Reviews
"...an insightful and challenging attempt to document the gap that exists between the theories of palliative care and the realitites of its day-to-day practice...this book is refreshing in its avoidance of false hope and tidy resolutions."--Journal of Palliative Care, "Crossing Over is written with the education and training of physicians, nurses, chaplains, therapists, and social workers in mind. The author-investigators have taken pains to capture and convey the perspectives of patients and their families. This is cinema-verite projected in written word:the experience of illness, dying and caregiving photographed with available light, through clinical lenses. Crossing Over reads as biography, ethnography, comparative socialogy, and medical anthropology. However, true to its intention, it remains a clinical report. The book ultimately succeeds inconveying the essence of palliative care." -- Ira Byock, Hastings Center Report, Nov-Dec 2000, "This work is a collection of narratives that each provide a glimpse intothe later stages of a terminal illness. The narratives cover a wide range ofconcerns, touching on the emotions of both patients and caregivers, physicialsymptoms, spiritual concerns, stress on family relationships, and the challengeof providing adequate hospice and palliative care. At the end of the book, theauthors of each narrative provide commentary and raise questions for discussion.Additionally, the book is complete with an index of themes and an extensive listof further reading." -- Journal of Social Work Education, Winter 2001, "Crossing Over is an impressive collection of 20 'narratives' of peoplefacing the end of their lives alongside their professional and informal careers.What makes this book quite outstanding is the wealth of clinical experiencecontained within its pages - covering the physical, psychosocial, and spiritualissues of dying. This book emphasizes all aspects of holistic care with equalimportance in the day-to-day work of end-of-life care. Because the text is aboutthe actuality of 'crossing over', it is not surprising that spirituality andreligious ritual play an important part in the text. This book will be extremelyhelpful for all disciplines working within the field of special palliative care.The emotional energy that many of the narratives must have consumed just to workwith, let alone write down, is enormous. The authors need to be congratulatedfor bringing together an extremely coherent masterpiece in an easy-to-readstyle." -- Progress in Palliative Care, Vol 8 Num 4, "A welcome addition to the fast-growing literaturein this field of humanneed and response." --Dr. Derek Doyle, "This text is an excellent reminder that when we die, we will be able to decide what is right for us. For clinicians and lay people, and a must for the library of any clinician who deals with end-of-life issues."--ChoiceMiddletown, CT, May 2001, " this book is a must for any who fear the syndrome of tunnel vision in their role of caring, and an invaluable resource for any library. The succinct accounts of the final journey empasise the preeminence of people's psychosocial and spiritual needs. It powerfully challenges our well-defined ideal." Scottish Journal of Helathcare Chaplaincy vol4, no. 1, "Crossing Over is written with the education and training ofphysicians,nurses, chaplains, therapists, and social workers in mind. Theauthor-investigators have taken pains to capture and convey the perspectives ofpatients and their families. This is cinema-verite projected in written word:the experience of illness, dying and caregiving photographed with availablelight, through clinical lenses. Crossing Over reads as biography, ethnography,comparative socialogy, and medical anthropology. However, true to its intention,it remains a clinical report. The book ultimately succeeds in conveying theessence of palliative care." -- Ira Byock, Hastings Center Report, Nov-Dec2000, "This text is an excellent reminder that when we die, we will be able todecide what is right for us. For clinicians and lay people, and a must for thelibrary of any clinician who deals with end-of-life issues."--ChoiceMiddletown,CT, May 2001, "Crossing Over is an impressive collection of 20 'narratives' of people facing the end of their lives alongside their professional and informal careers. What makes this book quite outstanding is the wealth of clinical experience contained within its pages - covering the physical, psychosocial,and spiritual issues of dying. This book emphasizes all aspects of holistic care with equal importance in the day-to-day work of end-of-life care. Because the text is about the actuality of 'crossing over', it is not surprising that spirituality and religious ritual play an important part in thetext. This book will be extremely helpful for all disciplines working within the field of special palliative care. The emotional energy that many of the narratives must have consumed just to work with, let alone write down, is enormous. The authors need to be congratulated for bringing together anextremely coherent masterpiece in an easy-to-read style." -- Progress in Palliative Care, Vol 8 Num 4, "The affective void of traditional medical writing gives way to the richly varied texture of lived existential experience. The narrator's voice is also clear. Qualitative research posits that the researcher is a dunamic, interactive element in the human equation."--Annals, March 2001, "This work is a collection of narratives that each provide a glimpse into the later stages of a terminal illness. The narratives cover a wide range of concerns, touching on the emotions of both patients and caregivers, physicial symptoms, spiritual concerns, stress on family relationships, andthe challenge of providing adequate hospice and palliative care. At the end of the book, the authors of each narrative provide commentary and raise questions for discussion. Additionally, the book is complete with an index of themes and an extensive list of further reading." -- Journal of SocialWork Education, Winter 2001, "...an insightful and challenging attempt to document the gap that existsbetween the theories of palliative care and the realitites of its day-to-daypractice...this book is refreshing in its avoidance of false hope and tidyresolutions."--Journal of Palliative Care, "The affective void of traditional medical writing gives way to the richlyvaried texture of lived existential experience. The narrator's voice is alsoclear. Qualitative research posits that the researcher is a dunamic,interactive element in the human equation."--Annals, March 2001, "A welcome addition to the fast-growing literaturein this field of human need and response." --Dr. Derek Doyle, "Too many times clinicians and caregivers alike want to decide what is good and what is bad about a death experience. This text is an excellent reminder that when we die, we will be able to decide what is right for us. While others may make suggestions or offer information, they must allow thepatient to decide how this event should procede.... Weighted Numerical Score: 100 - 5 Stars!" -- Doody's, "All the narratives are engrossing. They are also instructive,illustrating how the issues that arise in palliative care can be addressedthrough a team process."--JAMC, March 20, 2001, "The text would be an excellent addition to any collection on death and dying. In a non-judgemental manner the authors have examined the individualism of dying while maintaining the clinical aspects."--Bibliotheca Medica Canadian, 2000 Winter, "Too many times clinicians and caregivers alike want to decide what isgood and what is bad about a death experience. This text is an excellentreminder that when we die, we will be able to decide what is right for us. Whileothers may make suggestions or offer information, they must allow the patient todecide how this event should procede.... Weighted Numerical Score: 100 - 5Stars!" -- Doody's, "The text would be an excellent addition to any collection on death anddying. In a non-judgemental manner the authors have examined the individualismof dying while maintaining the clinical aspects."--Bibliotheca Medica Canadian,2000 Winter, "All the narratives are engrossing. They are also instructive, illustrating how the issues that arise in palliative care can be addressed through a team process."--JAMC, March 20, 2001
