Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal, 10th Anniversary Edition

I respect Dr. Remen's personal and professional experience, and her ability to help others by simply sharing what she has witnessed first hand. I have gifted this book to several people over many years and their feedback has consistently been appreciative. There is no need to read Kitchen Table Wisdom from cover to cover if you don't wish to do so. Dipping in and out of chapters in no particular order can be as helpfully illuminating as not. Highly recommend!

Bought as a gift and was well received.

If I was sitting across the table and complaining to Rachel Remen about something going on in my life, I am certain she would give me a pearl of wisdom wrapped in a story. Not only am I wiser for the reading of Kitchen Table Wisdom, I am more human.This book contains approximately eighty extremely short stories from Remen’s counseling practice, primarily with cancer patients. Many passages left me with tears in my eyes. And though the stories were about her patients and coworkers aha moments, it was I who was illuminated. I cried over my negative attitudes and my courage.Remen exposed me to myself by telling stories of her own experiences as a physician, and then as a counselor. She went to medical school at a time when there were not many women doctors. In order to be successful, she covered over her own tenderness with clinical expertise. Through turns of circumstances interspersed in the book, she uncovered much of the softness that her Jewish grandfather had instilled in her.Her transparency about her own journey is refreshing, which in turn suggests to the reader that they, too, may have something to discover about their own life.I was particularly moved by a story of a male patient in the final stages of cancer. What he loved more than anything about seeing his oncologist, he told Remen, were the conversations they would have at the end of his appointments. This doctor was the only person in his life who he felt completely understood what he was going through. Eventually his doctor said there was nothing more he could do; though additional chemotherapy might prolong his life. He did not want more chemotherapy, so the doctor released him from his care. He was devastated; yet he resumed treatments just to have those short conversations! The story continues. Remen is also the counselor of the man’s oncologist. This doctor came to Remen because he felt his life did not matter. He believed if he died no one would miss him!In three pages, I have been given a beautiful story. Inside the story I see more clearly the value of listening to others with an open heart. And though Remen cannot tell the oncologist of the great impact he was making on one man’s life, she does tell me that even if I cannot see it, my life is significant to someone.Kitchen Table Wisdom is a must read for everyone who desires to expand their humanness.Thank you, Dr. Remen, for many hours of personal counseling.

I was drawn to this book after listening to an interview with Dr. Remen from the "Speaking of Faith" series on National Public Radio. I could tell from the interview that I was listening to a wise and compassionate person who was speaking from a deep well of experience about the real needs of patients, families, and those involved in health care delivery.Remen is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California-San Francisco and a chronic sufferer from Crohn's disease, an often debilitating illness. This volume is a collection of brief stories from her own experiences as well as the lives of hundreds of patients she has counseled. Remen has been something of a medical reformer and pioneer as she turned toward the emotional and spiritual needs of cancer patients she was counseling.Typical of the moving stories in this book is the selection about a man with cancer named Dieter. Convinced that his chemo was no longer working, Dieter told his doctor he wanted to stop the treatments but to continue his appointments just to talk. His doctor pushed him away, saying that if he discontinued treatments, there was nothing more he could do for him. Dieter told his cancer support group, "My doctor's love is as important to me as his chemotherapy, but he does not know." Ironically, Remen discloses in this story that Deiter's doctor was one of her counseling clients, although neither Deiter nor his doctor knew that, and she could not disclose it. The doctor was depressed and isolated, complaining that he was just another white coat and that no one cared for him. Sadly, neither doctor nor patient could receive healing from each other.Remen's mission has been to base health care relationships on the whole person. This requires new forms of medical education which she has developed. Remem herself has said that she had to "unlearn" much of her own medical training--with its emphasis on detached clinical professionalism--in order to be someone who not just cures but heals. This collection of stories reveals much of the fruit of this struggle. All of us will benefit from knowing that true healing occurs when who we really are shows up.

There are a few authors with the wisdom and insight of Rachael Naomi Ramen. Her stories are for both the young and old. What’s amazing is that most of the stories are told by those who have experienced great loss, and because of that they are able to see what is most meaningful in life, both their own and all of ours.

This is one of my favorite books. Along with Rachel Naomi Remen's other famous book, My Grandfather's Blessings, both of these books make an excellent gift.Recently I gave my copy of this book to my little goddaughter, who wants to become a doctor. I bought this book to replace that one. I would never want my bookshelf at home to be without both of these books. What wisdom! What wisdom resides between the covers of these books. I am so grateful to their author.

