Not exactly what I was expecting. It felt like the writer had a mindset like she was always a victim and although she shared interesting patient cases (more of what I was expecting), it was more about her personal experience of feeling inferior and treated differently because she was a black woman. Months after reading it as I’m writing this review, I do not feel like I was impacted at all. I was pretty unaffected by this book which is why I gave it 2 stars.

I very much enjoyed this book; I read it in 2 days. It’s well written and relatable.

Great insight to the question “why medicine”. definitely planning to reread at some point before applying to med school.

I’m not gonna lie I feel asleep reading this book Guccis man’s biography was better tbh.

Great!!!!!

Beautifully written; no way a person can read this book and not have their spirit soar.

Boring ....and badly written don’t bother....

Michelle is not only a powerhouse as an ER physician but she can write so lovely that I found myself several times filling with the emotions she was describing and I absolutely loved the way she practiced medicine- she incorporated mind body soul and was able to see past the thousands of similar patients and get to the humanity of them as well. Whether there she’d find a kindred spirit or a broken soul or shattered spirit, she would always apply the Eastern healing practices that also heal mend and recognize the suffering or the symptoms of the spiritual and emotional part of her patients. If I’d been so lucky to have been treated by this kind fearless and truly benevolent woman as my own healer or physician I can’t imagine how I’d receive her but I found myself often wondering and then certain I’d welcome her with all the life I’d left wherever or however she found me. I absolutely loved how she also mentions the atrocious experiences that she had with systemic and industrialized racism and the misogynistic tendencies that whether consciously or sub consciously other felt they were entitled to project upon her. Ugh. It enraged me. Then I did some of her deep cleansing breaths and soldiered on with her through her journey in her personal, professional, and spiritual life. Her empathy with her VA patients, her perspectives on how we leave our soldiers ill equipped to be mainstreamed into society after battles or trauma from military sacrifices. These are the very humans we all should be caring so deeply for and be grateful for their service sacrifice and bravery.

Unfortunately, this is the first book that I simply could not force myself to finish. Throughout the 400 pages that I did read, every scenario described has the same theme: the author is the lone perfect healer against an evil world of which everyone else belongs. The book is simply one scenario after another of describing how horrible other people are while she tries to save the world. Quite frankly, it seems more like a love note to herself. Even the descriptions of healthcare situations couldn’t be farther from the truth. I am a passionate reader, but this book was simply awful and quite frankly irritated me throughout. I wish there was a way to get my money back.

This book was a little push from the universe to take control of my life in order to be a better healer. Dr. Harper thank you so much!