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Rating: 
Summary: Grace In Unexpected Places!
Review: Dr. Daniel Baxter's chronicle of his daily routine as a physician in an AIDS ward at Saint Clare's Hospital in New York City, one of the poorest broken down and inadequate facilities truly serving the "dregs of humanity" is one of the richest, most spiritual and compelling books I have read in recent years. I finished this book and have kept it in my mind in many weeks going over the truly profound truths and challenges Baxter presents in his own story. The Least of My Brethren is a multifaceted, complex chronicle that teaches far more than the most readers expect as they begin any new non-fiction book. I was captivated by The Least of My Brethren from the very start; awed by Baxter's ability to present an entire range of issues, at times separately and yet, all at once in other instances -- from the seemingly simple and unimportant issue of how to get a room cleaned up or a light bulb changed in a hospital with only the leanest of support services, and in the next breath, to be speaking quite articulately on issues such as AIDS, poverty, the tragedy and loneliness of human beings who have no one left in life who have not abandoned them, to the entire spectrum of human sexuality, to questions of philosophy of life and the meaning of death and back again to the more mundane insignificance of individuals, almost all terminally ill, breaking rules on smoking in hospitals and in public places. Baxter presents a story that is as much philosophy as it is medical science; as much sociology as it is gender studies, as much psychology as it is political science. As one individual reader, above everything else, Daniel Baxter's story was a moving, yet at times, an inadvertently hysterically funny portrait of how little the latest buildings and equipment really mean to medicine in comparison to the need for a much rarer and seemingly more easily attainable achievement, the enlistment of truly caring human beings. When Baxter speaks of caring people, he is not referring to those who show their care by donations to charity or participation in clothing drives for the poor -- but "down and dirty" caring in the midst of stink, the odor of death and the scarcity of hope! This, one can conclude in reading Baxter's chronicle, is a truly rare and precious giver of life -- not easily found. In some ways I was shocked that truly caring human beings are a preciously rare commodity, yet the more I thought about the issue, I was able to acknowledge how few people there are who are willing to transcend themselves and give to others unconditionally -- while at the same time having the courage to face the demon of hopeless straight in the eye and prevail with hope. What Baxter brought squarely home to me were many personal questions and issues I have need to address in my own life. Whether it was Baxter indirectly asking me how much I appreciate the life I have, for whatever time it is given to me, to his ability to bring me to the realization that I have only marginally and clinically considered my own mortality. Baxter keeps going with questions and challenges on the importance of doing meaningful work in our lives to challenging me to examine my own willingness to place myself in the midst of dirt and filth and to be unaffected by it because the other person, far more needy than I, needs my help in the midst of that personally discomforting squalor. Finally, Daniel Baxter offers -- not by preaching -- but by his own personal example, the very real and comprehensible answer as to why our human behavior is so often paradoxical: that in order to conquer our fear, in order to gain anything worthwhile, in order to truly transcend ourselves for the good of others, we must become fearless, courageous, spirit-filled and hopeful persons ourselves. And, how do we get to such a place? The answer so obvious that we all actually know it, kept very close to our human consciousness, but often within far enough a safety zone that we do not have to necessarily respond: that is, in order to become stronger and better persons, we must face down, touch and truly look, often for the very first time, at what we find ourselves most afraid. In so doing, we become stronger, more courageous and grace-filled persons. Indeed there seems to be truth to the adage that ³what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger;² for it is proven out in the daily lives of many committed persons like Daniel Baxter, Sister Pascal or the drag queens in ...Brethren, who come to minister their sick friend up by decorating his room and applying his make-up and dressing him in all his finery, in order to help him feel more hopeful and comfortable. I finished Baxter¹s book more fully understanding myself, my own strengths, fears and weaknesses and biases. In addition, I came away with new role models to help me to at least try to make some changes for myself and to better understand the meaning of truly caring for all with whom my path crosses in the course of this mysterious journey we call life.A singular and outstanding read which should deserves much attention!
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Summary: The Gospel of AIDS
Review: For anyone who has struggled to understand the Beatitudes, this books provides a wonderful incarnation. The pages are filled with real people: smelly, surly, struggling and sensational. Don't miss the chance to live this experience as you turn each page. It's life-changing!
Rating:
Summary: A very memorable and thought provoking book...
Review: I read this book about 6 months ago and, even though i've read many books since, it has stayed with me. While the author goes into detail about what life is like in an AIDS ward, this book is suprisingly not depressing. Sad, yes..definitely..but it says alot about the human spirit. Each of the patients described is an individul...everyone special in their own way; not some faceless AIDS patient. The courage and kindness of the doctors and nurses (esp. Sister Pascal) really comes through and you really do feel for each of the patients (even the ones who are not very sympathetic). I will remember this book for a long time.
Rating: 
Summary: A Privilege to Read
Review: This book touched me deeper than anything else I've read in a very long time. It was a privilege to have a glimpse into the lives of Dr. Baxter's AIDS patients, to both laugh and cry, to both shake your head and marvel at humanity. I honestly felt for these characters and the author presents them with a grim reality that spares no detail. From this novel I have a much better understanding of what an AIDS patient must face on emotional, spiritual and physical levels.The only drawback is the doc's narration style. His personality is strong and the doctor's point of view makes it that more interesting. But his writing style is painful to read at times. His writing is extremely superflous, with a lot of 50 cent words. Many times he reminded me of TV psych, Frazier Crane, his vocabulary is that pretentious. If you look past the author's agonizing writing style - there is no limit to the feelings this book can evoke on human suffering, the human will and spirit and fears of our own mortality.
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Summary: Wonderful stories, wonderful doctor.
Review: Yes, the doctor does write rather 'high-falutin'. I haven't met the guy, but if he is like many other of the doctors I met in med school...some of them come by their language honestly. Maybe he was raised in a home where language was spoken that pretentiously. If so, then there is more to admire about him. Doctors do not have to choose to work with members of society who are less fortunate. Especially one of Baxter's caliber. That he did raises him in my esteem, and impresses me all the more. He writes with compassion and with a sense of humor, which is necessary to deal with such a hard field. AIDS does not suffer fools lightly, and Baxter is no fool in spite of his language. He does an excellent job of making others aware of the real life of most with HIV. Very few are actually lucky enough to have insurance which will pay for the pharmaceutical "cocktail" which is necessary to maintain life, and even some who do have access...their bodies reject the drugs and they become worse. The AIDS crisis is far from over. We Americans have merely closed our eyes to that fact. Baxter tries to alert us to the needs of those who are dealing with day-to-day tragedies. This is a wonderful book, and a great addition to my shelves. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
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