An interesting read that I'm glad to have discovered. I'll definitely be seeking out more by this author.

Deeply touching: On a life in medicine, and on caring for others

“Medicine, the profession I studied and practiced and loved, was treating Joan, the person I loved, as an afterthought.”

Arthur Kleinman, renowned Harvard psychiatrist and medical anthropologist, becomes his wife Joan’s caregiver when she is diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease at just 59 years old. This rare form starts in the occipital lobes, which means one of the first signs of the disease was Joan turning blind. Kleinman had treated patients most of his life and thought he knew what illness and care was all about. Turns out, being a caregiver and having an ill immediate family member were quite different from being a physician, and Kleinman began realizing how much there was still to learn. The book is his memoir, of sorts. He starts by talking about his upbringing, how he got into medicine (the family’s GP encouraged him), his experiences in medical school and as a resident, and later, as a renowned psychiatrist. He tells the story of how he met Joan, how they started their family, and spent time in Asia together doing research. Finally, he elicits on Joan’s disease and how being a caregiver changed him as a person.

“Just so, she would encourage herself: “It’s not so bad. I can still do a lot of things, most things. Don’t worry about me – I’m OK!” Did she believe that? I doubt it, but she felt the words were important to keep us both going. They did, in fact, keep us going, but every time she uttered them, they broke my heart.”

As a physician, I very much enjoyed reading Kleinman’s words. Having been on both sides of the medical system myself, I can relate to both sides of his experiences. I very much enjoyed reading about his medical education: realizing that the “higher” up you go in medical education, the less time you have to actually spend with your patients, to talk to them, to hear their stories and concerns. I did not find the book easy to read, but I found it very rewarding. I think this book will speak especially to healthcare professionals and caregivers, and I am not sure whether it would appeal to people that don’t belong to either of these groups. I very much enjoyed Kleinman’s at times poetic language and his thoughts on modern medicine. I appreciate how honest he is in the book, especially addressing his own shortcomings, making his thoughts very relatable. A remarkable, touching and very important book, which should be required reading for (future) physicians.

Thank you for the opportunity to read 'The Soul of Care'.

What a wonderful man Arthur Kleinman is! His love for this wife pours off the page throughout his memoir of caring for her while she lived with dementia. Together, they lived such an interesting life and it must have been so difficult for him watch the bright, intelligent, enthusiastic woman he knew slowly disappear.

I definitely recommend this to anyone going through the same experience or anyone who wants to see the power of love.

Such a beautiful story about one man's love for his wife and his work in ensuring care is central to not just a medical setting but also at home. Dr. Arthur Kleinman paints a beautiful story of his marriage to wife Joan. The importance of their love and solidity of their marriage is put to the test when Joan becomes ill and Kleinman discovers he is no longer an overseer of the importance of care in a medical environment but how this works practically and lovingly in his own home. My heart went out to all of the care givers I know while reading this. It's a searingly honest reflection and shows the value of being present and making care more central to our everyday lives. A pertinent release during the pandemic when those who are vulnerable need us more than ever.