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The Healer's Path
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People
After her first week teaching at a boarding school on the Navajo Reservation near Canyon de Chelly, young Erica Elliott almost leaves in despair, unable to communicate with the children or understand cultural cues. But once she starts learning the Navajo language, the people begin to trust her, taking her into their homes and ceremonies. As she is drawn deeper into Navajo life, Erica has a series of profound experiences with the people, animals, and spirits of Canyon de Chelly. Fulfilling a Navajo grandmother’s prophecy, she returns years later as a medical doctor to offer her services to Navajo patients. Endorsements “Dr. Erica Elliott’s account of her life among the Navajo people is a story of high adventure that surpasses the wildest fiction. Elliott’s willingness to transcend her cultural conditioning and enter another complex society is an act of great courage, and reveals her boundless empathy and compassion. This book is sorely needed at this moment in America, when divisive voices incessantly warn us of the other, the foreigner, those who ‘are not like us.’ Mystery and Medicine in the High My Life Among the Navajo People reveals how diversity, inclusiveness, and tolerance can enrich our own society, which is a lesson on which our future may depend” -Larry Dossey, MD, author of One How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters. “What a wonderful book! Elliott’s voice mesmerized me. For weeks after, I thought about her time with the Navajos. Such an inspiring, life-affirming, yet tough tale, woven through with a strong drive to realize one’s life path. Beautifully written. Elliott is an exciting new voice” -Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones and Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home. “Erica Elliott writes fearlessly with an original voice that grabbed me from the first page. Her true adventures on the Navajo Nation as a teacher, a shepherd, an emergency room doctor, and best of all, an open-hearted student immersed in a spiritually rich culture, make a great story. She leaves the reader with something to The abiding importance of reaching out to others with joy and respect. I love this book” -Anne Hillerman, NY Times bestselling author of the Leaphorn/Chee/Manuelito mystery series. “This is a powerful and personal book that is about courage and compassion. Reading it, one is drawn into the web of Dr. Elliott’s extraordinary life of service and learning with the Navajo of the American Southwest. We are fortunate to be able to accompany her on her remarkable journey” -Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, www.upaya.org.
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
About the author
Erica M. Elliott
3 books193 followersErica came to medicine later than most medical students, after pursuing other careers and
interests. She taught grade school on the Navajo Reservation where she learned to speak the
Navajo language and was able to cross the cultural divide and enter a world that white people
never see. She returned many years later to serve the Navajo people as a doctor.
While serving in the Peace Corps in South America, she joined an all-male climbing club and
scaled some of the highest glaciated mountains in the western hemisphere. She was the first
American woman to reach the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the western
hemisphere. On one of the mountains in Ecuador with several adjacent peaks, she did a first
ascent of one of those peaks which was subsequently given her name by the climbing club.
When she returned to the US, she worked for Outward Bound, teaching the students rock
climbing and wilderness survival in the Rocky Mountains. At the same time, she got her master’s
degree in outdoor education and her license as an EMT.
After graduating from University of Colorado Medical School and completing her residency in
family practice in Denver, Erica worked in several medical settings including a clinic for
indigent care, a local emergency room, a women’s clinic, and a multispecialty clinic.
In 1993, Dr. Elliott opened her own private practice in her co-housing community, called The
Commons, which she helped found in the early 1990s. In 2015, she gave a TEDx talk about
living in co-housing.
Dr. Elliott is board certified in both family practice and environmental medicine. She has been
nicknamed the “Medical Detective" due to her skills at finding the underlying causes of puzzling
medical problems that have not responded to conventional medical care. Her skills have attracted
patients to her clinic from all parts of the country and abroad.
Over the years, Erica has written articles, given radio talks, interviews, webinars, and gave
weeklong workshops at both Esalen and Omega Institutes. She is the co-author of Prescriptions
for a Healthy House, a useful resource guide for transforming one’s home into a sanctuary for
maintaining good health. She is also the author of a memoir trilogy which includes 1) Medicine
and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People, 2) From Mountains to
Medicine: Scaling the Heights in Search of My Calling, and 3) From Doctor to Healer.
On her blog site, www.musingsmemoirandmedicine.com she writes articles about topics in
medicine that give the readers a different perspective on healing various conditions. She also
writes excerpts from her memoirs, along with healthy recipes, and descriptions of her various
trips abroad. Her book platform is www.ericaelliottmd.com
interests. She taught grade school on the Navajo Reservation where she learned to speak the
Navajo language and was able to cross the cultural divide and enter a world that white people
never see. She returned many years later to serve the Navajo people as a doctor.
While serving in the Peace Corps in South America, she joined an all-male climbing club and
scaled some of the highest glaciated mountains in the western hemisphere. She was the first
American woman to reach the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the western
hemisphere. On one of the mountains in Ecuador with several adjacent peaks, she did a first
ascent of one of those peaks which was subsequently given her name by the climbing club.
When she returned to the US, she worked for Outward Bound, teaching the students rock
climbing and wilderness survival in the Rocky Mountains. At the same time, she got her master’s
degree in outdoor education and her license as an EMT.
After graduating from University of Colorado Medical School and completing her residency in
family practice in Denver, Erica worked in several medical settings including a clinic for
indigent care, a local emergency room, a women’s clinic, and a multispecialty clinic.
In 1993, Dr. Elliott opened her own private practice in her co-housing community, called The
Commons, which she helped found in the early 1990s. In 2015, she gave a TEDx talk about
living in co-housing.
Dr. Elliott is board certified in both family practice and environmental medicine. She has been
nicknamed the “Medical Detective" due to her skills at finding the underlying causes of puzzling
medical problems that have not responded to conventional medical care. Her skills have attracted
patients to her clinic from all parts of the country and abroad.
Over the years, Erica has written articles, given radio talks, interviews, webinars, and gave
weeklong workshops at both Esalen and Omega Institutes. She is the co-author of Prescriptions
for a Healthy House, a useful resource guide for transforming one’s home into a sanctuary for
maintaining good health. She is also the author of a memoir trilogy which includes 1) Medicine
and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People, 2) From Mountains to
Medicine: Scaling the Heights in Search of My Calling, and 3) From Doctor to Healer.
On her blog site, www.musingsmemoirandmedicine.com she writes articles about topics in
medicine that give the readers a different perspective on healing various conditions. She also
writes excerpts from her memoirs, along with healthy recipes, and descriptions of her various
trips abroad. Her book platform is www.ericaelliottmd.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
January 6, 2020
The book club ladies in SF chose this book I think because someone knows the author, a doctor who lived at The Commons where one of my Writer Gal pals also lives. She is credited for editing the book (which is well edited, of course.) I was skeptical about this white woman's take on Navajo people and culture, but I was happily wrong about her exploitation or light review of them. She lived in Chinle, AZ, for two years as a first-time teacher in her early 20s and she actually learned to speak Dine, no small task. She continued to genuinely be open to all the experiences new to her that they gave her, despite their complete lack of interest in her life outside of the rez. She served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and wrote a bilingual text book with the non-Spanish speaking kids that was used for decades. I really liked her despite how the book appears to a cynic like myself. Worth the quick read that it is!
March 4, 2020
Reviewed by Araceli Noriega for Reader Views (2/2020)
In her memoir, “Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People,” Dr. Erica Elliott takes readers to a place where most non-indigenous readers have never been. She invites readers to join her on an apprentice’s journey to Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico in the 1970s & ‘80s. As a young woman learning about her limits and strengths, Dr. Elliott’s journey teaches readers about the value of developing a strong work ethic on the path to personal and professional success.
