The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
This book explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. The book delves into the contrasting perspectives of Lia's family, who see her condition as a spiritual matter, and her doctors, who perceive it as a medical issue. This cultural divide leads to a tragic misunderstanding, highlighting the challenges of navigating a complex healthcare system while maintaining cultural beliefs and traditions.
The 13559th greatest book of all time
Purchase from
Bookshop.org or
Amazon
- Published
- 1997
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 341
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.8)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 5 lists:
- 71st on The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 (Entertainment Weekly)
- 409th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years (Slate)