Through engaging narratives of illness, medical work, and nursing in which people choose to act in ways that affirm their humanity, "The Renewal of Generosity" depicts the transformation of demoralized medicine into caring relationships through generosity generosity towards both others and oneself. Arthur Frank demonstrates how generosity is renewed through dialogue, and he also distinguishes authentic dialogue from mere talk. For Frank, medicine is the face-to-face encounter that comes before and after pharmaceuticals, surgeries, and diagnostics. His is a book for people on both sides of the...

In this deeply affecting memoir, Arthur W. Frank explores the events of illness from within: the transformation from person to patient, the pain, the wonder, and the ceremony of recovery. To illuminate what illness can teach us about life, Frank draws upon his own encounters with serious illness -- a heart attack at age thirty-nine and, a year later, a diagnosis of cancer. In poignant and clear prose, he offers brilliant insights into what happens when our bodies and emotions are pushed to extremes. Ultimately, he examines what it means to be human.