Dr. Elliott’s writing swiftly and effectively immerses readers into a spell-binding adventure filled with life lessons and tenderness throughout. She sets out to turn years of experience into an ethnographic summary in story form—and she succeeds!
Her writing style is accessible to all readers, poetic at times, and with a steady of flow harsh reality to ground the reader. I absolutely love the way she demonstrates her growing ever-growing self-awareness as seen here:
“I understood that they probably viewed me like all the other white people who had come to the reservation to “help” them by trying to change their ways. And why shouldn’t they?” (p. 14)
As for the dose of reality, she ethically shares the story of a time when she and a close friend lived through a sexual assault:
“I have honored her request for anonymity by changing every identifying piece of information in this recounting of that terrifying night. Sadly, this incident is not unique to my friend. The number of rapes, murders, and unexplained disappearances of Native women across the country is alarmingly high.” (p. 75)
Wrapping up her story, she gracefully brings the reader full circle:
“During the long drive back to Colorado, my past life with the Navajo people flashed in front of me, filling me with nostalgia and gratitude, along with a vague sense of longing for something from long ago that was no longer there” (p. 153)
Dr. Elliott is able to take her readers from insight, to terror and back—a parallel to the moving narrative arc in the book.
I am grateful to have found Dr. Elliott’s book as it has served many purposes for me personally. Initially, I was drawn to the fact that the memoir was set among the Navajo people. Several years ago, during my career in Social Work, I worked with a Navajo woman who had relocated to the East Coast. She grew up in the area commonly known as “The Four Corners” and introduced me to her culture through our many talks while we worked together. Reading Dr. Elliott’s book took me back to all the feelings I experienced when she shared her stories: serenity, love, struggle, deep pain, and undeniable resolve. Dr. Elliott’s memoir rounds out a series of beautiful exchanges that I treasure with humility and respect.
Later, I found myself relating to Dr. Elliott’s trajectory as she discovered her own resilience by confronting one challenge after another. It is refreshing to read about a woman who isn’t hindered by the many forms in which we are socialized to adhere to stereotypical expectations about gender roles. In her memoir, Dr. Elliott proves to be unapologetically unconventional while courageously fighting for those people and ideals she holds dear to her heart. I hope to use the wisdom she shared in her book as a guide for my own life while I navigate similar experiences.
One challenging aspect of the book centered around the explanation of the Diné language. I am, admittedly a fanatic of linguistics (but by no means an expert), and there is one phrase that caught my attention:
“They referred to their land as Dinétah, literally meaning ‘among the people.’” p. 57
“Navajos call their land Diné Bikeyah, meaning ‘The People’s Land.’” p. 107
Initially, I was slightly confused by these explanations because it seemed that the definition was established one way, only to be re-established differently later in the book. However, my ignorance of the language proved to be the actual challenge after I watched an interview Dr. Elliott gave in 2019 on PBS. She explained and provided examples of the complexity of the Diné language. In the book, she referenced the unique sounds needed for correct pronunciation. However, listening to her speak the language made it clear that she learned a language with incomparable difficulty. My only recommendation would be that in future editions, a sentence or two can be added to underscore the complex and nuanced nature of the Diné language.
I cannot ignore the powerful spiritual element of the book as described by Dr. Elliott. Without the spiritual experiences she mentions, the book is still movingly insightful. However, by including them, she adds a dimension to the story which few writers can. Readers are taken through the book with descriptions testing our sensory perception, not uncommon in well-written memoirs. What is less common is the ability to engage the soul through metaphysical experiences which are intertwined with medical training. Dr. Elliott gracefully balances the two elements as she dispels the myth that outsiders are incapable of shedding their privilege when indigenous people accept them on their own terms.
I highly recommend Dr. Erica Elliott’s ““Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People”. While many may have heard of ‘Indian Reservations’, few have ever communed with the people who inhabit these spaces. Dr. Elliott presents her readership with an opportunity to read about a people and lifestyle they may never learn about otherwise. She is able to demonstrate a deep respect for the people who opened their hearts to her as a young white woman finding her place in the world. With this memoir, Dr. Elliott lovingly honors the life-changing experiences she had while embraced by the families of the Navajo Nation.
In her memoir, “Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People,” Dr. Erica Elliott takes readers to a place where most non-indigenous readers have never been. She invites readers to join her on an apprentice’s journey to Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico in the 1970s & ‘80s. As a young woman learning about her limits and strengths, Dr. Elliott’s journey teaches readers about the value of developing a strong work ethic on the path to personal and professional success.
Dr. Elliott’s writing swiftly and effectively immerses readers into a spell-binding adventure filled with life lessons and tenderness throughout. She sets out to turn years of experience into an ethnographic summary in story form—and she succeeds!
Her writing style is accessible to all readers, poetic at times, and with a steady of flow harsh reality to ground the reader. I absolutely love the way she demonstrates her growing ever-growing self-awareness as seen here:
“I understood that they probably viewed me like all the other white people who had come to the reservation to “help” them by trying to change their ways. And why shouldn’t they?” (p. 14)
As for the dose of reality, she ethically shares the story of a time when she and a close friend lived through a sexual assault:
“I have honored her request for anonymity by changing every identifying piece of information in this recounting of that terrifying night. Sadly, this incident is not unique to my friend. The number of rapes, murders, and unexplained disappearances of Native women across the country is alarmingly high.” (p. 75)
Wrapping up her story, she gracefully brings the reader full circle:
“During the long drive back to Colorado, my past life with the Navajo people flashed in front of me, filling me with nostalgia and gratitude, along with a vague sense of longing for something from long ago that was no longer there” (p. 153)
Dr. Elliott is able to take her readers from insight, to terror and back—a parallel to the moving narrative arc in the book.
I am grateful to have found Dr. Elliott’s book as it has served many purposes for me personally. Initially, I was drawn to the fact that the memoir was set among the Navajo people. Several years ago, during my career in Social Work, I worked with a Navajo woman who had relocated to the East Coast. She grew up in the area commonly known as “The Four Corners” and introduced me to her culture through our many talks while we worked together. Reading Dr. Elliott’s book took me back to all the feelings I experienced when she shared her stories: serenity, love, struggle, deep pain, and undeniable resolve. Dr. Elliott’s memoir rounds out a series of beautiful exchanges that I treasure with humility and respect.
Later, I found myself relating to Dr. Elliott’s trajectory as she discovered her own resilience by confronting one challenge after another. It is refreshing to read about a woman who isn’t hindered by the many forms in which we are socialized to adhere to stereotypical expectations about gender roles. In her memoir, Dr. Elliott proves to be unapologetically unconventional while courageously fighting for those people and ideals she holds dear to her heart. I hope to use the wisdom she shared in her book as a guide for my own life while I navigate similar experiences.
One challenging aspect of the book centered around the explanation of the Diné language. I am, admittedly a fanatic of linguistics (but by no means an expert), and there is one phrase that caught my attention:
“They referred to their land as Dinétah, literally meaning ‘among the people.’” p. 57
“Navajos call their land Diné Bikeyah, meaning ‘The People’s Land.’” p. 107
Initially, I was slightly confused by these explanations because it seemed that the definition was established one way, only to be re-established differently later in the book. However, my ignorance of the language proved to be the actual challenge after I watched an interview Dr. Elliott gave in 2019 on PBS. She explained and provided examples of the complexity of the Diné language. In the book, she referenced the unique sounds needed for correct pronunciation. However, listening to her speak the language made it clear that she learned a language with incomparable difficulty. My only recommendation would be that in future editions, a sentence or two can be added to underscore the complex and nuanced nature of the Diné language.
