Narrative in health care

OVERALL RATING Excellent

STRENGTHS A comprehensive and engaging introduction to narrative health care

WEAKNESSES The language is periodically esoteric and the level of abstraction complex

AUDIENCE Physicians interested in practising narrative health care, medical teachers, and medical students

Narrative in Health Care is a book to be read when embarking on a journey toward practising narrative health care. It will appeal to new and experienced practitioners, abstract thinkers as well as those more practice-oriented, health care providers, and teachers. Anyone interested in understanding the nuances and complexities of narrative in health care and teaching will appreciate this addition to the body of literature on the subject. Its scope is ambitious, and it delivers. The only drawback is the language can at times be dense and esoteric, which reduces one’s ability to readily grasp the take-home message.

This book is written collaboratively by members of different health care disciplines and draws upon their diverse strengths. The layout employs a template that renders its content accessible to those who read cover to cover as well as the more time-restricted readers. Although their reach is large, the authors are successful in covering a fair amount of ground. Those who are new to narrative health care will walk away from this book having had an opportunity to think and learn about its historical context, philosophical underpinnings, theoretical foundations, and related practical skills. Teachers can engage in introspective discussion on the essence of caring for patients with their medical students, and reflect on the kinds of conversations one might have with learners on topics of illness, healing, and the struggle for altruism in the face of the current societal landscape.

Narrative in Health Care is a compassionate and thoughtful book as well as a tome on caring for and nurturing those affected by disease and illness. The creative uses of narrative throughout the book are plentiful, illustrating the diverse ways narrative can be used in teaching and learning. Through the inclusion of stories, poems, and prose, the authors effectively demonstrate a narrative method for imparting knowledge and skill. This book is filled with pearls ready to be harvested by any reader.

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