This is one of the few texts available that focuses on the human aspec t of managing pain and suffering. Through personal accounts and profes sional studies, this collection of essays examines the impact of pain and suffering from the viewpoints of patients, family members, clergy and caregivers. The book promotes a holistic understanding of human su ffering that extends beyond the scope of pain management to stress the overall importance of a fully developed patient-provider relationship . The contributors emphasize the necessity of human engagement, which is often considered as falling outside the bounds of medical treatment, as crucial to a patient's experience.