A Powerful Read

Looking for a great read?

I recently watched the movie, Gran Torino (Great movie by the way), and instantly knew the asian culture in the movie from a child's clothing. The movie was about a Hmong family dealing with problems from a nearby gang. Their neighbor played by Clint Eastwood, took the children under his wing to save them from the town trouble.

It reminded me of a book I read in college, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. It was recommended by my Anthropology teacher and now is one of my favorite books of all time. It's about a Hmong refugee family from Laos that settle in Northern California. A true story, it tells of the familys' travels and their adjustment to the American lifestyle. When one of the children becomes diagnosed with epilepsy, the parents struggle between following their own medicinal treatments and the American medicine system. Whose to decide what practices are better? It is a truly powerful book and allows you to open your mind and explore another culture. It will make you mad, confused, and best of all enlightened. A great book for nurses and future doctors! I studied Anthropology throughout my college years and loved every aspect of it, that I made it my minor. I encourage everyone to take an Anthropology class or read a book by an Anthropologist. Looking for something more wild? Read The Shaman's Apprentice by Mark Plotkin. Let me know what you think when you read them!

Thank you to my Anthropology teachers for inspiring me!