A Life in Medicine: A Literary Anthology

Rating:
Summary: A truly fine blend of literary accounts and health issues
Review: Poems, essays and stories by those involved in the healing profession make A Life In Medicine: A Literary Anthology a truly fine blend of literary accounts and health issues, organized around central themes of altruism, knowledge, skill and duty. Doctors, nurses and health practitioners alike consider what it means to care for patients in a century of rapidly-changing scientific advancements.

Rating:
Summary: A literary look at the human side of medicine
Review: Whenever I see a book with Robert Coles name on it I know it will be worthwhile to read. Coles served as one of several editors of A Life in Medicine: A Literary Anthology and the selections within are outstanding. They include poems, essays, short stories, and excerpts from longer works. The authors range from those working in the field (nurses, medical students, midwives, and physicians) to those not commonly associated with the field (e.g., Raymond Carver).

The book is thought provoking and emphasizes how we are all connected to the process of life and death. As a physician (with writing as an avocation) I thought it offered a wonderful look at the many facets of medical care and those that deliver it.

This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone in the profession but can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the human condition.