Monday , March 18 2024
Cover The Comfort of People

Book Review: ‘The Comfort of People’ by Daniel Miller

In The Comfort of People, author and world-reknowned anthropologist Daniel Miller challenges readers to assess what is important in life in this latest study that reveals how much is really going on behind-the-scenes with caretakers and their subjects as they work through various challenges.

This book continues Miller’s series about material culture that began with The Comfort of Things in 2008 followed by Stuff in 2009. This unique study of society, science and health takes place contemporary London, England as Miller (Losing Control, Finding Serenity: How the Need to Control Hurts Us and How to Let It Go) fills the book with material from a 17-month investigation of 30 households in a randomly chosen street.

The hospice patients are dealing with some form of terminal or long-term illness. Miller is a professor of anthropology at University College London and was assisted by a Ph. D student named Fiona and a senior hospice professional named Maria. “It was obvious that, given my lack of experience with terminal patients, I should never interview a hospice patient on my own. We therefore agreed that all research would be carried out alongside a senior hospice professional, Maria, who had many responsibilities, ranging from bereavement counselling to organizing many of the courses that helped both patients and carers.”

Miller shares and chronicles how these people adjust, cope, and conquer amid some stark diagnoses and seemingly hopeless situations. The people and things behind these doors give readers the clues into their detailed lives as they contend with loneliness, depression, tragedy, living conditions, obsessions, and environmental considerations.

Miller’s own personal experience comes through well in the foreword written by Dr. Ros Taylor. “I have learnt over the years, as a hospice physician that, as life ebbs, connections become ever more important. Connections to family, friends, enemies, and community. It’s almost as if the energy to face loss is gathered from others…ultimately these stories show that choices about communications and connection are pivotal to experiencing closure, and we should respect and understand the value and power of each – face to face, text, phone or Facebook.” The books “Acknowledgments” and “Introduction” enhance the base research where Miller communicates each subject’s story with great purpose.

Each chapter or “Story” acts as a portrait about people, places, and perceptions. Story 12 is about depression, which is not an easily defined concept because it means so many different things to so many different people. Miller keeps a tight focus in this portrait with a persona, informative approach.

I cried pretty early reading this book, which has echoes of an ethnography, but stretches a wide range of conditions, emotions, and perspectives through the personal narratives. The first story, “Sarah”, begins with “It was six days before her death” and continues with her raw, poignant communication to others using Facebook.

The third story, “The Curse Of Confidentiality,” is an especially telling narrative just like the twelth story “Depression” and the next story “Community.” These subjects are almost essential topics in this work and Miller rightly devotes an entire section to them though elements of each appear throughout this book.

The hopeful accounts of community (Story 16 – “The Silent Community”) and friendship were uplifting and genuine. Miller even gets some heartfelt laughter from some of these moments, which balances the tragedy. Miller’s ending insights in the “Conclusions” section really cultivate the research observations, personal stories, and communication theories/touchpoints for an even richer reading experience.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, The Comfort of People (9781509524327) comes highly recommended. Home care specialists will take a particular interest in this book, but it’s one for everyone.

About Tall Writer

Love writing, media, and pop culture with a passion and using them in meaningful ways.

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