Presents the scientific evidence that hope, faith, love, will to live, and festivity can help combat serious disease.

Birth of an obsession -- Encounters with patients -- Learning from medical students -- The patient-physician relationship -- The infinite wonder of the human brain (and how it affects even AIDS) -- Denial, no. Defiance, yes -- False hopes vs. false fears -- Illness and guilt -- Problems beyond the doctor's reach -- The laughter connection -- Medical mistakes -- Mesmer, hypnotism, and the powers of mind -- Firewalking -- Physician in literature -- Task force beginnings -- On the defensive -- Triumph without victory -- Belief becomes biology -- Functional age -- The society of challengers -- Obsession revisited -- Report to the dean -- A portfolio of related matters -- A guide to technical terms.