Category: Books

Book reviews

AI, Books, Patient-Physician Relationship, Research Articles, Technology

Between Algorithm and Presence: The Future of Palliative Care

A Case That Stayed With Me During a recent clinic, I was asked to urgently see a 65-year-old woman with metastatic lung cancer after multiple lines of therapy. For weeks, she had been declining: confused, exhausted, not eating, losing weight, and no longer sleeping. Her oncologist had decided that further cancer-directed therapy wasn’t feasible. When I walked into the room, she was in her home … Continue reading Between Algorithm and Presence: The Future of Palliative Care

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
Books, Medical Humanities, Patient-Physician Relationship

Shattered and Adaptable: Two Books, One Truth About Being Human

A few weeks ago, I sat with an elderly man with locally advanced bladder cancer and his daughter. She was worried; he no longer seemed like himself. He slept most of the day. He had no appetite, not even for her cooking, which he had once loved. She described how he used to fill the kitchen with stories from his morning walk—the neighbor’s new dog, … Continue reading Shattered and Adaptable: Two Books, One Truth About Being Human

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
Books

“Making Sense of Cancer”

I wanted to write a few words wholeheartedly encouraging you to read Dr. Jarle Breivik’s new book, “Making Sense of Cancer: From Its Evolutionary Origin to Its Societal Impact and the Ultimate Solution.” (Dr. Breivik is a Ph.D. researcher and educator who worked in the field of immunotherapy).  It’s a brilliant exploration of cancer and its societal and philosophical implications. The book is a pleasure … Continue reading “Making Sense of Cancer”

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MD
Books

The Brain and Neuroplasticity.

The idea of what a brain is and what it does has drastically expanded over the last few decades. During my medical school training (mid-90s) we learned nothing about the brain’s plasticity (then an unknown concept to me) and focused on studying its anatomy and physiology that was mostly static. “Not much changes over time, and if does, it is usually a loss” – was … Continue reading The Brain and Neuroplasticity.

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MDLeave a comment
Books, Friday Links

Friday Assorted Links #6

School starts soon for some, and many parents are worried about the educational experience associated with remote learning. Here is a fantastic article on The Importance of Becoming a Self-Directed Lifelong Learner by David Handel, MD. He talks about meta-thinking and learning from first principles. Worth reading! My 14 y/o daughter ran home the other day convinced she just saw the Asian giant “murder” hornet. … Continue reading Friday Assorted Links #6

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MDLeave a comment
Books

Cancer and the Experience of Trauma.

Most of us have a narrow view of trauma. We think of trauma as an extreme, eruptive and dramatic experience. It comes to mind when we hear about acts of violence, natural disasters or loss of loved ones. Yes, this is trauma. No doubt. But trauma has also an unfamiliar face. One that is subtler, less ostensible, and often unrecognized even by those who are … Continue reading Cancer and the Experience of Trauma.

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MDLeave a comment
Books, Friday Links

Friday Assorted Links #5 (all books)

A new book by neuroscientist and philosopher, Sam Harris: “Making Sense. Conversations on Consciousness, Morality and the Future of Humanity.” You may know him from his popular podcast under the same name. Best known in the US for her Neapolitan Quartet novels (you can also see the TV adaption by HBO), Ellena Ferrante’s new novel, “The Lying Life of Adults” is coming out on Sept. … Continue reading Friday Assorted Links #5 (all books)

Unknown's avatarMarcin Chwistek, MDLeave a comment