The Way of the Physician brims with rich stories, telling observations, trenchant analysis, tough questions, and high drama, all a result of philosopher Jacob Needleman's intense discussions with doctors and other health professionals about the ideals and challenges of their profession. Needleman addresses the spiritual issues that, in the past, were much more in the foreground of doctor/patient relationships. He confronts difficult topics, including physician responsibility, the overwhelming technological innovations which have changed medicine, and the ever-more-prominent financial issues inherent in contemporary healthcare. In the book's final section, the author addresses the reader, through a series of stories that reflect a real patient's issues with respect to all aspects of healthcare, with special focus on the spiritual dimension. The new introduction for this special edition specifically addresses the contemporary medical world of complex technology, specialization and commercialization.