I cannot ignore the powerful spiritual element of the book as described by Dr. Elliott. Without the spiritual experiences she mentions, the book is still movingly insightful. However, by including them, she adds a dimension to the story which few writers can. Readers are taken through the book with descriptions testing our sensory perception, not uncommon in well-written memoirs. What is less common is the ability to engage the soul through metaphysical experiences which are intertwined with medical training. Dr. Elliott gracefully balances the two elements as she dispels the myth that outsiders are incapable of shedding their privilege when indigenous people accept them on their own terms.
I highly recommend Dr. Erica Elliott’s ““Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People”. While many may have heard of ‘Indian Reservations’, few have ever communed with the people who inhabit these spaces. Dr. Elliott presents her readership with an opportunity to read about a people and lifestyle they may never learn about otherwise. She is able to demonstrate a deep respect for the people who opened their hearts to her as a young white woman finding her place in the world. With this memoir, Dr. Elliott lovingly honors the life-changing experiences she had while embraced by the families of the Navajo Nation.
August 13, 2020
I am so glad to have read Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert - thank you to Erica Elliot for her poetic and honest writing style. She drew my right into this beautiful tale. I consider myself blessed to have been able to travel back in time to the high desert. She did a fabulous job of helping me know and love the people she met along her journey as well as creating photographs through her vibrant descriptions. Not that her characters weren't amazing, but it was her horse, Jimmy, who brought me most joy throughout the story. As a horse lover myself, I could appreciate her sense of partnership with her equine friend.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a quick read - not because it's a short book, but because of the way it is written. This book is written in short chapters and journal style, but when you finish a chapter you don't set the book down - you turn quickly to the next beautifully written chapter because you want to know more and more and more! The writing is poetic and calming - this was a most lovely distraction from current affairs and the busy-ness of our fast paced lifestyles. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! 5 Stars for this Enjoyable Read!!
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a quick read - not because it's a short book, but because of the way it is written. This book is written in short chapters and journal style, but when you finish a chapter you don't set the book down - you turn quickly to the next beautifully written chapter because you want to know more and more and more! The writing is poetic and calming - this was a most lovely distraction from current affairs and the busy-ness of our fast paced lifestyles. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! 5 Stars for this Enjoyable Read!!
December 21, 2020
Out of college, the author taught at a government boarding school on a Navaho reservation in Arizona, little expecting how it would change her life. She socialized with her students' families, learned the Navaho language and took part in their lives and ceremonies to some degree. She then went on to get a medical degree and eventually found herself back on a Navaho reservation in New Mexico. Incidents in the book reminded me how many things there are that Western culture doesn't understand or even acknowledge. At the same time this isn't a New Age glorification of indigenous life, rather a memoire of her own experiences. I'm glad I read it.
September 7, 2020
I loved reading this! I've always been fascinated with Canyon de Chelly, and I'm so jealous of the time the author spent there. I'm also incredibly impressed with how she has lived her life--her courage, her thoughtfulness, and her willingness to try so many different ways of living. I'm looking forward to the upcoming three volumes!
July 16, 2021
Beautifully written and very interesting. A word of warning though- if you read this you will feel like an underachiever. This woman is amazing- linguist, teacher, shepherd, weaver, doctor. I look forward to reading more of her work.
May 5, 2020
A good taste of Navajo culture and life through her eyes.
March 18, 2026
Some moments in this book genuinely gave me chills. The encounters with animals and the unexplained elements add a layer of mystery that makes the story even more compelling. But what I appreciated most is that these moments never feel exaggerated, they feel like a natural part of the world she is describing.
June 9, 2024
I am writing this review of Dr. Elliott's new book, From Mountains to Medicine, in praise of her life. Dr. Elliott is a remarkable person and has an astonishing and amazing story to tell! She not only follows in the footsteps of courageous women throughout history such as Amelia Earhart, Margaret Mead, Isabella Bird, Helena Roerich, and countless others, but she also joins them in their journeys of self discovery. I think the most important aspect of Dr. Elliott's fascinating life is that she personifies the courage, dauntlessness, power, and strength that we assign to the spirit of the Divine Feminine. She is absolutely a shining star radiating love and opportunities for personal and spiritual growth; her life is an example for us all. I am excitedly awaiting the final installment of her memoir!
-Cullen Baird Smith, Author & Lecturer
-Cullen Baird Smith, Author & Lecturer
July 10, 2019
Letting the Spirit lead
I loved the journey portrayed by Dr. Elliott! Her intuition led her with a listening heart through every opportunity she encountered. She allowed the isolation of walking with a new culture of brothers and sisters to wake her to new skills, gifts and miracles in herself and to awesome relationships of love and deep connection. She always allowed herself to become one with those she served, becoming more like them , being enriched and enhanced by the blessing. A unique spirit having intense human encounters, she is a blessing for us all especially at this time in our world. This is truly an inspirational read! I am grateful for the faithful journey of Dr. Elliott!
I loved the journey portrayed by Dr. Elliott! Her intuition led her with a listening heart through every opportunity she encountered. She allowed the isolation of walking with a new culture of brothers and sisters to wake her to new skills, gifts and miracles in herself and to awesome relationships of love and deep connection. She always allowed herself to become one with those she served, becoming more like them , being enriched and enhanced by the blessing. A unique spirit having intense human encounters, she is a blessing for us all especially at this time in our world. This is truly an inspirational read! I am grateful for the faithful journey of Dr. Elliott!
June 23, 2019
I loved reading about Erica's early teaching with Navajo students and her embracing of their culture. Her experiences came to life because of her passion for the people and her willingness to accept beliefs far from what she grew up with. Her Peace Corps experience in Ecuador, and then her later work as a doctor in Cuba, NM are at times funny, at times poignant and always honest. Thanks, Erica, for a wonderful memoir. I'm looking forward to the next one!
March 21, 2021
The writing in this book was fun and quick and easy to read. The story is interesting and the author doesn’t seem to self involved or anything. But the story just felt rather forgettable to me and a little obvious.
August 6, 2019
Erica is inspiring and her stories chilling and incredible! She has had such a wealth of experience and she says this is only the first of four memoirs. I'll be eagerly awaiting books 2-4!
January 16, 2025
So Im sorry about this because I like Erica and I found her other book “ From Mountains to Medicine to be uplifting, moving, subime and beautiful –this book was a huge disappointment. I found it lowering my level of consciousness and obstructing my mind so I could notg focus on God.
First of all she calls herself a “self righteous vegetarian” at the beginning of the story then proceeds to tell how she associates with cruel meat eaters who kill and eat the very dogs who serve them , rape women and drink alcohol .
To me a vegetarian is simply some one who realized the advantages of living low on the food chain and the disadvantages of living high on the food chain and may or may not try to share those advantages with others. Then the others may label them as self righteous.
In her first book, at 16, she meets her Uncle Ernst who is vegan and who heals thousands of people suffering from chronic diseases by first purifying them with a fast and enemas then introducing then to a pure raw vegan diet. It very well proven that boiling food destroys emzymes and vitamins that can help cure diseases.
In this book at 19 or 21 or what ever she throws all that out the window, is magnetically drawn to and associates with people who kill stray puppies and put them in her stew and then laugh when they see her reaction and she goes back to meat eating.
Predicably she is getting a hip replacement as she writes this book. I’ll bet none of Uncle Ernst’s patients ever had to get a hip replacement.
Common sense and a sense of justice tells us that if by our actions we cause suffering the reaction we get back from the universe will be suffering .If we don’t cause suffering but instead do only actions that alleviate suffering then our suffering will be alleviated –that’s a scientific law –for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Scientists know that animals have nervous systems and emotions suffer physically and emotionally when killed for our food plants do not have nervous systems and do not suffer physically when killed for our food. Some of the suffering we must undergo as a result of meat eating is paid by disease –like hip replacements.
