The book explores the complex implications of organ transplantation, questioning fundamental concepts of identity, mortality, and health. It delves into how this medical practice blurs the lines between self and other, as well as individual and societal roles. Despite the ethical challenges and profound questions it raises, organ transplant remains a widely accepted and celebrated medical procedure, prompting reflection on our understanding of life and death.
Exploring the intersection of disability and American ideals, Emily Russell analyzes works by prominent authors like Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor alongside emerging texts in disability studies. She argues that the narratives surrounding physical difference challenge traditional notions of embodiment and citizenship. Through this examination, Russell seeks to reshape our understanding of how disability informs and complicates the fabric of American identity, prompting a reevaluation of societal norms and values.