The Magic Feather Effect - by Melanie Warner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

We all know someone who has had a seemingly miraculous cure from an alternative form of medicine: a friend whose chronic back pain vanished after sessions with an acupuncturist or chiropractor; a relative with digestive issues who recovered with herbal remedies; a colleague whose autoimmune disorder went into sudden inexplicable remission thanks to an energy healer or healing retreat.

The tales are far too common to be complete fabrications, yet too anecdotal and outside the medical mainstream to be taken seriously scientifically. How do we explain them and the growing popularity of alternative medicine more generally? In The Magic Feather Effect, author and journalist Melanie Warner takes us on a vivid, important journey through the world of alternative medicine. Visiting prestigious research clinics and ordinary people's homes, she investigates the scientific underpinning for the purportedly magical results of these practices and reveals not only the medical power of beliefs and placebo effects, but also the range, limits, and uses of the surprising system of self-healing that resides inside us.

Equal parts helpful, illuminating, and compelling, The Magic Feather Effect is a "well-written survey of alternative medicine...fair-minded, thorough, and focused on verifiable scientific research" (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Warner's enlightening, engaging deep dive into the world of alternative medicine and the surprising science that explains why it may work is an essential read.

Review Quotes

"Persuasive...The small miracle of this entertaining and highly useful book is that it gives you the tools to understand how alternative medicine works, so you can confidently make up your own mind."-- "The Washington Post"

"Fascinating... Fair-minded, thorough, and focused on verifiable scientific research... This well-written survey of alternative medicine also leaves readers with a sharp critique of mainstream medicine: that it does not currently priotritize creating 'empathic connections' with patients, the major strength of alternative medicine."-- "Publishers Weekly, starred review"

"In The Magic Feather Effect, Melanie Warner demystifies the physiology of alternative (placebo) medicine, explaining exactly how, in the words of John Milton, 'the mind can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven.'"--Paul Offit, author of Do You Believe in Magic?

"Timely...Warner is even-handed and presents absorbing case studies of people whose lives have been positively changed by alternative medicine, as well as areas where Western medicine could stand to adopt a few of the mindsets and techniques found in some forms of alternative medicine. While she finds limits to what alternative medicine can do for the human body and spirit, there's a tremendous amount that it can accomplish, even if the reasons why will surprise you."-- "Spirituality & Health"