ricefun's review against another edition
5.0
This book was recommended by a friend who knows that I live with Crohn's disease. Dr Remen writes thoughtful reflections on her own life of illness/wellness as well as the journey she has taken with many others as their doctor, therapist and friend. I was struck by her encouragement to embrace the movement of my own body and need for wholeness even in the midst of illness. I think that I will be re-reading these stories while confronting new transitions in my life.
emmishnation's review against another edition
5.0
A long time ago, Amy brought a quote to bcas something about the diff between fixing helping and serving. I felt such Aletheia I didn’t know if I’d ever heard anything more true. WHO SAID THAT??! I made a mental note to read the author’s book, but the time wasn’t right until….fast forward to right before winter break in the middle of my first CPE unit. Jo got connected with Elisa, and said that as they were talking my head kept popping up in her mind so she connected us. We chatted and then I got to see the library after and this book stood out to me. She said whoa next q I am auditing the healers art, a class based on this book taught by Bruce! (Fellow chaplain). Bruce hasn’t replied to any of my emails lol. BUT the story doesn’t end there! The book was perfect for whatever block I’m facing that im blind to in CPE rn. Fast forward to catching up w Amy the evening that I’m finishing the book - she just met w Alice who quoted this book in their meeting, and I got to recommend it to her in our talk and it was very much the through line. She brought it to me and I am giving it back to her.
Elegant, ripening
Suffering part of healing wholeness what makes us feel common humanity
Mystery I don’t know koans an openness to what unfurls by being present and really LISTENING humanely in a way that affirms their wholeness
A million other things.
Thomas, the shepherd
Catfish snails!!!
Prayer as easing you from attachment
Elegant, ripening
Suffering part of healing wholeness what makes us feel common humanity
Mystery I don’t know koans an openness to what unfurls by being present and really LISTENING humanely in a way that affirms their wholeness
A million other things.
Thomas, the shepherd
Catfish snails!!!
Prayer as easing you from attachment
bookishuniverse's review against another edition
5.0
This was given to me for a med school class, and I didn't read it fully till I was recovering from illness. It was more meaningful to me then. Short vignettes that cover lots of aspects of medical care, both from the perspective of patient and provider...Rachel Remen is a fantastic writer with a very spiritual yet not-pushy-on-religion slant. Great for reading in short bursts, after you've had a hard day. But just read a bit at a time to savor the goodness of it.
kimberly_b's review
4.0
This was a really thought-provoking read. There are some beautiful lessons to be learned in its pages.
debrajoy87's review against another edition
3.0
Kitchen Table Wisdom is about a Doctor, Rachel Naomi Remen. It is about her journey through life, with a life threatening illness, becoming a doctor when most doctors were men and finally realizing that people needed to be cared for not just treated.
This book takes the form of short stories. She tells of her patients and their struggles to connect to the people around them. She tells of their desires to mean something to their doctors, even when the doctors treat them as a piece of business to take care of.
Some of the stories felt repetitive to me, but I don't know that she could take any of them out. Some of the ones that didn't mean anything to me might mean the world to another reader. I loved the stories, sometimes the words between the stories felt too long because I wanted to know more about the people she was helping.
I think the number one reason I liked this book, is because Dr. Remen's how philosophy is helping patients to heal by listening to them. There have been so many times in my life where I thought the doctors saw me as a number and not as a person. It is refreshing to see someone take the opposite approach.
My final verdict? I liked it. I didn't love it. I did love it for the first half and after that it seemed repetitive to me. Try it, maybe you will love it.
This book takes the form of short stories. She tells of her patients and their struggles to connect to the people around them. She tells of their desires to mean something to their doctors, even when the doctors treat them as a piece of business to take care of.
Some of the stories felt repetitive to me, but I don't know that she could take any of them out. Some of the ones that didn't mean anything to me might mean the world to another reader. I loved the stories, sometimes the words between the stories felt too long because I wanted to know more about the people she was helping.
I think the number one reason I liked this book, is because Dr. Remen's how philosophy is helping patients to heal by listening to them. There have been so many times in my life where I thought the doctors saw me as a number and not as a person. It is refreshing to see someone take the opposite approach.
My final verdict? I liked it. I didn't love it. I did love it for the first half and after that it seemed repetitive to me. Try it, maybe you will love it.
madgiemavis's review against another edition
5.0
So so wonderful. When I'm having a tough day with medicine, I read one of these and it gets so much better. She is a beautiful writer who puts things into perspective