Customer Reviews

Gift of Pain, The

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In this combination memoir/medical ruminations - originally published under the title Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants - Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey share Dr. Brand's work as a physician, with reflections from a lifetime of thinking about pain. It is natural for Dr. Brand to explore the subject of pain, for in a career as a surgeon working among leprosy patients, he has seen the devastating effects that come upon people who lack pain - damaged feet, fingers, noses, or eyes, often leading to infection, misery, and death. Part one of this book traces Dr. Brand's path into medicine. Part two explores his career in pain, and part three shares how Dr. Brand has learned to befriend pain, seeing it as a gift, an essential requirement for health. As a Britain who has spent roughly one third of his long life in England, one third in India, and one third in the United States, Dr. Brand's life on three different continents have given him first-hand glimpses of how people view pain.

People of any philosophical or religious persuasion will enjoy this ecumenical book, especially since it addresses an issue common to us all. The writing is not overly technical or heavy, and numerous illustrations/stories make this a very readable book. I found the book helpful for understanding the dual nature of pain ("For good and for ill, the human species has among its privileges the preeminence of pain,"), and appreciated the helpful discussion about learning to cope with it.

If ever there was a book that deserves accolades, this is it. And yet no amount of superlatives could express just how wonderful this book is and what it does to you. It is not so much a book about pain as a book about life. It evokes a sense of gratitude for life that will stay with you for life. How fortunate it makes you feel when you read about both the misfortune and the courage of others. And how the true meaning of life becomes apparent. Without ever telling you what to think, Dr Brand makes you think. He makes you realise that life, with all its challenges, is the great gift. There were times when reading this book that I found myself so moved emotionally that I had to stop reading, almost as if I had to take a deep breath and contemplate what I had just read. And then, slowly, I'd pick the book up again and re-read that moving passage before continuing on. This book is a journey more than a read. It is a journey you will never forget. Please buy it.

I absolutely could not put this book down. It is an amazing story. It stimulated my mind to hear how Dr. Brand did not accept common knowledge but really saw and listened to patients and developed a whole new treatment program for leprosy. Am I as alert and aware to what goes on around me? Dr. Brand's personal story is very interesting as are his views on hospitalization in third-world countries and also on raising children in those locations. In addition there is help with our own attitudes and actions in times of pain. This is one of my favorite books of all time and a "good read".

I learned about Paul Brand's work through "Soul Survivor" by Philip Yancey. I have always loved Yancey's work, and he described how Brand had greatly influenced Yancey as a young man, showing him a true picture of servanthood and love in the mold of Jesus. I ordered "The Gift of Pain" to learn more about Brand and I was not disappointed. Brand describes his childhood as a missionary kid in India, and as a young medical student in WWII England. The book is autobiographical, but more than that, because it weaves in some of Brand's spiritual revelations as well. As the title suggests, much of this book is devoted to the issue of pain. Although we try and avoid pain as much as possible, Brand came to welcome pain as a gift from God. It warns us when we are endangering ourselves, putting the members of our bodies in situations that could be harmful. Leprosy, Brand discovered, is not a disease that rots flesh, but instead dulls nerves. The damaged bodies of lepers are a result of self-inflicted injuries (i.e., stepping on nails, touching something too hot) not from leprosy itself. There are so many lessons to be learned about how we view pain in this book. Also... there is an interesting afterword that compares AIDS as the modern day leprosy.... very interesting.

As a physical therapy educator in a Masters program I use this book as a central theme in my class. As a PT in neurological rehabilitation I apply this perspective daily in communicating with the people I serve. The "philosphy" that Dr. Brand, through Philip Yancey's always excellent writing, explains and demonstrates is incredibly applicable to each one who reads the book. Any health professional who deals with patients in pain NEEDS to read this book. It provides a perspective of encouragement, of connection to the "gift of pain", and of understanding that although "pain is unavoidable, misery is optional" (Tim Hansel). Most importantly, this book is written with a deep compassion for a person's "holistic" suffering in mind, spirt, and body. It is an inspirational book that will touch your soul. A #1 necessary read!

It's difficult to summarize this marvelous book in a few words. It's a biography, and a very fascinating one, of one of the world's finest hand surgeons, who came to his line of work because of his concern for patients with leprosy. Dr. Brand is one of the most remarkable men I have ever met, and the story of his life and his work is page-turningly interesting. His life has had very few dull patches. However, the book is also an examination of the place of pain in our lives, and Dr. Brand uses his life story and his quest for understanding the place of pain in the lives of his leprosy patients as a way of getting us to understand the significance of pain and why it must be considered a gift. There are so many wonderful things to say about this book - Dr. Brand is a great storyteller, Phillip Yancey a fine writer and thinker in his own right, whose contributions by Dr. Brand's own estimation amount to far more than just editing Dr. Brand's thoughts - but perhaps I can best summarize the effect of the book by saying that I have given it to 6 people so far, and all have thanked me profusely for doing so. The first person bought ten copies of it herself to give to friends! Yes, it's that good.

The story of one man who almost single-handedly had an enormous impact on leprosy and diabetes treatment. It revolutionised my ideas about pain and I think it will yours. A rare book and one that will stay in consciousness as a very important contribution

As someone who suffers a considerable amount of pain, thanfully not from leprosy, I have to admit, until I read this book I never considered that pain was a gift. This is the inspiring story of one doctor's campaign to eradicate the suffering of those affected by leprosy. As he worked, Paul Brand discovered that God had granted us pain as a gift, and consequently, not all solutions lay in medical textbooks. The Gift of Pain would make a wonderful gift for anyone who cares about people. A difficult book to put down.

This is a five-star book if ever there was one. All about the author, Paul Brand's amazing life and his theories about pain. Because I'm experiencing chronic pain, I found his book useful and was taken by his compassionate, commonsense approach gained from decades of life working with leprosy patients among others. I ended up with enormous respect for Dr. Brand and believe much of what he knows about pain to be true: fear, loneliness, helplessness, and isolation increase pain. Dr. Brand is a committed Christian, but you will find his book useful whatever your faith. Very highly recommended.

I am a hand therapist, an occupational therapist who specializes in hand and upper extremity conditions and injuries. Paul Brand was an amazing man, an inspiring teacher and writer. Of course Philip Yancey coauthored this book, but this is Brand's own voice. It reads much like his professional writing, with clear and vivid analogies to explain difficult concepts. I never had the privilege of working with him, but I was lucky enough to spend time with him at various conferences and courses. He was a deeply spiritual man who spoke with both authority and humility, and possessed a sparkling sense of humor.

The book does not by any means cover Dr. Brand's entire career, but sheds a very bright light on the groundbreaking work he did with Hansen's disease (leprosy) patients. In the US, he moved to the Carville, Louisiana Hansen's disease center and continued to publish his writing, and to teach and guide hand surgeons and hand therapists. He was made an honorary member of the American Society of Hand Therapists, one of many honors showered on him throughout his distinguished career.

Please read this book. It will inspire you and give you fascinating food for thought.