The Veneration of Life: Through the Disease to the Soul

For many years I have visited the sick and the dying in nursing homes, hospitals and their own homes. Dr. Diamond's understanding of sickness and dementia, as presented in this book, has helped me to realize that although these patients may not be functioning members of society, they are nonetheless aware at a very deep level of what goes on around them. In particular, their creativity is often not affected by their deteriorating physical condition, and it is through this window of opportunity that we can reach them - and, maybe more importantly, learn from them. The small group of singers and instrumentalists with which I visit nursing homes has actively adopted Dr. Diamond's philosophy concerning the importance of the creative arts, particularly music, and staff and relatives are frequently amazed at the improvement in the condition of even the most severely debilitated patients that they observe following our visits. There is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Diamond's approach has far-reaching consequences in terms of the treatment and care of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other ailments involving dementia.

Dr. Diamond is one of the world's great innovators, as anyone who has read "Life Energy" or "Your Body Doesn't Lie" will know. But "The Veneration of Life" is a deeply personal statement. He wrote it shortly after the death of his mother - she died of Alzheimer's disease - and he recounts this moving and inspirational experience to the reader. As the dementia progressed he was able to see more and more her truly loving nature that she had never so clearly revealed before. "She radiated the pure essence of life," he writes.This is an incredible book - extraordinarily insightful and deeply inspiring at every moment. It is essential reading for anyone with the prospect of dementia in a parent, and for anyone who would like to see both illness and life in a more positive light.Quoted on the back cover, Bryan Hubbard calls it "A holy book by one of the world's few true healers." That it is!

This book completely changed my point of view on death and life and the sufferings of age and disease, inspiring me to try to see these in a much deeper, more spiritual fashion - on a level quite beyond the gerontology studies I had done in college. The way Dr. John Diamond draws on his experiences in clinical settings, within his own family, and with the music outreach programs he has led for many years, and shares it with the reader, is truly beautiful. Through his down-to-earth prose (and also through his poetry) he touches the heart of the reader. This book will bring consolation and inspiration to all who face age or death for themselves or in their family.