Faith, Hope and Healing: Inspiring Lessons Learned from People Living with Cancer [Hardcover]

Bernie Siegel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470289015 | ISBN-13: 978-0470289013 | Edition: 1

faith, hope & healing

Inspiring Lessons Learned from People Living with Cancer

"Bernie Siegel is one of the greatest healers of our time. The stories he shares in Faith, Hope, and Healing demonstrate the healing effect of treating cancer not just with conventional medicine but by changing the way you think about your disease, the way you act toward those who love and care for you, and the way you feel about yourself. The mind is the most powerful tool you have for fighting back."

-Deepak Chopra, author of Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment

Praise for Bernie Siegel

for Prescriptions for Living

"Bernie Siegel is a brilliant beacon broadcasting a message of hope. When high-tech medicine is supplemented with love and compassion, we have not only curing but also healing, which is what Siegel's message is all about."

-Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words

for Help Me to Heal

"If you or a loved one have to go through major medical care . . . this book can be . . . life-saving and soul-saving."

-Andrew Weil, M.D., the New York Times bestselling author of Spontaneous Healing and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health

for 365 Prescriptions for the Soul

"Bernie Siegel dispenses spiritual medicine that's good for you, and feels good too! I highly recommend these daily doses of eternal wisdom."

-Marianne Williamson, author of Everyday Grace

"Bernie is one of the world's most respected doctors. I would pay close attention to any prescription he offers. I read from this each day."

-Wayne Dyer, author of Getting in the Gap

"Dr. Siegel's soul medicine is dispensed in perfect doses to uplift, inspire, enlighten, and heal you. As always, Bernie's wisdom and love gave me goosebumps, or should I say god-bumps. Buy a carton of this medicine-in-a-book and administer it to everyone you love."

-Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Inner Peace for Busy People

for Love, Magic, and Mudpies

"Dr. Bernie Siegel has been my mentor and friend for many years. His wisdom has been a beacon of healing and humor. Love, Magic, and Mudpies is as funny, wise, and practical as its magical author. Every parent needs this book."

-Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom

"Love, Magic, and Mudpies is a wonderful, wise, and very funny antidote to the No-Parent-Is-Perfect-Enough school of parenting. Bernie Seigel's delightful new book could only have been written by a seasoned father and grandfather who is also a pioneer of holistic medicine."

-Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., author of Kitchen Table Wisdom

"Dr. Bernie Siegel is a living demonstration of the healing power of commitment, compassion, and love. What he offers the world in Love, Magic, and Mudpies is a testimony of his wisdom. No matter what ails you, a dose of Bernie Siegel and his work is sure to work magic in your soul."

-Iyanla Vanzant, author of One Day My Soul Just Opened Up

for Peace, Love & Healing

"Bernie Siegel [is] a doctor who loves. In this age of massive, impersonal medical technology, his advocacy of human caring is a necessity."

-Larry LeShan, Ph.D., author of Cancer as a Turning Point

"I was enthralled with this book. [This] truly great book ... combines sound thought with captivating humor."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this collection of first-person accounts, doctor and author Siegel (Love, Medicine, and Miracles) brings together almost three dozen cancer patients (or close relations of) to share their stories and the lessons they've learned. Many entries tackle the moment of diagnosis (the first, from survivor Angela Passidomo Trafford, opens with the line, "How many times do I have to have cancer?!"), while others pick up at the moment the diagnosis first hits home; still others focus on the end, like Ann Martin Bowler, whose sick brother passed days after a reinvigorating near-death experience. Lynn Zeller contributes a list of the "eight practices" she discovered through cancer that have led to a "wonderfully expanded experience of life" (including a focus on gratitude, mindfulness, and the idea that the universe "is in a conspiracy for my good"); Edwina Ford focuses on her afflicted husband's admiration, and efforts on behalf, of Lance Armstrong's post-surgery Tour de France comeback. For each piece, Siegel provides a reflection and a moral ("Life's difficulties are what teach us to grow") that clarify and encourage. Anyone struggling with cancer will find many relatable voices and, in Siegel, a compassionate expert commentator.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

