A review by queentessie
The Two Kinds of Decay, by Sarah Manguso

4.0

I have read this book as someone from the other side of those she's describing in her experiences. I work in the medical field and to read how sometimes our actions/words can affect a person going through such a debilitating illness. It really makes one step back and think, have I done something similar to someone else? I've seen many different types of practitioners along the way. I noted through observations that It's so easy in the medical field to go in and discuss diagnoses and treatments in such a nondescript way because it's done on a daily basis and forget there's a person on the other end of these diagnoses. It's so easy to lose sight of that when work piles up and patients are waiting to be seen. I always try to remember that you are talking to another human being on the other end of these complex and sometimes terrifying diagnoses. I try to put myself in their shoes and think about what my reaction would be to something that's going to be said. It makes a notable difference to a patient and their progress if you show genuine care and compassion. I've also experienced this. Patients notably do much better in an atmosphere of compassion and empathy. Some of these things unfortunately are not taught or focused much on in all forms of schooling. I found this book incredibly well written in a way that can put clinicians in the patient's shoes. I enjoy books like this that can help me relate better to patients in anyway that may help benefit their care and progress. Studies have shown that patients with optimistic attitudes tend to do much better in healing after surgeries than those who are not. I am glad this story had a good ending for the patient.