jackson: Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

(Allen and Unwin $29.95)

Review: Gilbert Wong

It is tempting to make light of people who say they suffer from this ailment, often facetiously called "yuppie flu."

And yet, as Jackson writes, imagine suffering a bout of flu that lasts years. Most of us can barely handle a week with a virulent flu virus.

As a successful doctor in his late 40s, Jackson was no obvious candidate: he exercised, had many interests, good friends and a loving family.

He was puzzled when chronic fatigue set in and developed so that eventually his life could be measured only in good days and bad.

This book is the result of his research into the ailment. He records that it has been with us for some time. Both Charles Darwin and Florence Nightingale reported similar symptoms.

There are no easy reasons or cures for it. Jackson says the viable solution is to manage the fatigue, giving the body a chance to recover from the mystery bug.

A good example of what a personal-health book should be.