So does sharing that here make me a self righteous vegan ? Or does it make me a compassionate concerned human being?
Besides the meat eating I agree with the other teachers that her spending 5 months at the ranch killing sheep and enjoying the beauty of nature was entirely selfish when she could have been earning her masters degree or studying with Uncle Ernst.
Any way I quit rading the book because I found that reading such incidents and tying a dog to a tree and shooting it , eating stray puppies, men raping women and killing sheep and oter such actions to be disruptive to my peaceful God focused mind set by putting these negative impressions on my mind to my mediation of God -who si kind and merciful
I like reading of the lives of saint who have done positive wise actions which put positive impressions on my mind. According to the spiritual path I follow God is the positive power and lives at the positive pole of the universe and the purpose of life is to become positive by doing positive actions and keeping the company of positive people so as to pity positive impressions on ones mind so positive thoughts arise and lead to positive actions.
We avoid negative people who have negative habits (that cause pain) even if we don’t ourselves do negative actions by watching them do negative actions we put negative impressions on our mind which obstruct our meditation on the positive power( God)
This does not mean that we dont help drug addicts, meat eaters and sex addicts to see the light but we also don’t go live intimately with them as they do their bad habits because we will likely pick them up I don’t even wat to read about them page after page for the better part of a book
Besides the book putting negative impressions on my mind I also felt it had nothing to offer that was not mentioned in “From Mountains to Medicine” –I don’t recommend this book to any one whose life goal is God realization –they will get nothing to help them on their journey but pick up much hinder them.
If you want to be uplifted and filled with positive impressions read “From Mountains to Medicine”
First of all she calls herself a “self righteous vegetarian” at the beginning of the story then proceeds to tell how she associates with cruel meat eaters who kill and eat the very dogs who serve them , rape women and drink alcohol .
To me a vegetarian is simply some one who realized the advantages of living low on the food chain and the disadvantages of living high on the food chain and may or may not try to share those advantages with others. Then the others may label them as self righteous.
In her first book, at 16, she meets her Uncle Ernst who is vegan and who heals thousands of people suffering from chronic diseases by first purifying them with a fast and enemas then introducing then to a pure raw vegan diet. It very well proven that boiling food destroys emzymes and vitamins that can help cure diseases.
In this book at 19 or 21 or what ever she throws all that out the window, is magnetically drawn to and associates with people who kill stray puppies and put them in her stew and then laugh when they see her reaction and she goes back to meat eating.
Predicably she is getting a hip replacement as she writes this book. I’ll bet none of Uncle Ernst’s patients ever had to get a hip replacement.
Common sense and a sense of justice tells us that if by our actions we cause suffering the reaction we get back from the universe will be suffering .If we don’t cause suffering but instead do only actions that alleviate suffering then our suffering will be alleviated –that’s a scientific law –for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Scientists know that animals have nervous systems and emotions suffer physically and emotionally when killed for our food plants do not have nervous systems and do not suffer physically when killed for our food. Some of the suffering we must undergo as a result of meat eating is paid by disease –like hip replacements.
So does sharing that here make me a self righteous vegan ? Or does it make me a compassionate concerned human being?
Besides the meat eating I agree with the other teachers that her spending 5 months at the ranch killing sheep and enjoying the beauty of nature was entirely selfish when she could have been earning her masters degree or studying with Uncle Ernst.
Any way I quit rading the book because I found that reading such incidents and tying a dog to a tree and shooting it , eating stray puppies, men raping women and killing sheep and oter such actions to be disruptive to my peaceful God focused mind set by putting these negative impressions on my mind to my mediation of God -who si kind and merciful
I like reading of the lives of saint who have done positive wise actions which put positive impressions on my mind. According to the spiritual path I follow God is the positive power and lives at the positive pole of the universe and the purpose of life is to become positive by doing positive actions and keeping the company of positive people so as to pity positive impressions on ones mind so positive thoughts arise and lead to positive actions.
We avoid negative people who have negative habits (that cause pain) even if we don’t ourselves do negative actions by watching them do negative actions we put negative impressions on our mind which obstruct our meditation on the positive power( God)
This does not mean that we dont help drug addicts, meat eaters and sex addicts to see the light but we also don’t go live intimately with them as they do their bad habits because we will likely pick them up I don’t even wat to read about them page after page for the better part of a book
Besides the book putting negative impressions on my mind I also felt it had nothing to offer that was not mentioned in “From Mountains to Medicine” –I don’t recommend this book to any one whose life goal is God realization –they will get nothing to help them on their journey but pick up much hinder them.
If you want to be uplifted and filled with positive impressions read “From Mountains to Medicine”
July 17, 2020
The first of a 4-series memoir, Erica presents her journey as a young woman wanting to engage with life, though not certain of her purpose. She takes us back in time to the 60's when she accepted a teaching position on the Navajo Reservation near Canyon de Chelly. Though not always perfect, Erica found many perfect moments that drew her to fall in love with the People and the canyon.
At first, the cultural shock and divide was too much. She had a deep belief that all humans were the same, and admits in many ways they are, but culture is a construct that can separate us and create deep misunderstandings that can hurt rather than enlighten. After advice from her father to stick it out for three months, not only did Erica agree, but she completely changed her mindset from trying to connect from her point of view to learning the culture of the Navajo and meeting them where they were comfortable.
Her last summer in Canyon de Chelly, Erica fully immersed herself with a sheep-herding family which provided lessons of hard, but gratifying work and dedication with minimal resources. The deep soul searching she was able to do that summer led her away from the Navajo, but not forever. Erica finds her way with the Peace Corp to a remote village in the Andes of South America, and discovers her true purpose: She wants to be a doctor.
Erica leads us back to the Navajo with her first job that is horrifying and satisfying, but mostly exhausting. Unfortunately, she can't stay, but before she leaves she's presented with a ceremony in thanks, one that, in the order of the prayer, gives her a life she thought she would be too old for, including a baby boy.
My rating: 4/5
This story was engaging, and the in depth look at a culture that has been almost lost to time and modernization was priceless. My rating comes from a place of personal preference. I had a challenge with some of the transitions of the story that felt like a tangent in a conversation that has a valid point, but feels disjointed. Also, the formatting of the book was blog style, with block paragraphs separated by a spaced line, rather than connected and indented. For me, these spaces felt like long pauses and made it difficult to truly get into the flow of the writing.
*I received this product for free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
At first, the cultural shock and divide was too much. She had a deep belief that all humans were the same, and admits in many ways they are, but culture is a construct that can separate us and create deep misunderstandings that can hurt rather than enlighten. After advice from her father to stick it out for three months, not only did Erica agree, but she completely changed her mindset from trying to connect from her point of view to learning the culture of the Navajo and meeting them where they were comfortable.
Her last summer in Canyon de Chelly, Erica fully immersed herself with a sheep-herding family which provided lessons of hard, but gratifying work and dedication with minimal resources. The deep soul searching she was able to do that summer led her away from the Navajo, but not forever. Erica finds her way with the Peace Corp to a remote village in the Andes of South America, and discovers her true purpose: She wants to be a doctor.
Erica leads us back to the Navajo with her first job that is horrifying and satisfying, but mostly exhausting. Unfortunately, she can't stay, but before she leaves she's presented with a ceremony in thanks, one that, in the order of the prayer, gives her a life she thought she would be too old for, including a baby boy.
My rating: 4/5
This story was engaging, and the in depth look at a culture that has been almost lost to time and modernization was priceless. My rating comes from a place of personal preference. I had a challenge with some of the transitions of the story that felt like a tangent in a conversation that has a valid point, but feels disjointed. Also, the formatting of the book was blog style, with block paragraphs separated by a spaced line, rather than connected and indented. For me, these spaces felt like long pauses and made it difficult to truly get into the flow of the writing.
