Health Book Reviews

Capturing his inspiring and impactful career in an emotionally demanding realm of medicine, Pediatrics Around the Block: The Journey from Country Doctor to Nationally Renowned Pediatric Researcher/Opinion Leader by Stan Block, M.D., F.A.A.P. examines the essential relationship of hard science with empathy, curiosity, and radical care.

Both a revealing memoir and a methodical manual for rare pediatric diseases, the text is composed of essays, formal case studies, published research, and narrative fascia to fill the gaps. Though the book is framed by the lens of a doctor, educator, researcher, and leader in his field, the book is far from a […]

An unfiltered portrait of mortality and an intimate exploration of hospice care, Visiting by Polly Walker Blakemore is a touching story rooted in devotion, duty, and dignity.

In this visceral memoir, the author bears witness to her mother’s multi-year decline into dementia, illustrating their profound moments of connection, tender snapshots of daily routine, and the emotional toll of parental role reversal. From in-depth discussions of the Food Network and the daily circuit of household movements to panic over the pandemic and the flexible nature of memory, this is a revelatory account of a mother-daughter bond in its final chapter.

The […]

A compassionate combination of end-of-life storytelling and medical reporting, I’ll Fly Away: Stories About Amazing Disabled Elders by Marc Sapir is an affirming collection of stories and essays centered on the myriad experiences of disabled seniors.

The author’s firsthand relationship with these patients as a Medical Director at the Center for Elders’ Independence in Oakland, California provides an uncut glimpse into the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of caring for the elderly and infirm, as he simultaneously participated in and gathered these touching reflections from a unique population too often overlooked or hidden away. From hard-fought victories over illness and the […]