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The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain Hardcover – April 19, 2022

by Haider Warraich (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 105 ratings
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A doctor’s personal and unsparing account of how modern medicine’s failure to understand pain has made care less effective

In The Song of Our Scars, physician Haider Warraich offers a bold reexamination of the nature of pain, not as a simple physical sensation, but as a cultural experience.

Warraich, himself a sufferer of chronic pain, considers the ways our notions of pain have been shaped not just by science but by politics and power, by whose suffering mattered and whose didn’t. He weaves a provocative history from the Renaissance, when pain transformed into a medical issue, through the racial legacy of pain tolerance, to the opiate epidemics of both the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, to the cutting edge of present-day pain science. The conclusion is clear: only by reckoning with both pain’s complicated history and its biology can today’s doctors adequately treat their patients’ suffering.

Trenchant and deeply felt, The Song of Our Scars is an indictment of a broken system and a plea for a more holistic understanding of the human body. 
 
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    April 19, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6.35 x 1.35 x 9.55 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1541675304
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1541675308
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Song of Our Scars

The Song of Our Scars

The Song of Our Scars

Editorial Reviews

Review

“What Warraich says in The Song of Our Scars about early-twenty-first-century medicine’s explosion in opioid use holds true of the hegemony of the pain score: it has ‘erased whatever little we knew about the nature of suffering,’ and by stripping out the nuances of pain studies, it also ‘exaggerate[s] the biases that lead to vulnerable people’s agony going unattended.’”―Laura Kolbe, New York Review of Books

“A fascinating tour of the biology and neuroscience of pain…[Warraich] blasts the US medical system for lacking empathy and time to devote to patients, as well as for being too siloed, insufficiently committed to social justice and too swayed by pharmaceutical marketing.”―Anna Nowogrodzki, Nature

“Warraich writes vividly and well… he carefully and incisively analyzes the persistence of racial and gender differences in medical imagery and treatment of pain… Warraich’s tour de force is a fine introduction.”
 ―Marcia L. Meldrum, Science

“Warraich’s push to change the way we talk about pain and prescribe treatment is compelling… The Song of Our Scars balances history against narrative examples from Warraich’s experiences a patient and physician to provide an engaging and thought-provoking approach to a difficult topic. Ultimately, it’s a very satisfying read and hard to put down, and when one does, the book stays with you in the questions it poses and the subtle shift it makes in the reader’s understanding of pain and its treatment.”—―Shelby Smoak, New York Journal of Books

“Warraich’s fascinating, informative, and very personal narrative remains an invaluable, thought-provoking call to arms to rethink our relationship with this nebulous human experience.”
 ―Emily Cataneo, Undark

“Warraich’s very well written book looks at all aspects of acute and chronic pain: its history, its biology, medical treatment and mistreatment, and disparities in pain management and care that stem from racism and other biases… A must read.”―Library Journal

“[A] fascinating meditation... Warraich makes a convincing case for a deeper understanding of pain and a 'truly person oriented’ healthcare system.”―Publishers Weekly

“In a wide-ranging overview, the author draws on scientific and medical studies, his work at the Pain Management Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and his clinical practice to examine the history, physiology, biology, and treatment of pain… A clear and timely examination of the complexities of pain.”―Kirkus

"In this insightful and humane book about pain, suffering and survival, Warraich once again braids history and personal history to confront questions both ancient and contemporary. It is a marvelous read.”―Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies

"As physician-author Haider Warrich aptly points out, ‘Almost everything we know about pain and how we treat it is wrong.’ His masterful new book is a unique, panoramic and deep view of pain, taking us through his personal experience, its history and evolution, the science, and the massive corporate corruption that undermined the opioid epidemic. An incredible book."―Dr. Eric Topol, author of Deep Medicine

“Pain is both a universal experience and one that is deeply connected to class, gender, race, and power—truths that the opioid epidemic and declining life expectancy have made tragically apparent. In The Song of Our Scars, Warraich explores how the medical community’s approach to pain went off the rails and makes a passionate case for more holistic, person-centered treatment. Beautifully written and deeply humane, this is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of the opioid crisis.”―Beth Macy, author of Dopesick

“A wonderful exploration of the chronic pain conundrum—past and present—in all of its varied dimensions: biomedical, psychological, social, and economic. Warraich is truly a gifted storyteller.”―Dr. Damon Tweedy, author of Black Man in a White Coat

“The Song of Our Scares is a brilliant deep dive into the emotional, physical, and metaphysical world of pain. The very personal and ultimately hopeful book, takes us on a remarkable journey, across the millennia and deep into the brain and consciousness. It also offers an unsparing look at how the cure (for chronic pain) became the disease. Dr. Haider Warraich has written The Emperor of All Maladies for pain.”―Dr. Jonathan Reiner, author of Heart

“Pain is the most universal yet misunderstood aspect of what it means to be human. Dr. Warraich leverages his own intimate relationship with suffering and highly developed skills as a physician healer to pen a masterful book that will change your lens on mankind forever. The Song of Our Scars attacks the principal element of the human condition to be deciphered if we hope to mitigate the torment of societal scourges such as racism, poverty, chronic illness, and loneliness. The net result of Dr. Warraich’s research and writing will, I believe, shorten the distance from our brains to our hearts and create a path toward healing and lasting empathy for one another.”―Dr. Wes Ely, author of Every Deep-Drawn Breath

“To paraphrase Virginia Woolf, considering how common pain is, it’s strange that it hasn’t “taken its place with love and battle and jealousy among the prime themes of literature”. The Song of Our Scars goes a long way to remedying this. Essential reading for anyone hoping to understand what it means to be alive.”―Daniel Wallace, author of Big Fish

