Gilbert Lewis (1938–2020) was a medical anthropologist who conducted research in New Guinea on rituals and beliefs about illness and healing. He was a fellow at St. John's College, UK, and a lecturer at Cambridge University. His other books include Day of Shining Red, A Failure of Treatment, and Knowledge of Illness in a Sepik Society.

"This is a remarkable book by the UK’s leading medical anthropologist. Gilbert Lewis was both a professional anthropologist and a trained medical doctor. He brought these skills and extraordinary personal insight when carrying out pioneering fieldwork in Papua New Guinea. In this his final book, he retains the clarity of his original lectures and extends his analysis to healing processes in Africa. It is a striking achievement, invaluable for anyone specializing in medical anthropology today."

• PrefacePart I. Being illChapter 1. Pandora’s boxChapter 2. Village illness and a panicChapter 3. Long suffering and injusticeChapter 4. The introduction of a medical aid postPart II. Recognizing and defining illnessChapter 5. The meaning of “leprosy”Chapter 6. The right diagnosisChapter 7. Normality and valuesChapter 8. No simple definitionPart III. The experience of changeChapter 9. Bregbo, a healing center in Côte d’IvoireChapter 10. Witchcraft and depressionChapter 11. The impact of eventsPart IV. TreatmentChapter 12. Healing actionsChapter 13. A Sepik performance of treatmentChapter 14. Faith and the skeptical eyeAppendix: Transcription of Milek’s healing

Gilbert Lewis (1938–2020) was a medical anthropologist who conducted research in New Guinea on rituals and beliefs about illness and healing. He was a fellow at St. John's College, UK, and a lecturer at Cambridge University. His other books include Day of Shining Red, A Failure of Treatment, and Knowledge of Illness in a Sepik Society.

"This is a remarkable book by the UK’s leading medical anthropologist. Gilbert Lewis was both a professional anthropologist and a trained medical doctor. He brought these skills and extraordinary personal insight when carrying out pioneering fieldwork in Papua New Guinea. In this his final book, he retains the clarity of his original lectures and extends his analysis to healing processes in Africa. It is a striking achievement, invaluable for anyone specializing in medical anthropology today."

• PrefacePart I. Being illChapter 1. Pandora’s boxChapter 2. Village illness and a panicChapter 3. Long suffering and injusticeChapter 4. The introduction of a medical aid postPart II. Recognizing and defining illnessChapter 5. The meaning of “leprosy”Chapter 6. The right diagnosisChapter 7. Normality and valuesChapter 8. No simple definitionPart III. The experience of changeChapter 9. Bregbo, a healing center in Côte d’IvoireChapter 10. Witchcraft and depressionChapter 11. The impact of eventsPart IV. TreatmentChapter 12. Healing actionsChapter 13. A Sepik performance of treatmentChapter 14. Faith and the skeptical eyeAppendix: Transcription of Milek’s healing

Gilbert Lewis (1938–2020) was a medical anthropologist who conducted research in New Guinea on rituals and beliefs about illness and healing. He was a fellow at St. John's College, UK, and a lecturer at Cambridge University. His other books include Day of Shining Red, A Failure of Treatment, and Knowledge of Illness in a Sepik Society.

"This is a remarkable book by the UK’s leading medical anthropologist. Gilbert Lewis was both a professional anthropologist and a trained medical doctor. He brought these skills and extraordinary personal insight when carrying out pioneering fieldwork in Papua New Guinea. In this his final book, he retains the clarity of his original lectures and extends his analysis to healing processes in Africa. It is a striking achievement, invaluable for anyone specializing in medical anthropology today."

• PrefacePart I. Being illChapter 1. Pandora’s boxChapter 2. Village illness and a panicChapter 3. Long suffering and injusticeChapter 4. The introduction of a medical aid postPart II. Recognizing and defining illnessChapter 5. The meaning of “leprosy”Chapter 6. The right diagnosisChapter 7. Normality and valuesChapter 8. No simple definitionPart III. The experience of changeChapter 9. Bregbo, a healing center in Côte d’IvoireChapter 10. Witchcraft and depressionChapter 11. The impact of eventsPart IV. TreatmentChapter 12. Healing actionsChapter 13. A Sepik performance of treatmentChapter 14. Faith and the skeptical eyeAppendix: Transcription of Milek’s healing