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savaging's review against another edition
2.0
Is there something wrong with me if I can't bring myself to trust Patch Adams? All those beautiful ideas, and here I am with my arms folded and looking half away.
This book is a useful reminder to live with humor; a useful reminder that every dying person is actually a living person. But beyond this utility, Patch feels a little too bright for me. No shadows, no worries, no existential despair in the face of death. Humility, yes, but no self-doubt.
The book is a critique of not only modern medicine but also leftist attempts to improve it, along the track of Ivan Illich. And yet, Patch's non-dehumanizing solution is so fragile, tentative -- and as far as I can tell, still unbuilt. (In the meantime, what I wouldn't give for a little single-payer universal coverage . . .)
If eternal hope and a life without existential despair in the face of death sounds like just your thing: this is the book for you.
This book is a useful reminder to live with humor; a useful reminder that every dying person is actually a living person. But beyond this utility, Patch feels a little too bright for me. No shadows, no worries, no existential despair in the face of death. Humility, yes, but no self-doubt.
The book is a critique of not only modern medicine but also leftist attempts to improve it, along the track of Ivan Illich. And yet, Patch's non-dehumanizing solution is so fragile, tentative -- and as far as I can tell, still unbuilt. (In the meantime, what I wouldn't give for a little single-payer universal coverage . . .)
If eternal hope and a life without existential despair in the face of death sounds like just your thing: this is the book for you.
herbalknight's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
cookie_jarvis_canada's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
If you liked (or loved) the movie, the book is even better! I highly recommend the audiobook as the narrator is very entertaining. At times I laughed out loud. Such a wonderful inspiring book that reminds you there are people in this world who truly and honestly just want to help others, including just make them smile.
imaginethehours's review
3.0
I liked his idealism in the book and several of his ideas about totally not just reforming, but changing, the healthcare system. I have to say though, even being an idealist myself, I found myself questioning his vision's practicality in the real world, particularly not charging for medical care but not giving much of any idea how to actually fund it then, except hoping random people will keep contributing.
I was glad to get insight into this real man and what he actually carried out, beyond seeing the movie years ago. I would like to now read up on what he did since the book was published, and if there is still a Gesundheit Institute in place, and if others have followed his lead. It's the kind of ideas I would LOVE to see taken to heart and incorporated into the current state of medical affairs, but not only done by a few who take that giant leap to go all the way with it. He makes mention of this in his book, that doctors and hospitals can take bits of it to work with, but he doesn't pose ways to actually do so. I would have liked to see more of that discussed, rather than a continuous reiteration of the premise and moving slightly back and forth in time on how their operations were going over and over. I feel the book would have been better served by being more chronological, and it got quite repetitive. I liked it best earlier on before I'd read the same thing expressed in slightly different ways repeatedly. However, it was a quick, easy, and overall interesting read.
I was glad to get insight into this real man and what he actually carried out, beyond seeing the movie years ago. I would like to now read up on what he did since the book was published, and if there is still a Gesundheit Institute in place, and if others have followed his lead. It's the kind of ideas I would LOVE to see taken to heart and incorporated into the current state of medical affairs, but not only done by a few who take that giant leap to go all the way with it. He makes mention of this in his book, that doctors and hospitals can take bits of it to work with, but he doesn't pose ways to actually do so. I would have liked to see more of that discussed, rather than a continuous reiteration of the premise and moving slightly back and forth in time on how their operations were going over and over. I feel the book would have been better served by being more chronological, and it got quite repetitive. I liked it best earlier on before I'd read the same thing expressed in slightly different ways repeatedly. However, it was a quick, easy, and overall interesting read.
savaging's review
2.0
Is there something wrong with me if I can't bring myself to trust Patch Adams? All those beautiful ideas, and here I am with my arms folded and looking half away.
This book is a useful reminder to live with humor; a useful reminder that every dying person is actually a living person. But beyond this utility, Patch feels a little too bright for me. No shadows, no worries, no existential despair in the face of death. Humility, yes, but no self-doubt.
The book is a critique of not only modern medicine but also leftist attempts to improve it, along the track of Ivan Illich. And yet, Patch's non-dehumanizing solution is so fragile, tentative -- and as far as I can tell, still unbuilt. (In the meantime, what I wouldn't give for a little single-payer universal coverage . . .)
If eternal hope and a life without existential despair in the face of death sounds like just your thing: this is the book for you.
This book is a useful reminder to live with humor; a useful reminder that every dying person is actually a living person. But beyond this utility, Patch feels a little too bright for me. No shadows, no worries, no existential despair in the face of death. Humility, yes, but no self-doubt.
The book is a critique of not only modern medicine but also leftist attempts to improve it, along the track of Ivan Illich. And yet, Patch's non-dehumanizing solution is so fragile, tentative -- and as far as I can tell, still unbuilt. (In the meantime, what I wouldn't give for a little single-payer universal coverage . . .)
If eternal hope and a life without existential despair in the face of death sounds like just your thing: this is the book for you.
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