Publications

APS Bulletin • Volume 14, Number 2, 2004

Resource Reviews

John D. Loeser, MD, Department Editor

Journal to Healing

Reviewed by John D. Loeser, MD

Kathleen S. Rembisz, Puppy-Boy Publishing, Saylorsburg, PA, 2003, 40 pages, $13.50, (price includes shipping; spiral bound, soft cover). To order, call 610/366-8353 or write to 636 Benner Road, Allentown, PA 18104.

This brief, vanity press book chronicles the author’s journey through anger, denial, fear, acceptance, hope, and gratitude in response to chronic illness, including pain. The book features a handmade paper cover, a couple of photographs, and some variations in type font to convey nonverbal effects. The text is too brief and just touches on each of the topics itemized above, sort of an occidental haiku. The reader is asked to pose questions to him or herself. Many of the lessons learned through cognitive/behavioral approaches to pain management are reflected in the author’s suggestions. This is far too wispy a book to be of great value to chronic pain patients, however. One wishes the author had done as nice a job but added more substance.

Dr. Loeser is professor of neurological surgery and anesthesiology at the University of Washington, Seattle.