The Gift of Pain: Why We Hurt and What We Can Do About It

by Paul Brand, Philip Yancey

Pain is not something that most of us would count as a blessing; however, renowned surgeon Dr. Paul Brand and award-winning writer Philip Yancey shed fresh light on the purpose of our pain.

Wouldn't it be nice to never experience pain or never have to take drugs to deal with pain? Many people think so, but they're missing one key piece of Pain is the body's built-in warning system that something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

Follow world-renowned physician and surgeon Dr. Paul Brand around the world as he shares his humble beginnings as the son of medical missionaries in India to his medical training in London during the Blitz to his groundbreaking medical research with leprosy patients in the United States and India.

His work with leprosy patients is what convinced him that pain truly is one of God's great gifts to us. In these pages he shares what he's learned about pain, its purpose in our lives, the impact it has on our daily lives and overall health, and how we can better respond to it.

Perfect for those in the medical field or those looking for a firsthand look into the mystery of pain, this book will give you a new perspective on the gift that none of us want and none of us can do without. You'll never look at pain the same way again.

Spanish edition also available.

The book includes some frank descriptions of medical procedures, illnesses, and diseases

Genres: Faith, Psychology, Medical

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

Paul Brand is Professor of English Legal History at the University of Oxford and a Senior Research Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He works on English medieval legal history and has written monographs on The origins of the English legal profession (1992) and on Kings, Barons and Justices: The Making and Enforcement of Legislation in Thirteenth-Century England (2003) as well as editing four volumes of The Earliest English Law Reports and the two earliest volumes of The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England.

For the Missionary and pain researcher, see Dr. Paul W. Brand, not to be confused with the Dutch children's lung specialist Paul Brand

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an informative, inspirational, and amazing book. It has been sitting in my "currently reading" queue for a while now. When I finally picked it up and began reading I realized that I had read it years ago. It was even more powerful this time around because I live with neuropathy and have no real feeling in my feet or hands. I have had a few problems with that and although I knew the facts about the lack of pain and problems it can lead to it has been just that...the facts. I come away from this book feeling grateful and somehow special. It is hard to explain but this is a book that everyone should read and approach it knowing that ALL pain including mental and spiritual brings a lifesaving message with it.
Thanks to Dr. Brand, I think he has changed me for the better.

[Charlotte Hallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is brilliant for checking your privilege for actually healing pain. It touches briefly on chronic pain conditions which don't show that the body is hurt, which I could have used more of. It is slow to begin with but gets very good in part 2 and 3 so carry on. It has also helped me to start to heal my relationship with God after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and blaming Him, which I'm not going to lie, I still do but I'm working on it.

[Pierre Dalcourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very best books I have read in my life. If you are interested in learning about why we feel pain--this "marvelous feat of engineering" as the good doctor described it--what a fantastic way to do so. Gain perspective about the priceless benefits of having so many pain sensors over every square inch of our bodies, and why we should "befriend" pain instead of always trying to shut it down. From growing up in poverty in rural India, through treating leprosy patients in low-tech Indian clinics, and finally treating amputation-prone diabetics in high-tech US hospitals, he shares many eye-opening adventures about how pain is our faithful messenger and why it's so essential to our survival and well-being. A masterpiece, period.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the best if not the best book I ever read. Dr Brand writes about his discovery of pain and how the body uses it to identify problems & begin a healing process. Dr Brand was the doctor behind helping leprosy patients (Hansen’s disease) lead a more normal life after diagnosis. He uncovered that leprosy was not a skin disease; it was due to lack of pain that leprosy patients couldn’t get well. This book is a must read for all; especially those in health care & pastoral care.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

On first glance, I noticed this book was thick with pretty dense text, and given the subject, I wondered if it might be dry, jargony, or over my head. But Brand and Yancey make the topics of leprosy and pain both accessible and fascinating, and I was really glad my friend picked this for our most recent small group read. Possibly a little overlong and probably not for the squeamish, but overall a book that evokes awe for the human body (and its pain systems) as well as a deep respect for the curiosity and compassion of practitioners like Dr. Brand.

[Allie S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two parts are very good. But, I felt like after that he kept repeating himself about pain, the book could have shaved off 100 or so pages. Overall, learned a lot about pain, why we need it. Oh yeah, and leprosy.

[Catlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my daughter’s anatomy class and I really liked it. The stories of his life and career at the beginning were so interesting, but I especially loved the last few chapters where he really delves into the idea of pain and pleasure. So eye opening!

[Earl Pestano · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always - “Philip Yancey” - thoroughly written!

[John Christian Fjellestad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story about a missionary doctor caring for the suffering, and what he learned from it.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the many connections made while reading this book and the life work Dr. Brand carried on from his parents that has improved so many lives. I still find myself bringing it up in conversations and my own pondering.