Nancy J Cameron : Pratica Colloborativa, approfondiamo il dialogo.Un percorso innovativo nei conflitti familiari. A cura di Cristina Mordiglia.recenzione di Marianella SclaviQuesto libro è al tempo stesso un manuale e un racconto affascinante di come è emerso e si sta affermando nel mondo occidentale il “diritto collaborativo” , ovvero un metodo non contenzioso di risolvere i conflitti, fuori dalle aule dei tribunali, promosso da gruppi sempre più numerosi di avvocati ( in grandissima maggioranza avvocatesse ) che operano in particolare nell’area delle crisi familiari, dalle separazioni ai divorzi, alle successioni. E’ la descrizione - nientedimeno che - di una rivoluzione molecolare culturale e strutturale del sistema di diritto legale in occidente.Una rivoluzione che sostituisce all’etica del diritto, l’etica della cura, alla risoluzione dei conflitti delegata ad altri, la possibilità di utilizzare le crisi per apprendere a gestire in prima persona i conflitti in modo creativo e trovare col coniuge un accordo partecipato che mette al primo posto l’interesse e benessere dei figli e la capacità dei genitori di collaborare anche se ( o proprio perché ) separati.Se vi chiedete come è possibile abbattere questo Moloch, da dove si comincia a cambiarlo ? In questo libro trovate una risposta che travalica la categoria del diritto di famiglia e coinvolge quasi tutti. La risposta è: prendete sul serio il vostro perdurante senso di disagio. Chiedetevi , come fa Nancy Cameron: “Come posso impostare la mia vita professionale in modo che non sia un buco nero che minaccia di inghiottire tutte le altre aree della mia vita che mi danno gratificazione ? “ E per contro: “ Voglio un lavoro che sia intellettualmente stimolante; voglio continuare a imparare e sviluppare le mie capacità e che queste competenze possano integrare la mia vita personale” . Sappiate che se non osate prendere sul serio i vostri desideri state rinunciando non solo a rendere il vostro lavoro più interessante e utile per voi, ma anche per tutti coloro con cui interagite sia nel lavoro che nella vita sociale e privata. Penso al lavoro nelle scuole, nella PA, negli ospedali e luoghi di cura e assistenza.Il libro racconta come un numero sempre più numeroso sia di avvocati che di coppie in crisi si imbarca su questa strada che ha ormai una serie di appoggi e reti a livello internazionale e nazionale. Dai corsi di formazione periodici, ai lavori in team, alle associazioni: la International Accademy of Collaborative Professionals ( fondata nel 2000) e la sezione italiana con sito: www.praticacollaborativa.it ( fondata nel 2010) .Dal 1990 ad oggi, quando l’avvocato Stuart Webb nello stato del Minnesota vedendo le conseguenze disastrose sulla vita dei coniugi e dei loro figli dei procedimenti legali dominanti ( sempre più costosi, procrastinati e inefficaci ) dichiarò “ non metterò più piede in tribunale “ per inaugurare una modalità di advocacy alternativa capace di aiutare le parti ad acquisire quelle capacità di ascolto attivo e gestione creativa dei conflitti di cui mancavano e di cui avrebbero avuto bisogno nella vita futura, il movimento collaborativo si è diffuso in tutto il mondo coinvolgendo oltre 5000 professionisti iscritti al IACP appartenenti a 24 diversi paesi.Stuard Webb era buddista e la maggior parte degli avvocati più attivi nella rete sono donne. E ciononostante stanno decisamente sgretolando il Leviatano. Tirate voi la morale della favola.Da parte mia, se devo estrarre l’ingrediente principale di questo successo, lo formulerei così: fondamentale ( non solo per gli avvocati, ma per tutti gli altri professionisti ) è il corso di formazione alla pratica collaborativa e iniziare a parlare di risoluzione alternativa delle controversie e dei conflitti “ ad ogni cliente che entra nel vostro ufficio. ”Il cliente ( lo studente ? Il malato ? il cittadino ? ) nella pratìca collaborativa è protagonista e può esserlo solo se ha capito quali sono le opzioni : come funziona il sistema burocratico e gerarchico dominante e che esistono altre opzioni nelle quali non è trattato come un minus habens e non deve trattare chi la pensa diversamente o chi è diverso come nemici.

I have SO ENJOYED this book! So much Life Wisdom packed into easy to read stories. Thank you Rachel Naomi for sharing some of the Wisdom you have gleaned through life and through your work and the way you have worked. Fully recommended 💛👍🏾💛

Oh my goodness, this might be the most achingly beautiful book I have ever read.Deep deep gratitude to Rachel Naomi Remen for these healing stories, that’s just what they’ve done, I didn’t want them to end so took it slow.

One of the most healing books I've ever read. If you are a healthcare professional, Rachel Remen's book is a must. The power of life in every word will help you to keep on walking.If you (like me) are not a healthcare professional, this book will still fill you with a great sense of connectedness to humankind.

C'est un livre écrit dans un ton très bienveillant. Je sentais mon coeur se réchauffer tout au long, en le lisant.J'ai pleuré avec certaines histoires et elles m'ont toutes invitée à la réflexion en présentant un regard différent et toujours très humain basée sur l'expérience de l'auteur dans l'accompagnement de personnes malades. Même si une bonne partie des histoires est axée sur les difficultés liées à la maladie, elles gardent toutes un caractère absolument universel sur la façon de vivre une vie plus consciente et heureuse.Les histoires sont courtes -de quelques pages au maximum-, le livre se prête donc parfaitement pour une lecture paisible par petites gorgées. C'est ainsi que je l'ai lu, lorsque j'avais 5 ou 10 minutes devant moi ou bien en prenant 5 à 10 minutes lorsque j'avais besoin de retrouver énergie et motivation dans mon quotidien tout à fait ordinaire.