About the Author

Haider Warraich is a doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the VA Boston Healthcare System. He is the author of Modern Death and State of the Heart, and regularly writes for the New York Times and Washington Post, among others. He lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; First Edition (April 19, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541675304
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541675308
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.35 x 1.35 x 9.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 105 ratings

About the author

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Haider Warraich

Haider Warraich

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As a physician, writer, and researcher, Haider Warraich wears many hats. He writes frequently for the New York Times and the Washington Post, and has more than 120 peer reviewed research papers including multiple papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In his upcoming book, The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain (Basic Books, April 2022), Warraich offers a bold reexamination of the nature of pain, not as a simple physical sensation, but as a cultural experience. He has previously written the books Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the End of Life (2017) and State of the Heart: Exploring the History, Science and Future of Cardiac Disease (2017).

Dr Warraich completed internal medicine and cardiology training at Harvard Medical School and Duke University and is the Associate Director of Heart Failure at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Associate Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. He has appeared on CNN, Fox, CBS, PBS, and on NPR shows like Fresh Air with Terry Gross and The Diane Rehm Show.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
105 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

GrnEyesAmyZ
5.0 out of 5 stars I finally feel as if I have an advocate
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Having lived with chronic neuropathic pain for the past five years, I was interested in reading the Dr's perspective. About 20 pages in when he spoke of the suffering of his friend with Post Herpatic Neuralgia, my condition, I knew I would relate to this book.
While portions can get a bit scientific, overall as a pain patient, I found a sense of comfort in knowing that someone who has some type of platform in medicine/science is out there advocating for us. We need to look at long term pain differently.
Thank you for having the courage to share your story and write this book.
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magic light
5.0 out of 5 stars Pain is universal and misunderstood
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
Dr.Haider Warraich’s approach to the topic of chronic pain is that of scientist/scholar/suffer. Although much of the neurophysiologic information is above my level of understanding it is essential to understanding pain, both chronic and acute. The scope of information provided reminds me of Siddhartha Mukherjee’s Emperors of all Maladies: A biography of Cancer. A look at the Table of Contents of The Song of our Scars tells me that this is no ordinary exploration of pain.
We must all learn to live well ‘despite the pain’ and that requires a massive change in our health care system. “We need to make person centered care a reality rather than a buzzword…”
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Joyce M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Book worth reading if you have pain
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
This doctor has chronic pain. The book is worth reading and I will give the title to my nurse practitioner who helps me with pain. I got the most out of 2-3 chapters. Pain treatment in USA is not good. Doctors are to blame I feel. They are not well educated about pain and treatment. And they blame the patient.
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Alex Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book for anyone in pain!
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is an unspeakably terrific book, so sensitively and expressively written, about so many of the nuances and realities of being in pain. It talks about the medical model and it’s inadequacy. It speaks of the author’s (an MD) personal experience. This book is a must-read for people who have chronic pain and who do not feel that they are truly understood. It’s an important book that in the long run will help you form a different perspective so that you can help yourself and find more effective treatment modalities.
One person found this helpful
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Maureen N. Swearingen
5.0 out of 5 stars Liked so well bought 2 more as gifts
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
Sent 2 books as gifts after reading it myself. Grandson becoming a nurse practitioner and granddaughter is in college in the nursing program.
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A. G. Forcier
3.0 out of 5 stars The first half is the better read
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
For me, this book did not live up to its "adverts." I was engaged when in the science and memoir sections, but when it went off into politics and history, I found myself looking things up for accuracy. Which accuracy wasn't always there. Too, some of the psychology got wonky. Did appreciate the attempt to stop the false dichotomy between mind and body, but don't think the attempt was entirely successful.
One person found this helpful
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Ted
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will surprise you in the end.
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
A very compelling read, particularly if you live with chronic pain. Well written, a bit too long in parts, but overall a great way to deliver an unexpected, yet welcomed, conclusion.
10 people found this helpful
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Rehan Zahid
5.0 out of 5 stars A very thorough and discerning commentary on pain
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023
This book is an excellent reference on one of the core concepts in medical science. Dr. Warraich gives us an insightful perspective on the nature of pain, its implications and evolution in medical science and its impact on individuals and societies at large.

Pain is a natural perception among living things, one that has evolved in humans owing to our superior cognition. It not only has a physical connotation for us but emotional as well. Pain has even been a tool to incite fear, varying from torture to a parent's slap. This complex phenomenon has been aptly described in this book, yet the most significant influence of pain to human society that Dr. Warraich highlights is the emergence of the opiate epidemic and the flawed health care systems. Opiates have not relieved pain as much as they have increased the suffering. Is it a part of human evolution to recognize our suffering and yet persevere? Or is it a natural response to our unchecked cognitive supremacy? I wish Dr. Warraich will address my digressions in one of his future excerpts.
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Top reviews from other countries

Reese Knulius
5.0 out of 5 stars Pain and the brain
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
Typically, pain is treated as a particular type of perception. Just as you perceive whatever it is in your field of vision or hearing or touch, you perceive whatever it is that is hurting you; you just perceive it with the addition of an unpleasant sensation. Though this is reasonable and straightforward enough in the case of acute and immediate pain; it fails to much of an explanation to chronic pain which really is not very analogous to having the a painful stimulus continually present. Chronic pain is mediated by memory and emotion; it is mediated by culture as well. The author argues that the standard account of chronic pain is wrrpng, and that, in being wrong, is partially at fault for the current opioid addiction crisis.
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