Pain: The Science of Suffering (MAPS OF THE MIND) - Hardcover

Wall, Patrick

3.9

177 ratings by Goodreads

9780297842552: Pain: The Science of Suffering (MAPS OF THE MIND)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297842552 ISBN 13: 9780297842552

Publisher: Orion, 1999

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Drawing on the latest biological findings, Patrick Wall takes an accessible look at the causes and consequences of pain, both mental and physical. He also provides a balanced assessment of the possible cures, ranging from drugs and surgery through relaxation techniques and exercise to acupuncture and herbalism, the aim being to provide readers with enough information to control and understand their own pain as well as that of others. Yet this is no mere self-help volume. Rather, the author sets his scientific account in broad context, interweaving it with a wealth of fascinating � and sometimes disturbing � historical detail about famous characters who derive pleasure from pain, the unexpected reactions of injured people, the power of placebo, and so on. We come away with a realization that although pain is just one facet of our sensory world, it is also a remarkable and important aspect of our normal conscious self.

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Review:

Pain is a fact of life. It transcends species and has been omnipresent throughout history: most people at some time suffer from it, some enjoy it and seek it out, yet until now few people have attempted to explore it from a philosophical, sociological or physiological standpoint. Patrick Wall, a neuroscientist by training and Fellow of the Royal Society, is well qualified to write on this sadly overlooked area. He is the inventor of the TENS pain relief system which has transformed the experience of labour for millions of women. In 1965, he and Professor Ronald Melzack conceived of the famous "gate theory" of pain control, and in 1993 they coauthored The Challenge of Pain , an update of research in this area.

Pain: The Science of Suffering examines the philosophical basis of pain as well as our physiological experience of it. We are taken on a journey through our nerves, spinal chords, bloods, tissues and brain, laying bare the hard scientific facts of the mechanisms of pain as we know them. Wall also analyses the images of suffering within society, such as those found in cultural stereotypes--why do we have all those Mother-in-Law jokes?--religious experiences such as the Passion of Christ and childbirth. Wall's book is a remarkable achievement, a concise journey through a vast array of new ideas and an effective summary of existing ones. The one criticism of this book is that it is too short! Wall stresses in the "Introduction" that "this is not a textbook". To call it so would be to miss the point of this truly fascinating book. --Alison Jardine

Review:

You won't meet a finer piece of popularization this year than Patrick Wall's crack at one of medicine's greatest mysteries. And his book commands attention, coming as it does from the world's expert on the subject.--Roy Porter "The Times (London) "

A first-class, well-written account of what is known about pain and how to relieve it, by one of the world's greatest experts on the subject.... We are all frightened of pain, and we all need to know more about it. This short, comprehensible summary could not be bettered. Both those who suffer and those who attempt to relieve suffering will learn a great deal from it.--Anthony Storr "The Sunday Times (London) "

[Wall] provides a broad, comprehensive overview of the pain experience and offers a very interesting discourse on the complexities involved in understanding pain and its treatment... The chapters are well organized, with an introduction and closing summary, and... they include descriptions of fascinating studies that have led to breakthroughs in the study of pain....The information on central and peripheral mechanisms involved in pain sensation is well woven in with medical history and clinical cases. This book would be useful to upper-division undergraduates and graduate students entering the pain research arena. It would also interest pain researchers, faculty in academic medicine, medical students, and health professionals who treat pain.--C.S. Weisse, Union College (NY) "Choice "

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