Michele Harper has worked as an emergency room physician for more than a decade at various institutions, including as chief resident at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx and in the emergency department at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. The Beauty in Breaking is her first book.
“Riveting, heartbreaking, sometimes difficult, always inspiring.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“The Beauty in Breaking takes us into the life in an emergency
room—the drama, the adrenaline, the emotion—with such immediacy
that I could not help but be completely enthralled by the
individual stories of the patients that Michele Harper treats. But
this powerful, poignant page-turner of a book also tells a much
larger and universal story about how healing actually happens, not
just for broken bodies but for broken hearts and souls. In sharing
the stories of her patients and her own life, Harper shows us that
that healing begins only after we are broken open ourselves. And
she shows us with hopeful, heartbreaking clarity that it comes from
healing each other.” —Kerry Egan, author of On Living
“The Beauty in Breaking is a compelling page-turner about how
Dr. Michele Harper took a broken childhood and wove herself into a
strong, honest, compassionate doctor. A must read.” —Louann
Brizendine, MD, author of The Female Brain
“Tackling such painful subjects as domestic abuse, trauma, and
racism with grace and wisdom, this eloquent book probes the human
condition as it chronicles a woman’s ever evolving spiritual
journey. A profoundly humane memoir from a thoughtful
doctor.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Taking on the painful topics of trauma, domestic abuse, and the
‘ubiquitous microaggressions faced by people of color,’ Harper
witnesses the resilience of the human spirit of her patients and
begins her own process of self-healing. . . . This powerful story
will resonate with readers.” —Publishers Weekly (starred
review)
“Harper’s words inspire hope and understanding of the importance of
peace and acceptance of the past. Poignant, helpful, and
encouraging, [her] lessons from life in and outside of the
emergency room ultimately teach readers how to trust the healing
process.” —Library Journal
“In this illuminating memoir, an African American emergency room
doctor finds that her patients’ stories lead her to make
connections between her work and the larger world.” —Shelf
Awareness
“A book for our times, Harper’s debut is a compelling memoir about
her life as a Black woman emergency room doctor and how that work
overlaps with the complexities of life. Harper explores hurt and
healing, race and gender, justice and hope with candor and
compassion.” —Ms. Magazine
“Inspiring.” —Parade
“A moving, beautifully written memoir.” —New York Post
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |