The Gift of Adversity, written by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., published by The Penguin Group, 2013.
Even the most charmed life contains some adversity. There is no getting around it. However, choosing how to respond to adversity makes all the difference in the world. Do you try to hide until it goes away? Do you fold under the weight of it? Do you complain and wallow in the misery of it?
Or, do you choose to find the lesson in whatever adversity you face? Do you grow through facing the challenge? Do you rise above it or barrel through it, coming out stronger and wiser on the other side?
If you fall into the second group – or if you want to be in the second group – this book can help.
The Gift of Adversity is filled with short stories from many cultures and many shared life experiences, as well as some case studies and narratives from patients and colleagues. Through them, Dr. Rosenthal helps the reader see that even the most difficult circumstance has some nugget of lesson in it, if only we are open to seeing it. When we confront and see adversity for what it really is and then try to understand it, we benefit through emotional resilience, wisdom gained, and greater personal dignity.
While there is a scientific element to this book, the format of many short stories makes it easier to read than it could have been. Kudos to Dr. Rosenthal for keeping the more common reading audience in mind. With so much conflict and adversity in lives today, there is great value to be gained from reading this book.
Order The Gift of Adversity here from Amazon.
Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher at no cost to me. However, in no way was my opinion or this review infleunced in any other way.