* In this collection of first-person accounts, doctor and author Siegel (Love, Medicine, and Miracles) brings together almost three dozen cancer patients (or close relations of) to share their stories and the lessons they’ve learned. Many entries tackle the moment of diagnosis (the first, from survivor Angela Passidomo Trafford, opens with the line, “How many times do I have to have cancer?!”), while others pick up at the moment the diagnosis first hits home; still others focus on the end, like Ann Martin Bowler, whose sick brother passed days after a reinvigorating near-death experience. Lynn Zeller contributes a list of the “eight practices” she discovered through cancer that have led to a “wonderfully expanded experience of life” (including a focus on gratitude, mindfulness, and the idea that the universe “is in a conspiracy for my good”); Edwina Ford focuses on her afflicted husband’s admiration, and efforts on behalf, of Lance Armstrong’s post-surgery Tour de France comeback. For each piece, Siegel provides a reflection and a moral (“Life’s difficulties are what teach us to grow”) that clarify and encourage. Anyone struggling with cancer will find many relatable voices and, in Siegel, a compassionate expert commentator. (Apr.) (Publishers Weekly, April 20, 2009)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470289015
• ISBN-13: 978-0470289013
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.9 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Cancer > Brain Cancer

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Properly interpreted it can be a strong message in coping with cancer September 17, 2009

By Charles Ashbacher HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I consider it an unarguable point that people who are optimistic in the face of serious illness tend to respond better to treatment and live longer and healthier lives. However, this is a statistic fact, not an individual one. It is also obvious that some people spontaneously overcome their cancerous growths in a manner completely unexplainable by medical science. However, I tend to take an extremely skeptical view of books that tend to be overly energetic in promoting natural healing due to faith and hope. While faith and hope are very important in promoting cures, they work so much better when they are accompanied by some serious medical ammunition.
The line between the legitimate and illegitimate promotion of faith and hope cures is approached in this book but not crossed. It is a series of testimonials from people that were diagnosed with cancer and have been able to generate great strength and improve their chances via the use of positive thinking. That positive thinking was reinforced by chemotherapy and radiation so in many cases the positive thinking was a driving force in getting them through the secondary illness from their treatment. After each testimonial there is a brief statement from Dr. Siegel, giving his impressions of the testimonial. In some cases the statement is a legitimate extension but in others it could have been left out with no real loss. The most powerful, uplifting and beneficial statements to cancer sufferers come from cancer survivors and these messages are often so powerful that any postscript written by another seems weak.
Sometimes the best message that you can receive when facing adversity is an existence proof that it is possible to survive and perhaps even benefit from it. That inspiring message is repeated many times in this book and some of them are very moving.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful healer, his words bringing inspiration and solace through the stories shared in this heartwarming book. February 6, 2010

By D. Benor

Format:Hardcover

Bernie Siegel is a wonderful healer, his words bringing inspiration and solace through the stories shared in this heartwarming book. I was reminded of a story Bernie likes to tell about the start of his career in providing support and nurturing to women with breast cancer - as I read this collection of reports from 32 people who learned to deal with their cancers as teachers and inner healers. Bernie was distressed to find that many of the women he treated as a surgeon had no source of support outside their stressed families for dealing with their health challenges and the emotional turmoil they encountered - both from the cancers and from the medical treatments. Bernie invited a group of people who had undergone cancer surgery to meet regularly in his office in a support group.He found that the best way he could contribute was to let these people share their issues with each other and find support from each other, and to keep as quiet himself as he possibly could.

In this book there are stories of men and women, young and old, and a few as well of children who tell their experiences of dealing with cancers. For anyone who is challenged with cancer, this book brings the wonderful gift of hope. With the help, encouragement and support of the author, many of these people were able to arrive at a place of peace and inspiration, living their lives much more fully and meaningfully as a result of their experiences of dealing with cancer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally Inspiring June 28, 2009

By Writer

Format:Hardcover

Helpful for anyone living with cancer, just diagnosed and all family and friends of anyone with the disease. Caring, real and insightful.