Every Patient Tells a Story

Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis
by Lisa Sanders
Broadway Books, 2009. 276 pgs. Nonfiction

Sanders writes a column for the New York Times that describes mysterious illnesses and how they are diagnosed. Her book discusses how doctors deal with diagnostic dilemmas, both through case studies and through essays reflecting on various aspects of the diagnostic process.

I have read Sanders’ column for several years and recognized a few of the case studies in the book, so I wasn’t sure if I would get much out of reading it. However, I enjoyed this book even more than her columns because she takes an in-depth approach that not only describes the detective work involved in figuring out difficult cases, but also the psychology behind doctors’ thought processes as well as the history of modern medicine. If you like books about medicine or mysteries, or if you like to watch the show House, then you will love this book.

JC