Rachel Naomi Remen

(7) I read this for work - a collection of short stories about healing written by a physician whose lifelong experience with being a patient made her conscious of what traditional medicine was missing by focusing solely on science and discarding wholeness, loss, mystery, awe, and the power of reflective listening. She ultimately became a therapist, walking away from her career as a successful academic pediatrician - after of years of training, surviving, thriving in the male world of show more medicine through the 50's to the 70's. She ultimately is the force behind the 'Healer's Art' a seminar for early career medical students. For me, it puts much of what I feel inside about doctoring and about having been a fragile, vulnerable patient into words - and it is quite lovely.

Why not a higher rating? I don't know - the stories began to blend together after awhile and become a bit twee. But indeed finding the sacred in ordinary life is so powerful. Giving voice and lending strength and compassion to every individual that comes to me for help is such meaningful life work. It is nice to be reminded of that -- I, alone, am enough -- is a mantra that rather stands out.

Anyway, I think anyone struggling with a life altering disease and/or any physician who feels burned out would enjoy this book. It has a tendency to get a bit over the top I think - I am not a mystic, a Zen Buddhist, nor a meditator and when things veered in that direction - I felt a bit of an eye-roll coming on. But I do not believe that science knows everything and I do believe that kindness, active listening, and bearing witness are as powerful as any other therapeutic options at my disposal. show less

(9) I read this for a work thing and it is very similar to her book, 'Kitchen Table Wisdom' that I read last year around this time. I think perhaps I liked that original book better. This one is filled with shorter essays - some only a page or two - that all revolved around 'blessing' life. And by blessing, it means rather honoring as opposed to the Godly connotation. Dr. Remen is an MD who counsels patients in the end stages of cancer and is active in medical education - she has created a show more seminar taught nationwide in many medical schools focusing on the art as opposed to the science of being a physician. Having taken it and now facilitated it; I can say - it is lovely. Thus, my reading of her books. Remen's holistic and accepting view of life and humanity comes from her grandfather who was a rabbi of some sort. Though his philosophy seems more Buddhist than Jewish.

The essays all seem to run together after while and some seem a bit recycled or changed a bit from Kitchen Table Wisdom but overall I have to say her observations about living a meaningful life are so refreshing; so liberating. Inspirational really. Some things veered into a bit too twee for me - such as the sand tray work and the Jungian psychology and the feather in the elevator, etc. But I loved the stories of the many patients that she helped and how even when she seemed at a loss for words; just her bearing witness; her generous listening; her creation of a safe space was so therapeutic. I love the idea of "I, alone, am enough."

Anyway, much the same as 'Kitchen Table Wisdom' but I am glad I read it. It seems like a book I should purchase as I have to give back this borrowed copy. It seems like it could be helpful in the times of darkness that inevitably come for us all. show less

A book filled with stories from a physician that works with cancer patients and others with serious illnesses. This doctor is herself a patient and she shares what she has learned about the human spirit, dying. living and also talks about religion and spirituality. I enjoyed it but wished she was a Christian because I could see God in many of her stories.

I read this book several years ago and it's one of the most uplifting books I've ever read. It's a collection of stories about healing, pulled from Dr. Remen's years of working with terminally ill patients and their families and her experiences with Crohn's disease. I wasn't dealing with any kind of hardship when I read it but I found plenty that was relevant to my life.