The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

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Summary: A superb book
Review: This is a great book. Fadiman never loses her balance, writing [beautifully] with wisdom and compassion about a Hmong family and the perplexed, frustrated American medical people who were unable to understand or really help their sick child. Should be required in every medical school.

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Summary: non-fiction writing at its best
Review: What I liked best about this book was how it didn't demonize anyone---I think this would be very hard to do when writing about a subject you really care about, as I could tell the author did here. But I came to understand everyone's point of view, and how that made the tragedy which came about even sadder---there is really no-one to blame. It was unusual and a pleasant surprise to have the foster mother be one of the kindest people involved with the sad undoings of events. I felt I learned a very lot about the Hmong culture while reading a real page turner I couldn't put down.

Rating:
Summary: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Review: For those readers that enjoy understanding other cultures this is a very easily read book on the Hmongs. You are introduced to the Hmong's culture and customs through the medical community in Merced,CA. The doctors have the arduous task of caring for a Hmong toddler diagnosed with severe epilepsy. The total lack of understanding of the Hmongs by professionals within the social system, physicians, and community is explored and examined. They are an intelligent and complex people deserving of our respect.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: What a wonderful feat! A book that made me care about a whole host of things and people I had never heard of -- the Hmong, Lia Lee, her family, her doctors and Merced. I think this is the best type of nonfiction writing; you're learning AND you become emotionally invested in the people and places you're learning about.

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Summary: This book shows hidden sides of two cultures--quite a feat.
Review: Despite trials of language and culture on her own part, the author actually manages to weave a bridge between the Hmong culture and the western medical culture--something i would have assumed impossible. Though possibly nothing could have truly brought the two cultures to a place of understanding together, she portrays both to the reader so solidly that one cannot walk away from the book without being changed by it. It is not just a book about the characters themselves, but an exploration of historical precursors and influences, deeply embedded cultural traits, and the basic needs of human being when they are hurting. Moving, powerful, transending.

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Summary: Recommended to those who "give" advice to others
Review: The book open one's eyes to how offensive it can be to urge one's own idea of what's best for another person. Sure, the book is a good read for people in the fields of medicine and social work, but I think it's also a good read for anyone who recommends (read that, "imposes") his/her idea of what someone should do. That includes lawyers, bureaucrats, teachers, politicians, church workers, etc. No matter how much I may have someone's best interests at heart, I can't dictate the direction of his/her life. That has to be left up to the individual and whatever choices s/he makes. Ultimately, there are no good or bad choices, just choices. Genuine respect means respecting the choices made by that individual. The book presents this theme in a context where the individual is someone who is least able to make choices -- a child. In that situation, the dilemna is who should be the person to make the choice? The book offers no answer but instead presents the full anguish of the dilemna. I loved the book and can't wait to discuss it at next week's book club.

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Summary: A beautiful account, well-written, of a complex story
Review: I loved this book and the wondeful writing. I am about to lead a discussion on it and would like to know whether Lia is still alive. Can anyone tell me?

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Summary: Anne Fadiman--fabulous job...
Review: I've read this book twice... and twice it was amazing... the author did a wonderful job at portraying both sides of the story (western medicine vs. hmong medicine)... she did not try to sell a story, but attempted to give an accurate non-biased account of the situation... that's what I liked about it... this is not only a must read for hmong people... it is a must read for all of america to read to get a better understanding of a differing culture and its conflicts with western medicine...

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Summary: It just went on and on and on
Review: I really wanted to like this book, honestly. Sadly, I just couldn't finish it. From the start we know the ending, so the story is about the details. I just couldn't get into those details or feel for the family.

Rating:
Summary: AN IMPORTANT AND MAGNIFICENT BOOK
Review: I noticed that there are already 30 reader reviews of this book, but I wanted to add my five stars to the rest! This is a fabulous book about human nature, love, medicine, and cultural differences. It is well written and full of suspense; it is a cultural masterpiece. I loved every word of it!