The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman follows the journey of Lia Lee and her parents as they attempt to engage in Western medicine and find help for Lia's epilepsy. Although the tale ends in tragedy for Lia, the story clearly elucidates stark contrasts between Western and Eastern medicine. Additionally, the story teaches the reader about understanding other cultures and working to improve outcomes for all individuals in need of medical care.
             Considering first the specific themes that are present in the book, it seems reasonable to argue that cultural differences, ignorance and mis-communication are among the most notable. Considering first the issue of cultural differences, there are several instances that demonstrate the stark contrasts that exist between Western and Eastern culture. In the opening of the book, for instance, Fadiman considers how Lia's birth would have been different had she lived in her native county of Laos. These cultural differences are even further demonstrated when Lia's parents are forced to take her to a local emergency room, where no one on staff is able to communicate in the family's native language. These sharp contrasts clearly illustrate how difficult it must have been for Lia's family to live in a Western society.
             The second theme that appears to be prevalent in the text is that of ignorance. This is witnessed throughout the book, but in particular when the author provides a detailed description of the Hmong and the healthcare issues that impact this population. In her explication Fadiman notes the severe health issues that plague this population: "They had a high incidence of high blood pressure, anemia, diabetes, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, respiratory infections and tooth decay" (p. 66). Instead of addressing the underlying causes of these conditions however, Fadiman notes that nurses and other healthcare workers simply s...