From the publisher:
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest, and the Salon Book Award, Anne Fadiman's compassionate account of this cultural impasse is literary journalism at its finest.
photo by Connie Miller
Common Reading Selection Committee, 2017
Michele Van Hoeck, Chair, Dean of Library
Julie Chisholm, Culture & Communication faculty
Britt Elliott, Marine Transportation faculty
Margot Hanson, Library faculty
Mike Holden, Mechanical Engineering faculty
Andre Jimenez, Bookstore
Elaine Kociolek, Student Engagement & Academic Support
Alex Parker, Science & Math faculty
Amy Parsons, Culture & Communication faculty
Martin Shimada, student
Aparna Sinha, Culture & Communication faculty
Calee Spinney, Residence Life
Marissa Sutro, Marine Transportation faculty
More about the Common Reading Program objectives, selection criteria, and finalists