Recovery
The Lost Art of Convalescence
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- € 4,99
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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: an uplifting account of hope and healing by GP Gavin Francis
'I cannot think of anybody - patient or doctor - who will not be helped by reading this short and profound book' - Henry Marsh
'Such a wise, gentle, quietly hopeful book. Exactly what I needed' - Rachel Clarke
'A lovely little book' - Michael Rosen
When it comes to illness, sometimes the end is just the beginning. Recovery and convalescence are words that exist at the periphery of our lives - until we are forced to contend with what they really mean.
Here, GP and writer Gavin Francis explores how - and why - we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes, its shifting history and the frequent failure of our modern lives to make adequate space for it.
Characterised by Francis's beautiful prose and his view of medicine as 'the alliance of science and kindness', Recovery is a book about a journey that most of us never intend to make. Along the way, he unfolds a story of hope, transformation, and the everyday miracle of healing.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this succinct and perceptive outing, Francis (Intensive Care) shares insights into the healing process gleaned over his 30-plus years as a general practitioner. While its "rhythms and... tempo are often slow and gentle," convalescence is "anything but a passive process," Francis writes. Recovery involves psychological, social, and biological shifts, and patients should devote "adequate time, energy, and respect" to healing. Francis explores a different facet of convalescence in each chapter, including nature as a curative force, the role of caretakers, how social inequalities shape who gets "permission to recover," and even the occasional, fragile gifts of illness, such as the discovery of an unknown inner strength or a new appreciation for one's normally taken-for-granted good health. Chapters end with snippets of takeaway advice; for instance, Francis recommends that those in recovery "reprioritize your work-life balance however you can" and "build into every day some way to appreciate nature." Taking stock of the healing process from the perspectives of patient, doctor, and caretaker, Francis sheds nuanced light on an often fraught and private experience, and encourages readers to reimagine illnesses as "stories of the mind and body" because "within limits, stories can be rewritten." Those on the mend may gain the most, but readers of all stripes will find wisdom here.