*I received this product for free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 5, 2020
(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)
My Review
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert, a memoir by Dr. Erica Elliot, offers an exceptional look at the Navajo people and culture during the 70’s and 80’s.
From her two yeara as a teacher on a Navajo reserve to her time in the Peace Corps in Ecuador to her two years as a doctor in Cuba, New Mexico, Dr. Elliott gives us story after story about her many adventures.
Erica almost left after her first week of teaching, but her father encouraged her to stay at least 3 months. She immersed herself in the Navajo culture and learned the language, which made the native people open themselves to her. She became closer to her students and their families as she shared meals and ceremonies and other experiences. She was able to change teaching practices of the time to ensure a bilingual education for the children.
Erica had many harrowing experiences throughout both careers, but her love of the people, the land and the culture sustained her.
As she said:
“My experience among the Navajo people has influenced the rest of my life – including how I practice medicine.”
In the late 1970’s I too taught in a small native community, but in northern Canada. And it was showing respect for, and a desire to learn more about the culture of these people, that enriched my three years up north. It has stayed with me forty years later.
If only we all could experience another culture like this – immersed in the day to day lives of others – to see, understand and appreciate our similarities and differences. What a difference it would make in the world. Erica’s words during her travels through South America after leaving the Peace Corps sum up, I believe, what is possible if we open our eyes and hearts to others:
“I observed that I had a great interest in learning about people who were different from me. I tried to see the world through their eyes so I could understand their feelings and motivations and develop a connection with them.” (pg. 148)
This was an amazing memoir, full of warmth, adventure, honesty and one that allowed us to learn quite a bit about the Navajo culture. I so enjoyed reading it. It really did reaffirm what I learned from my years in the NWT – that it is connections that truly matter.
I highly recommend Dr. Erica Elliott memoir Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert.
A 5* read!
My Review
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert, a memoir by Dr. Erica Elliot, offers an exceptional look at the Navajo people and culture during the 70’s and 80’s.
From her two yeara as a teacher on a Navajo reserve to her time in the Peace Corps in Ecuador to her two years as a doctor in Cuba, New Mexico, Dr. Elliott gives us story after story about her many adventures.
Erica almost left after her first week of teaching, but her father encouraged her to stay at least 3 months. She immersed herself in the Navajo culture and learned the language, which made the native people open themselves to her. She became closer to her students and their families as she shared meals and ceremonies and other experiences. She was able to change teaching practices of the time to ensure a bilingual education for the children.
Erica had many harrowing experiences throughout both careers, but her love of the people, the land and the culture sustained her.
As she said:
“My experience among the Navajo people has influenced the rest of my life – including how I practice medicine.”
In the late 1970’s I too taught in a small native community, but in northern Canada. And it was showing respect for, and a desire to learn more about the culture of these people, that enriched my three years up north. It has stayed with me forty years later.
If only we all could experience another culture like this – immersed in the day to day lives of others – to see, understand and appreciate our similarities and differences. What a difference it would make in the world. Erica’s words during her travels through South America after leaving the Peace Corps sum up, I believe, what is possible if we open our eyes and hearts to others:
“I observed that I had a great interest in learning about people who were different from me. I tried to see the world through their eyes so I could understand their feelings and motivations and develop a connection with them.” (pg. 148)
This was an amazing memoir, full of warmth, adventure, honesty and one that allowed us to learn quite a bit about the Navajo culture. I so enjoyed reading it. It really did reaffirm what I learned from my years in the NWT – that it is connections that truly matter.
I highly recommend Dr. Erica Elliott memoir Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert.
A 5* read!
September 5, 2026
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is the kind of memoir that stays with you after you finish reading it. What I appreciated most was that Erica Elliott does not simply describe her experiences among the Navajo people. She allows the reader to see how deeply those experiences changed the way she understood culture, community, healing, and her own life.
I was especially drawn to the beginning of her journey. She arrives as a young teacher with very little understanding of Navajo culture and quickly realizes how much she has to learn. Instead of remaining distant, she makes the effort to learn the Navajo language and understand the people around her. That decision becomes a turning point in the story, and watching the relationship between her and her students develop was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The memoir also gives a fascinating picture of everyday life, from learning to herd sheep and weave rugs to sharing meals, visiting families, and experiencing traditions that were completely unfamiliar to her. Those details made the story feel personal and lived in rather than simply historical.
What makes the book particularly memorable is the way medicine and spirituality come together throughout Elliott's experiences. Her later return as a doctor gives the story another dimension, especially as she finds herself serving people in an understaffed rural clinic and confronting situations that test her professionally and personally.
I also found the author's honesty about her own transformation meaningful. She begins as someone who wants to leave the reservation, yet eventually develops a deep love for the children, the land, and the culture. That change is really the heart of the memoir.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, unusual, and deeply personal read. It combines adventure, medicine, cultural discovery, spirituality, and personal growth without losing sight of the human relationships at the center of the story. I finished the book with a greater appreciation for the importance of listening, learning, and approaching another culture with humility and respect.
A memorable memoir and one I would recommend to readers who enjoy true stories about culture, medicine, spirituality, and journeys that genuinely change a person's life.
I was especially drawn to the beginning of her journey. She arrives as a young teacher with very little understanding of Navajo culture and quickly realizes how much she has to learn. Instead of remaining distant, she makes the effort to learn the Navajo language and understand the people around her. That decision becomes a turning point in the story, and watching the relationship between her and her students develop was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The memoir also gives a fascinating picture of everyday life, from learning to herd sheep and weave rugs to sharing meals, visiting families, and experiencing traditions that were completely unfamiliar to her. Those details made the story feel personal and lived in rather than simply historical.
What makes the book particularly memorable is the way medicine and spirituality come together throughout Elliott's experiences. Her later return as a doctor gives the story another dimension, especially as she finds herself serving people in an understaffed rural clinic and confronting situations that test her professionally and personally.
I also found the author's honesty about her own transformation meaningful. She begins as someone who wants to leave the reservation, yet eventually develops a deep love for the children, the land, and the culture. That change is really the heart of the memoir.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, unusual, and deeply personal read. It combines adventure, medicine, cultural discovery, spirituality, and personal growth without losing sight of the human relationships at the center of the story. I finished the book with a greater appreciation for the importance of listening, learning, and approaching another culture with humility and respect.
A memorable memoir and one I would recommend to readers who enjoy true stories about culture, medicine, spirituality, and journeys that genuinely change a person's life.
July 5, 2020
Erica Elliott’s memoir of her life among the Navajo, first as a teacher at a boarding school on an Arizona reservation, and later as a doctor at a remote clinic in New Mexico, makes for inspiring and page-turning reading. Elliott has a first rate command of storytelling and is herself in many ways a larger than life character.
Initially flummoxed by the apathy and resistance of her students, she sees them come alive when she starts to learn their language, one notoriously difficult to master. Used to having to accommodate an outside culture, they are touched and won over. While most teachers cherish their much needed time off, she spends weekends taking her students back to visit their families, often in remote parts of Arizona. It’s an enormous gift to the children and affords her greater immersion in their culture.
While we marvel at Elliott’s courage and fortitude in the face of numerous challenges, she leaves us no doubt that she was as terrified as we would have been as a neophyte doctor attempting life-saving surgery on a local medicine man. Other times we recognize her as a world class risk taker, a talented linguist and athlete, as well as physician, who seems to relish the challenges she faces.
