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Stranger in the Village of the Sick

A Memoir of Cancer, Sorcery, and Healing

Author: Paul Stoller

After more than fifty years of good health, anthropologist Paul Stoller suddenly found himself diagnosed with lymphoma. The only thing more transformative than his fear and dread of cancer was the place it ultimately took him: twenty-five years back in time to his days as an apprentice to a West African sorcerer, Adamu Jenitongo.

Stranger in the Village of the Sick follows Stoller down this unexpected path toward personal discovery, growth, and healing. The stories here are about life in the village of the healthy and the village of the sick, and they highlight differences in how illness is culturally perceived. In America and the West, illness is war; we strive to eradicate it from our bodies and lives. In West Africa, however, illness is an ever-present companion, and sorcerers learn to master illnesses like cancer through a combination of acceptance, pragmatism, and patience.

Stoller provides a view into the ancient practices of sorcery, revealing that as an apprentice he learned to read divining shells, mix potions, and recite incantations. But it wasn’t until he got cancer that he realized that sorcery embodied a more profound meaning, one that every person could use: “Sorcery is a body of knowledge and practice that enables one to see things clearly and to walk with confidence on the path of fear.”

“Readers will find Stoller’s account valuable and his perspective on sorcery surprisingly moving.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[A] fascinating blend of personal and cultural commentary, of provocative insights, and encouraging advice for anyone affected by cancer . . .” -Frances Lefkowitz, Body and Soul

“Today one finds a variety of cancer drugs under trial or approved for use . . . But there is still a gap between what medicine can do now and what it will do in the future. And Stoller’s book is a bridge over that gap because it reminds all patients that, in the face of illness, their lives are rich in meaning and still worth living.” -Nick Owcher, Los Angeles Times

Reviews

Review by: Frances Lefkowitz, Body and Soul - January 31, 2005

"[A] fascinating blend of personal and cultural commentary, of provocative insights, and encouraging advice for anyone affected by cancer . . ."

Review by: Nick Owcher, Los Angeles Times - January 31, 2005

"Today one finds a variety of cancer drugs under trial or approved for use . . . But there is still a gap between what medicine can do now and what it will do in the future. And Stoller's book is a bridge over that gap because it reminds all patients that, in the face of illness, their lives are rich in meaning and still worth living."

Review: Publishers Weekly, starred review - January 13, 2005

"Readers will find Stoller's account valuable and his perspective on sorcery surprisingly moving."

Stranger in the Village of the Sick

A Memoir of Cancer, Sorcery, and Healing

Reviews

Goodreads reviews

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