Customer Reviews

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal

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Several friends had told me about Kitchen Table Wisdom over the years, and I just put off purchasing it. Then while recovering in the hospital from surgery, the chaplin suggested I read it. I read it during my recovery and have not stopped reading it since. There are so many lessons in the book, and Dr. Remen's selection of stories and writing style present an education on how to be human and to develop a deeper understanding of the humanity each one of us posseses. I look at my life, and those around me in a different way since I read the book. Dr. Remen has taught me that we all have the capacity to make our life a blessing and she is truly a blessing to all that read her words.

It's difficult to believe Remen is trained as a hard-nose physician. The book is eloquent and very touching. Remen shares her stories with simple words and ideas, and ends up creating a profound effect. Reading this book is like sharing in the rich tradition of storytelling at its best. Indeed, the read is passive, like the stories are being orally conveyed by a soft-spoken sage. Remen does not preach nor does she try to manipulate emotions from the reader. It does not carry the pretentiousness of a "Chicken Soup..." publication. The careful reader will see that Remen still struggles with the paradoxical world and emotional taffy-pull of a Philosophy-Undergraduate-Turned-Physician. In fact, the book seems therapeutic for Remen in the middle of her own quest to self-discovery. I highly recommend you share in Remen's quest, it will offer you momentary, security-blanket-style warmth. As a prospective medical student, I found the book helpful in shaping my own perspective about healing and health care, but most importantly found it to be a springboard in developing myself as a compassionate caregiver. Kudos, Ms. Remen!

This beautiful, touching and life- altering book is without doubt one of the best books I've read. Dr.Remen captured my mind, heart and soul from the very first page. The stories she tells about herself, her patients, her family and friends are told with amazing honesty, beauty and grace. This book is about Life with all its different facets, phases and seasons. As a physician, reading this book has made a lot of impact on how I view my role and how I communicate with my patients. I now think of myself not as a "doctor" but as a healer, and know that there is much more to my work than diagnosing diseases and prescribing medicines. I read this book many times, and every time I laugh and I cry and I am inspired and touched. This book is truly one of a kind; it is worth a million stars!!

Rachel Naomi Remen fittingly dedicated her extraordinary book "Kitchen Table Wisdom" to "everyone who has never told their story." Remen, a physician and counselor, says stories "heal when they are more about who we are, not what we have done. About what we have faced to build what we have, what we have drawn upon and risked to do, what we have felt, thought, feared and discovered through the events of our lives." And about where the love that has sustained us comes from.
Remen shows through her own story living with Crohn's disease how suffering and helplessness helped her to connect more deeply with others and live with an open heart. Her illness included being in a coma after a massive bleed in her mid teens, having her large intestine surgically removed and having to wear an ileostomy, and years of intensive therapy with toxic drugs. She says her experience taught her that at the heart of intimacy is vulnerability. When we see a matching vulnerability in another we know we will not be judged. That we are all more than we know and that wholeness is never lost, it is only forgotten.
Her inspiring stories illustrate that the purpose in life is to grow in wisdom and love. How perfection is a booby prize. What is needed is simply to be human. How we sometimes trade wholeness for approval from others. How the way we see another may easily become the way in which we see ourselves. How "broken" is only a stage in a process. How the healing of suffering is compassion not expertise. How the healing of our woundedness lies in reclaiming our capacity to heal others through touch, forgiveness and acceptance. That anger only becomes a problem when we become wedded to it. How fear of losing things we possess end up possessing us. How the worth of a lifetime is measured more in kindness than in competency. How inner silence reveals insight and truth. How prayer changes us not the world. How freedom comes not from controlling events but from a willingness to move with the events. How the less we are attached to life the more alive we can become. And how embracing life is more about adventure than having your own way.

I like to read mostly just before bed, so for this nightowl I am usually reading pretty late after midnight. Sometimes I find a book I just can't put down, I like those kind. Since it is the beginning of a new year according to western calendar anyway, I find the book by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. Kitchen Table Wisdom - Stories that Heal very appropriate for this time of year. I must say the title was the hooker but as I get more into the book, I see it is really much, much deeper than any talk that has ever gone on around my kitchen table. The chapters are rather short & sweet with stories of humanity & love, growing experiences, healing & yes even death experiences all of which end in a message for the reader to ponder on. I don't mind writing in books I buy, you know good spots where I want to come back to later or that I want to remember, & this book is turning out to be filled with those pencil marks! When the author herself makes a personal discovery regarding her life & her soulful purpose, she states "Although I could be analytical & pragmatic, by nature I was an intuitive, even a mystic. I was my grandfather's granddaughter, I had remembered & I was going home. .." It was at this point the author moved from her traditional medical career, into the mind/body health field & we are grateful for her inspiration.

I keep this book at my bedside and read it over and over again. It's saved my life. It has that familiar ring of truth: as something I once knew long ago but have forgotten--and need to be frequently reminded of.

I give this book to everyone I love.

In KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM Dr. Remen reminds readers that the true heritage of medicine is to "serve life." She says we serve life "not because its broken, but because it is sacred." The stories in this book come from her experience not only as a physician but as a patient with a long term chronic disease. Dr. Remen illuminates the differences between curing and caring, between fixing and healing. Her voice offers hope that the true spirit of medicine can survive

I first read this book when it was given to me as a gift and again more recently as I went through a difficult time in my life. Both times I was struck by the true stories, beautifuly and simply related, that demonstrate over and over our own capacity to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. Dr. Remen's medical credentials combined with her own history as a patient give her a deep understanding of healing and disease from both sides. I would recommend this book especially to anyone who is suffering from a physical or emotional illness. But even more so, I recommend it to the doctors out there who realize that your patients are more than just a compilation of symptoms and who are looking for a better way to relate to them.

Rachel Remen writes in such a style that you feel you're sitting with a great friend who's sharing these heart-warming, enlightening stories with you. A co-worker of mine would read this book while in flight. Every time we would get off the plane she was in the most positive mood, and would tell me how incredible this book is. I bought it and she was right. This is probably my 5th purchase of this book as a gift. Thanks Rachel, I can't wait for your next book!

Rachel Naomi Remen has suffered years of physical problems on her own. She offers good insights that work for people of all philosophies, faiths and religions.

I am nearly four years in remission from Hodgkin's Disease, with other health complications. I'm doing essentially ok now, but it never hurts to go back to this book every so often.

She can lapse into some platitudes and cliches, but her intent is genuine and her philosophies are essentially sound. Some may find her a bit "new age". Some people find that off-putting (I can at times, depending on who's writing it.) I find her "new age" based on years of sage wisdom passed on to her, not to mention her personal experiences.

She is a compassionate person. This may not be the book for everyone to read, but it certainly is worth a try. If you don't like the book, give it to someone wlse who might benefit from it. (People are different and approach illness and crisis in so many ways.)

Peace to all who read this, especially if you are going through rough times.