She bears witness to the magical elements she encounters in the peyote healing rituals of the Native American Church and a visitation by a spirit guide. At book’s end, with her medical license under her belt, she still stands behind the miracle healing she knows she witnessed. She eventually enters into a relationship with a wonderful older Navajo man, and spends her last summer herding his parents’ 600 sheep, an incredibly difficult life which she enters into gratefully. She slaughters sheep, shears them, spins wool, weaves blankets, even picking the plants for the dye.
The memoir is beautifully written, transparent and revealing, and she excels in describing the beauty of nature—the large open vistas and the rock formations—that drew her and held her to this place. It is an inspiration to accompany this giving, adventurous spirit in her life with the Dine. Her love and reverence for them are apparent throughout.
Initially flummoxed by the apathy and resistance of her students, she sees them come alive when she starts to learn their language, one notoriously difficult to master. Used to having to accommodate an outside culture, they are touched and won over. While most teachers cherish their much needed time off, she spends weekends taking her students back to visit their families, often in remote parts of Arizona. It’s an enormous gift to the children and affords her greater immersion in their culture.
While we marvel at Elliott’s courage and fortitude in the face of numerous challenges, she leaves us no doubt that she was as terrified as we would have been as a neophyte doctor attempting life-saving surgery on a local medicine man. Other times we recognize her as a world class risk taker, a talented linguist and athlete, as well as physician, who seems to relish the challenges she faces.
She bears witness to the magical elements she encounters in the peyote healing rituals of the Native American Church and a visitation by a spirit guide. At book’s end, with her medical license under her belt, she still stands behind the miracle healing she knows she witnessed. She eventually enters into a relationship with a wonderful older Navajo man, and spends her last summer herding his parents’ 600 sheep, an incredibly difficult life which she enters into gratefully. She slaughters sheep, shears them, spins wool, weaves blankets, even picking the plants for the dye.
The memoir is beautifully written, transparent and revealing, and she excels in describing the beauty of nature—the large open vistas and the rock formations—that drew her and held her to this place. It is an inspiration to accompany this giving, adventurous spirit in her life with the Dine. Her love and reverence for them are apparent throughout.
September 27, 2026
Review of Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert
Erica M. Elliott’s Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People is a thoughtful and deeply engaging memoir that offers a unique perspective on medicine, culture, spirituality, and human connection. Through her experiences living and working among the Navajo people, Elliott provides readers with a meaningful glimpse into a world where traditional healing practices and modern medicine exist alongside one another.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the author’s ability to tell personal stories while exploring broader themes of compassion, cultural understanding, resilience, and respect. Elliott writes with sincerity and humility, allowing her experiences to speak for themselves while encouraging readers to think more deeply about the relationship between healthcare and culture.
The book is particularly compelling because it goes beyond the clinical aspects of medicine. It emphasizes the importance of listening to patients, understanding their beliefs, and recognizing the individual behind the illness. Elliott’s experiences demonstrate that healing can involve not only medical treatment but also trust, community, spirituality, and human connection.
I also appreciated the author’s reflective writing style. Her stories are personal and accessible, making the book engaging even for readers who do not have a background in medicine. At the same time, the memoir raises important questions about cultural differences and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals when working with communities whose traditions and beliefs may differ from their own.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is an insightful and memorable book. Erica M. Elliott combines medical experience with personal storytelling to create a work that encourages empathy, cultural awareness, and a broader understanding of what it truly means to care for another person. I would recommend this book to readers interested in medicine, Indigenous cultures, healthcare, spirituality, memoirs, and stories about meaningful human relationships.
Rating: 5/5
Erica M. Elliott’s Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People is a thoughtful and deeply engaging memoir that offers a unique perspective on medicine, culture, spirituality, and human connection. Through her experiences living and working among the Navajo people, Elliott provides readers with a meaningful glimpse into a world where traditional healing practices and modern medicine exist alongside one another.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the author’s ability to tell personal stories while exploring broader themes of compassion, cultural understanding, resilience, and respect. Elliott writes with sincerity and humility, allowing her experiences to speak for themselves while encouraging readers to think more deeply about the relationship between healthcare and culture.
The book is particularly compelling because it goes beyond the clinical aspects of medicine. It emphasizes the importance of listening to patients, understanding their beliefs, and recognizing the individual behind the illness. Elliott’s experiences demonstrate that healing can involve not only medical treatment but also trust, community, spirituality, and human connection.
I also appreciated the author’s reflective writing style. Her stories are personal and accessible, making the book engaging even for readers who do not have a background in medicine. At the same time, the memoir raises important questions about cultural differences and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals when working with communities whose traditions and beliefs may differ from their own.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is an insightful and memorable book. Erica M. Elliott combines medical experience with personal storytelling to create a work that encourages empathy, cultural awareness, and a broader understanding of what it truly means to care for another person. I would recommend this book to readers interested in medicine, Indigenous cultures, healthcare, spirituality, memoirs, and stories about meaningful human relationships.
Rating: 5/5
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September 30, 2026Review of Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a fascinating and deeply moving account of Erica M. Elliott’s experiences as a physician working among the Navajo people. The book offers much more than a story about medicine; it is also a thoughtful exploration of culture, community, spirituality, and the relationships that develop when people from different backgrounds learn from one another.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the author’s personal storytelling. Elliott describes her experiences with warmth, honesty, and compassion, giving readers an opportunity to see the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in a remote community. Her experiences demonstrate that healing is not always limited to medical treatments and technology. Trust, cultural understanding, compassion, and human connection can be equally important.
The book also provides an insightful look at Navajo culture and traditions. Elliott approaches the people she encounters with respect and curiosity, and her stories encourage readers to think more deeply about different ways of understanding health and healing. The contrast between Western medicine and traditional Navajo perspectives is particularly interesting and adds depth to the narrative.
What makes the book especially memorable is its humanity. The patients and community members are presented not simply as medical cases but as individuals with families, beliefs, struggles, and hopes. Elliott’s experiences show how much a doctor can learn from the people they serve.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is an inspiring and thought-provoking book. It is an excellent choice for readers interested in medicine, Native American culture, spirituality, or personal stories about finding meaning through service. Elliott’s compassion and willingness to learn make this a rewarding and memorable read.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a fascinating and deeply moving account of Erica M. Elliott’s experiences as a physician working among the Navajo people. The book offers much more than a story about medicine; it is also a thoughtful exploration of culture, community, spirituality, and the relationships that develop when people from different backgrounds learn from one another.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the author’s personal storytelling. Elliott describes her experiences with warmth, honesty, and compassion, giving readers an opportunity to see the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in a remote community. Her experiences demonstrate that healing is not always limited to medical treatments and technology. Trust, cultural understanding, compassion, and human connection can be equally important.
The book also provides an insightful look at Navajo culture and traditions. Elliott approaches the people she encounters with respect and curiosity, and her stories encourage readers to think more deeply about different ways of understanding health and healing. The contrast between Western medicine and traditional Navajo perspectives is particularly interesting and adds depth to the narrative.
What makes the book especially memorable is its humanity. The patients and community members are presented not simply as medical cases but as individuals with families, beliefs, struggles, and hopes. Elliott’s experiences show how much a doctor can learn from the people they serve.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is an inspiring and thought-provoking book. It is an excellent choice for readers interested in medicine, Native American culture, spirituality, or personal stories about finding meaning through service. Elliott’s compassion and willingness to learn make this a rewarding and memorable read.
September 30, 2026
A Powerful Story of Medicine, Humanity, and Cross-Cultural Understanding
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott is a deeply engaging and thought-provoking memoir that offers much more than a glimpse into the practice of medicine. Through her experiences among the Navajo people, Elliott explores the human side of healthcare while reflecting on culture, community, spirituality, resilience, and the many ways people understand healing.
