In "The Empathy Exams," Leslie Jamison embarks on a profound exploration of human connection, pain, and the capacity to understand others. With her incisive intellect and raw honesty, Jamison delves into the complexities of empathy, weaving together personal anecdotes with broader cultural critique. From her unique experiences as a medical actor to the depths of personal loss, Jamison's essays form a compelling mosaic that questions the very nature of feeling for another. This collection is not merely an intellectual inquiry but a deeply personal journey that challenges readers to confront their own perceptions of empathy, pain, and the invisible threads that bind us together. Jamison's narrative is a daring odyssey through the landscapes of human suffering and compassion, challenging the boundaries between the observer and the observed, the healer and the hurt. Through a spectrum ranging from phantom diseases to the spectacle of reality television, "The Empathy Exams" illuminates the art and struggle of feeling with others. It is a book that does not shy away from the messiness of the human condition, offering instead a nuanced and unflinching reflection on the empathy exams we all undergo. In this stunning collection, Jamison proves herself not just a remarkable writer but a keen observer of the human heart, inviting us on a journey that is as unsettling as it is beautiful, as enlightening as it is painful.