Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Value For Money
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
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Value For Money
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You And You Fall
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is an amazing book about the differences of western medicine and Hmong culture in the treating of Lia Lee, who has Epilepsy. The views of both sides were portrayed in a wonderful style of writing. This story opens people's minds and gives a new understanding. Truly compelling and highly recommended,
Great story, wonderful writing, really pulls you in, but don't let this be your guide to Hmong culture. Fadiman tries, and her empathy for the different sides come through, but book is full of literal translations and some inaccurate and romantic portrayals (both positive and negative) of Hmong culture then, and certainly now (although this latter should be a given to adjust for time). Recommend reading this story as a lesson for how cultural misunderstandings can ensue, and to challenge ourselves for how far we are willing to go to understand those who are the "other." Need lesson on Hmong culture? Consult another source.
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