What makes this book especially compelling is the author's willingness to look beyond conventional medical practice and learn from the people and culture around her. Her experiences reveal that healing is not always limited to diagnoses, treatments, and clinical procedures; compassion, trust, cultural understanding, and human connection can also play an important role.
Elliott's storytelling brings the high-desert setting and the people she encountered to life, creating a narrative that feels personal and reflective rather than simply instructional. The book encourages readers to think more deeply about the relationship between modern medicine and traditional ways of understanding health and healing.
I particularly appreciated the sense of humility and humanity throughout the story. Rather than presenting medicine as a simple answer to every problem, Elliott shares experiences that demonstrate the complexity of caring for people whose backgrounds, beliefs, and circumstances may be very different from our own.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, Native American culture, personal journeys, spirituality, and stories of human connection. It is both an account of a medical career and a reflection on what it truly means to care for another person.
A memorable and insightful read that reminds us that sometimes the most important part of healing begins with understanding the person behind the illness.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott is a deeply engaging and thought-provoking memoir that offers much more than a glimpse into the practice of medicine. Through her experiences among the Navajo people, Elliott explores the human side of healthcare while reflecting on culture, community, spirituality, resilience, and the many ways people understand healing.
What makes this book especially compelling is the author's willingness to look beyond conventional medical practice and learn from the people and culture around her. Her experiences reveal that healing is not always limited to diagnoses, treatments, and clinical procedures; compassion, trust, cultural understanding, and human connection can also play an important role.
Elliott's storytelling brings the high-desert setting and the people she encountered to life, creating a narrative that feels personal and reflective rather than simply instructional. The book encourages readers to think more deeply about the relationship between modern medicine and traditional ways of understanding health and healing.
I particularly appreciated the sense of humility and humanity throughout the story. Rather than presenting medicine as a simple answer to every problem, Elliott shares experiences that demonstrate the complexity of caring for people whose backgrounds, beliefs, and circumstances may be very different from our own.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, Native American culture, personal journeys, spirituality, and stories of human connection. It is both an account of a medical career and a reflection on what it truly means to care for another person.
A memorable and insightful read that reminds us that sometimes the most important part of healing begins with understanding the person behind the illness.
September 30, 2026
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert offers a compelling and deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and human connection through Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people. What makes the book particularly engaging is the way it brings together the worlds of modern medicine and traditional cultural understanding, inviting readers to think more deeply about what healing can mean beyond a clinical setting.
Elliott’s perspective provides an intimate window into the realities of serving a community with a rich cultural heritage and distinctive traditions. The book goes beyond simply recounting experiences in medicine; it explores the relationships, lessons, challenges, and moments of unexpected meaning that can emerge when people from different backgrounds meet with openness and respect.
One of the book’s strongest qualities is its emphasis on humanity. The experiences described encourage readers to consider the importance of listening, compassion, cultural understanding, and trust in the healing process. The high-desert setting and Navajo cultural context also give the narrative a distinctive sense of place, making the journey feel both educational and deeply personal.
This is a thoughtful read for anyone interested in medicine, Native American culture, memoir, or stories about the intersection of professional life and personal transformation. It leaves readers with meaningful questions about healing, service, and the ways in which our encounters with other people can change how we understand the world.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a reflective and human-centered memoir that offers more than a story about practicing medicine—it is an exploration of connection, cultural understanding, and the unexpected lessons that can emerge from a life devoted to helping others.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert offers a compelling and deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and human connection through Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people. What makes the book particularly engaging is the way it brings together the worlds of modern medicine and traditional cultural understanding, inviting readers to think more deeply about what healing can mean beyond a clinical setting.
Elliott’s perspective provides an intimate window into the realities of serving a community with a rich cultural heritage and distinctive traditions. The book goes beyond simply recounting experiences in medicine; it explores the relationships, lessons, challenges, and moments of unexpected meaning that can emerge when people from different backgrounds meet with openness and respect.
One of the book’s strongest qualities is its emphasis on humanity. The experiences described encourage readers to consider the importance of listening, compassion, cultural understanding, and trust in the healing process. The high-desert setting and Navajo cultural context also give the narrative a distinctive sense of place, making the journey feel both educational and deeply personal.
This is a thoughtful read for anyone interested in medicine, Native American culture, memoir, or stories about the intersection of professional life and personal transformation. It leaves readers with meaningful questions about healing, service, and the ways in which our encounters with other people can change how we understand the world.
Overall, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a reflective and human-centered memoir that offers more than a story about practicing medicine—it is an exploration of connection, cultural understanding, and the unexpected lessons that can emerge from a life devoted to helping others.
August 7, 2020
I received a copy of Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are, of course, my own. My full review: https://booksbeansandbotany.com/medic...
***4.5 stars***
I’m always skeptical with books (or anything) like this – where it’s telling a story about something BIPOC related but from a white person’s perspective. But, the description of the book was enough for me to give it a chance. And, I’m pleased to say I was wrong in my skepticism – for this book, at least. Still plenty of white people telling stories they shouldn’t be and taking up space.
With that little note out of the way, this story, true I might add, is amazing. Dr. Elliot reminds me of me, full of adventure, dreams, and a strong, deep desire to explore the world and other cultures. The difference is she was doing this way before the internet, cell phones, or any kind of guidance – a true intrepid explorer.
This particular book isn’t a complete autobiographical account. It centers mainly on her time amongst the Navajo people (Elliot mentions in her introduction that she used the term Navajo because that’s what was used during her time with them; however, it is considered more accurate and respectful to now use the term Diné when referring to “The People”) right out of college when she taught there for two years fully immersing herself in their culture even learning the Navajo language – an extremely difficult language to learn. Sandwiched on both sides of that story is her return to the Navajo people as a medical doctor in an under-funded and staffed clinic where from the very first day she is tested on her [literally brand new] medical skills.
***4.5 stars***
I’m always skeptical with books (or anything) like this – where it’s telling a story about something BIPOC related but from a white person’s perspective. But, the description of the book was enough for me to give it a chance. And, I’m pleased to say I was wrong in my skepticism – for this book, at least. Still plenty of white people telling stories they shouldn’t be and taking up space.
With that little note out of the way, this story, true I might add, is amazing. Dr. Elliot reminds me of me, full of adventure, dreams, and a strong, deep desire to explore the world and other cultures. The difference is she was doing this way before the internet, cell phones, or any kind of guidance – a true intrepid explorer.
This particular book isn’t a complete autobiographical account. It centers mainly on her time amongst the Navajo people (Elliot mentions in her introduction that she used the term Navajo because that’s what was used during her time with them; however, it is considered more accurate and respectful to now use the term Diné when referring to “The People”) right out of college when she taught there for two years fully immersing herself in their culture even learning the Navajo language – an extremely difficult language to learn. Sandwiched on both sides of that story is her return to the Navajo people as a medical doctor in an under-funded and staffed clinic where from the very first day she is tested on her [literally brand new] medical skills.
September 27, 2026
**A Moving and Thought-Provoking Journey of Medicine, Culture, and Humanity**
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* is a deeply engaging memoir that offers a fascinating look at medicine, human resilience, and the relationships that can develop across cultural boundaries. Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people give the book a perspective that feels both personal and reflective.
What stood out to me most was the way the author connects her medical experiences with the human stories behind them. The book goes beyond simply describing life as a physician; it explores the importance of listening, understanding, compassion, and recognizing that healing can involve much more than medicine alone.
I also appreciated the book’s attention to the beauty and challenges of life in the high desert. The setting becomes an important part of the story, while the author’s encounters with the Navajo community provide opportunities to think about culture, tradition, spirituality, and different ways of understanding health and healing.
