Book Reviews (June 2009)

Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand, The Gift of Pain: Why we hurt and what we can do about it, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan/HarperCollins 1993, 1997.  340 pp   3 ½ pp Bibliography  US$12.99

This is the heartwarming story of Dr. Paul Brand, son of English missionaries who served in India as an expert in hand surgery (and, by frequent necessity, in general surgery) and in leprosy. Philip Yancey is editor-at-large for Christianity Today.Brand is one of those rare, deeply compassionate surgeons who has a wonderful gift for observing the human condition and for developing ways to offer his presence as an essential part of his healing ministry. (See also the editorial of Martina Steiger, ThD on presence in this issue of IJHC.) 
Brand trained during WWII in London, which served as a helpful preparation for his work in Velore, India – as in both situations doctors often had to do what was required in the situation for the immediate, urgent benefit of the injured and sick – frequently improvising due to limited human and material resources.

(Read more in IJHC May, 2009)

Gary Chapman. The Heart of the Five Love Languages, Chicago, IL: Northfield 2007.  66 pp  $5.99

This lovely mini-book presents the essence of Gary Chapman's observations (also shared in longer versions) on ways in which we express love towards each other, and conversely, how we prefer to have love expressed towards ourselves.

(Read more in IJHC May, 2009)