Book Reviews of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures

I absolutely loved this book! It is written with such insight into the culture of the Hmong. It was an eye opener of the best kind - taking the reader into the midst of a medical case involving a very ill Hmong child in a small county hospital in California - language and cultural barriers that the author works to eliminate. Racial tensions, discrimination, miscommunication - the author worked through it and detailed the journey into a very readable, intelligent, thought-provoking piece of work.

Awesome read! I loved it!! This was actually a text book for a medical anthro class, but I read it in two days (way ahead of the rest of the class). Great book.

A Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. Probably one of the best books I have ever read, a non-fiction that reads like a novel. This child is born with epilepsy, and the parents believe her condition is caused by spirits called "dabs", and don't administer her medications properly, if at all. Anne Fadiman is a wonderful writer, and you will be caught up in the drama as well as further understanding the Hmong people and their history. I can't recommend this highly enough.

This book changed the way I looked at immigration, culture, the right to choose medically. Very thought provoking book. Extremely well written.

This book details the clash of two culturs: an immigrant Hmong family and the American medical system as each strives to keep the young daughter who has epilepsy healthy. Very though provoking--it provided the perspective of our medical care through the eyes of another culture. (good information for all health care professionals.) I also learned alot about the Hmong culture, how they were affected by the Vietnam war and how many immigrated to the US. This is not a light reading book; I also had a light-reading book to read so I could alternate between them as my mood dictated. Story plot detailed in other reviews.

A very good look at a clash of cultures - very readable.

Excellent book, well written. I could see both sides very clearly.

Engaging and interesting. A great balance between a case study and anthropoligical history.

Detailed account of cultural misunderstandings surrounding the treatment of a Hmong child with epilepsy.

Provides interesting insights into Hmong immigrant experiences in the United States.

Being from California's Central Valley, I found this book very insightful into the Hmong story. Definitely an eye opener to many sides on one story.

I had to read this book for college, and it was - hands down - my favorite piece of assigned literature. I read it through a second time completely of my own free will. The frustrating conflict between culture and medicine is masterfully portrayed. This book was very thought provoking, and caused me to experience a teeter-totter of emotions. One moment I was cursing the doctors for not listening, the next chapter I was exasperated with the family for their lack of understanding. The only parts of the book I didn't care for were the "history of Laos" chapters - while they provided insight to the Hmong culture; they seemed very dry in comparison to the rest of the book.

If you are involved in the health care field in any way, this book is a must read.

Honestly, even if you don't work in health care, I can't imagine you'd regret reading this book. I loved it.

This book is the story of a family with a sick child. This family immigrated from Laos after the Vietnam war. It is also, if not more so, the story of those who come to this country and do not understand our culture, and those who meet their medical, spiritual, physical needs who do not understand or try to understand their cultures.

It is thought provoking and a serious read.

A great book that explores the differences in Eastern and Western medicine in a way that anyone will find interesting.

This book left me clearly siding with the pro-science American doctors and wondering how to be simultaneously honest and unoffensive to the views of the Hmong child's relatives.

Hard to read in some places. Bounces from place to place without a chronology. It is a fascinating story about medicine and cultural differences. I learned a lot about the Hmong people, a group I had never heard of before.

This book explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Lia's parents and the doctors both want what's best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them leads to tragedy. Anne Fadiman's compassionate account of this cultural impasse is literary journalism at it's best. ( From the book jacket)

i heard this is a really good book...it's about a hmong child...her american doctors...and the collision of two cultures...this is taken right off the top of the book.

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