(4 / 5)
This is by far the best book I read in the month of September. I picked it up because I wanted to connect more presently with reality and I was so pleased how perfectly it hit the mark. This book is equally educational and compelling. Anne Fadiman’s work is a tragic tale of a small Hmong child who, while being treated by the American medical system, becomes brain dead by the age of four.
The book explores the clash of two dynamic forces, the Hmong culture/belief and western medicine, and how Lia Lee’s permanent condition was a direct result of that conflict. Fadiman alternates between Lia’s specific medical case and the history and cultural analysis of the Hmong people. Each installment is interesting and informative but I confess to preferring Lia’s medical journey. I learned a lot about the Hmong culture (which wasn’t difficult as I had no prior knowledge), a fair amount about refugees in America, and more of the way the medical system in America works.
After some cursory internet research, I see and understand why, that for a long time now this book has been/is required reading for many medical training programs. Luckily, the book is written in such a way that a complete medical novice such as myself can easily comprehend and enjoy it. I was impressed how Fadiman was able to distance herself emotionally from the story to present the facts in such a way that didn’t feel like she was telling me how to feel. She treated Lia, the Lee’s, the Hmong people, and the American doctors fairly. I’m very glad I read this one.
Violence: Low Language: Low Adult Content: Low/Medium (medical content)