Review of The empathy exams: Essays.

Reviews the book The empathy exams: Essays. Empathy is a universally important aspect of both life and medicine that helps cultivate a therapeutic relationship between healthcare professionals and patients, family and loved ones, community members and friends, and beyond. As the times have evolved, empathy has become increasingly essential in not only elevating the quality of patient-centered care but also nurturing meaningful relationships and compassionate bonds among communities and families. Empathy encompasses an emotional understanding of another's pain and suffering and also invites self-reflection and humility. In The Empathy Exams, the author sheds light on the meaning of empathy through her memoir of experiences and perspectives as a nonhealthcare professional, community member, patient, family member, and friend. Even though the author herself does not practice in the medical setting, from the bond between the physician and patient to the empathetic connection between patients and families, The Empathy Exams explores a thematic and insightful discussion on empathy as a lifelong exploration through multidimensional angles from experiencing personal illness to caring for a loved one. Ultimately, The Empathy Exams encourages all-both medical professionals, nonhealthcare communities and families-to reflect and rethink about empathy in themselves, patients, and loved ones, transforming individual pain and suffering into communal hope and humanity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).