The Anatomy of Hope

How People Prevail in the Face of Illness

By: Jerome Groopman

Narrated by: Paul Michael

An inspiring and profoundly enlightening exploration of one doctor’s discovery of how hope can change
the course of illness

Since the time of the ancient Greeks, human beings have believed that hope is essential to life. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Harvard Medical School professor and New Yorker staff writer Jerome Groopman shows us why.

The search for hope is most urgent at the patient’s bedside. The Anatomy of Hope takes us there, bringing us into the lives of people at pivotal moments when they reach for and find hope--or when it eludes their grasp. Through these intimate portraits, we learn how to distinguish true hope from false, why some people feel they are undeserving of it, and whether we should ever abandon our search.

Can hope contribute to recovery by changing physical well-being? To answer this hotly debated question, Groopman embarked on an investigative journey to cutting-edge laboratories where researchers are unraveling an authentic biology of hope. There he finds a scientific basis for understanding the role of this vital emotion in the outcome of illness.

Here is a book that offers a new way of thinking about hope, with a message for all readers, not only patients and their families. "We are just beginning to appreciate hope’s reach," Groopman writes, "and have not defined its limits. I see hope as the very heart of healing."©2004 Jerome Groopman; (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

Advance praise for The Anatomy of Hope

"The Anatomy of Hope sings with compassion and honesty."
--Anita Diamant

"This book is the guide and the promise that all of us--patients and doctors alike--have been seeking, in the quest for hope amid the trials and fears of illness."
--Sherwin B. Nuland, M.D.

An elegant treatise on the power of hope

A scientifically sound yet accessible work detailing Groopman's experiences as both doctor & patient and the role emotions play in affecting the trajectory of illness. I first became interested in this title after hearing an interview with Groopman on NPR's "Fresh Air with Terry Gross." He spoke of his 10 year struggle with back problems; an experience that included a botched surgery and long convalescence. His recovery was hindered by skepticism and apathy on the part of the medical establishment- an establishment that he is sometimes ashamed to be part of. This experience forever changes him and his attudies towards his patients. This story and others, such as Groopman's missteps communicating with patients while a resident, are candidly revealed in his book. Throughout this book, many vivid stories of life, death and illness punctuate a discussion of medical research findings. Groopman successfully argues that hope & dispair, joy & saddness, alters human biology. Rigorous but never dry and tedious- sensitive yet not treacly like Chicken Soup for the Soul, this book shows us that the mind, body and soul are inexorably linked.

Very good as far as it goes...

This is a very good book. I expected sappy, but it was interesting, thought provoking, and touching. The book does not quite reach a clear conclusion, nevertheless it goes a long way in exploring how hope can be detrimental or curative.

Good introduction to the concepts - gave me some hope

This book piqued my interest and opened lots of doors in my thinking. Sometimes the personal anecdotes were interesting but seemed to lack balance with science or facts- which seems to reflect where science currently lives with this topic. Would like to find further reading about more of the research into hope and the body/mind connection.

Personal patient cases kept me engaged and made the information assessable.

I liked the way the author incorporated the subject matter using real life patients and their cases as he progressed and grew as a Doctor. This kept me engaged and the information was easily assimilated with the personal encounters.

Very good

Highly recommend to people in the medical field to read. Gives a great perspective on how to treat patients .