Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful, but can be hurtful to some readers
Review: I loved this book when I first read it. The healing stories, the practical advice, the positive outlook all resonated with me. I used some of Dr. Siegel's ideas in my book The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness.But I kept encountering people who felt Love, Medicine and Miracles had hurt them or their loved ones who were struggling with cancer. Dr. Siegel states that "happy people don't get sick," and makes other statements that imply that illness is mostly our fault. He has tremendous compassion for the sufferers, but says that they could get better if they got their attitude adjusted. This healing from within may often be possible. But the physical and emotional conditions of people's lives can make such changes very difficult. And some diseases are so strong that all the change in the world may help, but will not cure. So I was very careful in writing Art of Getting Well to make clear that health conditions are not our fault. But it is still our responsibility to do the best we can with them. And we can often do very well indeed, and Dr. Siegel's book can help us. David Spero RN www.art-of-getting-well.com
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, but can be hurtful to some readers
Review: I loved this book when I first read it. The healing stories, the practical advice, the positive outlook all resonated with me. I used some of Dr. Siegel's ideas in my book The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness. But I kept encountering people who felt Love, Medicine and Miracles had hurt them or their loved ones who were struggling with cancer. Dr. Siegel states that "happy people don't get sick," and makes other statements that imply that illness is mostly our fault. He has tremendous compassion for the sufferers, but says that they could get better if they got their attitude adjusted. This healing from within may often be possible. But the physical and emotional conditions of people's lives can make such changes very difficult. And some diseases are so strong that all the change in the world may help, but will not cure. So I was very careful in writing Art of Getting Well to make clear that health conditions are not our fault. But it is still our responsibility to do the best we can with them. And we can often do very well indeed, and Dr. Siegel's book can help us. David Spero RN www.art-of-getting-well.com
Rating: 
Summary: I am living proof
Review: I read this book a very long time ago and discovered that you can survive,but you need love in your life, someone who really and truly shows that they care. I had cancer at the time but luckily for me I also had a supporting husband who loved me very much.
I am not so lucky this time. Yes I have cancer again but I do not have love or support and must go it alone. I will not survive.
This is a terrific book and I recommend it to everyone, even if you do not have health problems. It is truly a learning experience about the powers of love.
Rating:
Summary: correction
Review: I reviewed this book weeks ago, with no reaction, then I sent a note which was placed as a review (where did my original review go?). What I was trying to say was that I found Siegel very heartwarming, but had (only) one complaint namely the referring to experiments on animals without a word of regret. There was a description of baby monkeys not surviving without their mother when in an extra stressful situation (or something like that, it was SO SAD, I wanted to forget it if possible). I think if you write about love you should at least, if you can't avoid that type of experiment (which I think you often can) say something in defense of the lives offered. I missed that. Normally medical journals never stop to think of this, but the whole point is Siegel does not have the cool, clinical, medical approach. Yet there was no mention from him either. That is my only complaint. My first reaction was better, it's kind of second hand now. Yet I hope you will send it out as it is a point worth mentioning, even though not popular. In fact it's a new idea and worth thinking about. Anotherwords as few experiments as possible and if you have to use them, refer to them, then at least add something regarding the suffering they have caused. Like an Indian would, or a Buddhist. Otherwise he is very impressive and so loving, so unclinical. Very nice indeed. With best wishes, Kathy Heckscher
Rating:
Summary: Most inspirational book I have ever read
Review: I was diagnosed with terminal cancer almost a year ago. I was given three copies of Dr. Siegel's book and it helped me more than any other book which I have subsequently read - including "Anatomy of an Illness" by Norman Cousins, "Getting Well Again" by Simonton's , "You can Heal your Life" by Louise Hay, "Quantum Healing" by Deepak Choppra, and countless others. "Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul" ranked second. I am doing great and credit having read Dr. Siegel's book with giving me the initial hope. I was disappointed though that despite several calls to the number listed in the book, I never received a reply when I requested information re his workshop and cassette tapes. My email address is charth@bellsouth.net if you have any comments. Thanks. I did not know you existed until recently. I wish I had known; I could have saved a lot of $$ on books.
Rating:
Summary: Love, Medicine and Miracles
Review: I was given this book to read - to teach me the power of ones own mind - then I was diagnosed with MS which completely changed my life. This book taught me to paint, to express myself through visual art. The MS erased my ability to make music in which I was trained classically in voice and piano. This book taught me to accept and love what I have. I have become an artist who teaches music. my web site www.vjsltd.com
Rating: 
Summary: Perturbed over implications that people bring cancer.
Review: I'm guilty and hesitant about not raving about this book. Bernie so obviously loves his exceptional patients and has done so much to highlight the importance of love as a part of healing. I do not agree with the chapter that talks about the cancer personality. The cancer personality is one theory -- there are many theories about cancer. This book simply lays a guilt trip on someone if they don't view cancer as the greatest opportunity to change their life for the better. If one practiced the visualizing and the drawing and the proactive working with physicians, and still didn't go into remission/cure, wouldn't one feel like a failure? First you have a cancer personality; second, you died without changing it.
Rating:
Summary: Gave me a new look on life after quadruple by-pass surgery
Review: One of the most uplifting books I have ever read.Gave me a whole new outlook on life. I Have a cousin who is termenially ill with cancer, I bought him the book also. It to gave him a different look on life.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible for patients coping with terminal illness
Review: This book broke my heart. I read it, hoping to learn some more encouraging postivie ways of coping with my mother's cancer. Instead, I was subjected to an ideology that believes dying of cancer is the patients fault. Bernie, as he likes to be called, believes that patients are able to heal themselves if only they "love" enough. And if they don't, they die - regardless of treatment. Bernie also surmises that cancer is brought on by patients and their emotional states. That is outrageous! My mother, who is dying of cancer, has nothing but love to give and has been loving, kind and supportive all her life. I would love for Bernie to tell me what exactly he thinks my mother did to give her cancer and cause her to undergo the dying process??
I'm disgusted that he wrote this garbage and passes it on as a legitimate source for coping with terminal illness.
Rating:
Summary: Love, Medicine and Miracles
Review: This book has changed my life! I am 43 years old with a wonderful husband of 18 years and three beautiful children, 14, 13 and 10. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It was by chance that it was caught, but nonetheless it is breast cancer. I am currently receiving radiation and have four more weeks to go. During the first week, I was sick to my stomach, felt weak, tired, couldn't eat and was a mess until I read this book. My neighbors had to drive me to my treatments and I had to wear headphones during the treatments. After reading the book I am a new person and went into treatments driving myself and hopping on the table without headphones. They were thrilled with me and I told them that everyone must read this book. I have share it with everyone I can and my mother said she can't put the book down.
I am very religious and at first wondered why me since I speak with God everyday, now I know how to visualize and love life to the extreme and am so happy to be alive. I still have the meditation part to go, but that will come. I also feel as though God is trying to lead me on a differnt path that I am on and will find out in time what that is.
I must say this book is not just for people with illnesses, but for everyone. Thank you for changing my life!! I wish I could tell everyone in the world how wonderful this book is.
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