The writing feels honest and personal, and the experiences shared throughout the memoir leave the reader with plenty to reflect on. Rather than presenting medicine as something completely separate from culture and human connection, Elliott shows how deeply those things can intersect.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, cultural experiences, memoirs, and stories about the connections between people. It left me thinking about how much we can learn when we approach other people’s lives with humility, curiosity, and compassion.
**A thoughtful and memorable read that offers both a personal story and a wider perspective on healing and human connection.**
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* is a deeply engaging memoir that offers a fascinating look at medicine, human resilience, and the relationships that can develop across cultural boundaries. Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people give the book a perspective that feels both personal and reflective.
What stood out to me most was the way the author connects her medical experiences with the human stories behind them. The book goes beyond simply describing life as a physician; it explores the importance of listening, understanding, compassion, and recognizing that healing can involve much more than medicine alone.
I also appreciated the book’s attention to the beauty and challenges of life in the high desert. The setting becomes an important part of the story, while the author’s encounters with the Navajo community provide opportunities to think about culture, tradition, spirituality, and different ways of understanding health and healing.
The writing feels honest and personal, and the experiences shared throughout the memoir leave the reader with plenty to reflect on. Rather than presenting medicine as something completely separate from culture and human connection, Elliott shows how deeply those things can intersect.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, cultural experiences, memoirs, and stories about the connections between people. It left me thinking about how much we can learn when we approach other people’s lives with humility, curiosity, and compassion.
**A thoughtful and memorable read that offers both a personal story and a wider perspective on healing and human connection.**
September 30, 2026
A Powerful Journey of Medicine, Culture, and Human Connection
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott is a deeply engaging memoir that offers a thoughtful look at medicine, cultural understanding, and the human experiences that connect us all.
What makes this book particularly compelling is the way Dr. Elliott brings readers into her experiences among the Navajo people. Rather than presenting medicine as something that exists separately from culture and community, the story explores how healing can be influenced by tradition, beliefs, relationships, and the circumstances surrounding a person’s life.
The book also provides a fascinating perspective on the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in a community with a rich cultural heritage. Through personal experiences and observations, Elliott encourages readers to think more deeply about what it truly means to care for another person and to approach cultures different from our own with humility and respect.
I especially appreciated the personal nature of the memoir. It is not simply a book about practicing medicine; it is also a story about connection, adaptation, discovery, and the lessons that can emerge when we step outside the familiar.
Thoughtful, personal, and illuminating, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert will appeal to readers interested in memoirs, medicine, Native American culture, and stories of meaningful human connection. It left me reflecting on how much we can learn when we are willing to listen, observe, and see the world from another perspective.
A memorable memoir with heart, insight, and an important message about healing and human connection.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People by Erica M. Elliott is a deeply engaging memoir that offers a thoughtful look at medicine, cultural understanding, and the human experiences that connect us all.
What makes this book particularly compelling is the way Dr. Elliott brings readers into her experiences among the Navajo people. Rather than presenting medicine as something that exists separately from culture and community, the story explores how healing can be influenced by tradition, beliefs, relationships, and the circumstances surrounding a person’s life.
The book also provides a fascinating perspective on the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in a community with a rich cultural heritage. Through personal experiences and observations, Elliott encourages readers to think more deeply about what it truly means to care for another person and to approach cultures different from our own with humility and respect.
I especially appreciated the personal nature of the memoir. It is not simply a book about practicing medicine; it is also a story about connection, adaptation, discovery, and the lessons that can emerge when we step outside the familiar.
Thoughtful, personal, and illuminating, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert will appeal to readers interested in memoirs, medicine, Native American culture, and stories of meaningful human connection. It left me reflecting on how much we can learn when we are willing to listen, observe, and see the world from another perspective.
A memorable memoir with heart, insight, and an important message about healing and human connection.
August 2, 2020
I have always been fascinated by Native American culture and Erica Elliot’s memoir Medicine and Miracles does not disappoint. The author writes in such graphic detail with honest reflections that I felt I was right there with her through all her experiences—both the lows of her initial qualms and the highs of her evolving cultural immersion. and transformation.
The story starts out in the present as Erica returns as an Emergency physician and on her first day there ends up as the only doctor in a busy understaffed, underserved tiny clinic where she sees a wide range of patients in emergency situations--she delivers babies, and performs surgery. When she treats the reservation's Medicine Man, he offers to perform a healing ceremony on her and she experiences miracles in her life.
She then reflects back to her initial experience in her 20s of teaching Navajo children in this same place. She had many misgivings about being in the middle of nowhere to teach children when she did not know or understand the Navajo culture. Her father encourages her to give it time before leaving and in the interim, she decides to do whatever it takes to learn the language and culture. Soon, she falls in love with these children often taking turns driving each one to their homes on weekends.
One summer, she chose to work on a sheep farm where a female elder takes her under her wing and teaches her more about the Navajo People. She attends weekend healing rituals and fully embraces the Navajo people and their time-honored traditions.
This memoir is well-written, fast-paced and engaging. Anyone who enjoys being immersed in another culture will love this memoir.
The story starts out in the present as Erica returns as an Emergency physician and on her first day there ends up as the only doctor in a busy understaffed, underserved tiny clinic where she sees a wide range of patients in emergency situations--she delivers babies, and performs surgery. When she treats the reservation's Medicine Man, he offers to perform a healing ceremony on her and she experiences miracles in her life.
She then reflects back to her initial experience in her 20s of teaching Navajo children in this same place. She had many misgivings about being in the middle of nowhere to teach children when she did not know or understand the Navajo culture. Her father encourages her to give it time before leaving and in the interim, she decides to do whatever it takes to learn the language and culture. Soon, she falls in love with these children often taking turns driving each one to their homes on weekends.
One summer, she chose to work on a sheep farm where a female elder takes her under her wing and teaches her more about the Navajo People. She attends weekend healing rituals and fully embraces the Navajo people and their time-honored traditions.
This memoir is well-written, fast-paced and engaging. Anyone who enjoys being immersed in another culture will love this memoir.
September 27, 2026
A moving and deeply human account of healing, culture, and connection
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a thoughtful and compelling memoir that offers a unique perspective on medicine, spirituality, and the human experience. Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people provide the foundation for a story that goes beyond conventional ideas of healthcare and invites readers to consider the many ways healing can be understood.
What stood out to me most was the sense of humility and respect throughout the book. The author shares her experiences in a way that encourages readers to look more closely at the relationship between culture, community, tradition, and medicine. The High Desert setting also adds a strong sense of place, making the journey feel vivid and memorable.
The book is particularly interesting because it brings together professional medical experiences with personal encounters and moments of unexpected insight. Rather than simply presenting one perspective, it encourages reflection on what it means to care for others and to remain open to experiences that may challenge our assumptions.
Overall, this is an engaging and meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, cultural experiences, spirituality, and stories of personal discovery. It left me with several things to think about long after finishing the book.
A worthwhile read for anyone interested in the intersection of medicine, culture, and the deeper dimensions of healing.
If you want, I can also make it more emotional and natural-sounding, so it reads more like an authentic reader review rather than a formal book review.
September 27, 2026
**A Moving and Thought-Provoking Journey**
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People* offers a deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and the experiences that shape a life of service. Erica M. Elliott brings readers into a world that feels both unfamiliar and deeply human, sharing experiences that encourage reflection on the meaning of healing and the relationship between people, tradition, and place.
What stood out to me most was the book’s human perspective. Rather than presenting medicine simply as a profession, Elliott explores the personal connections, challenges, and moments of unexpected insight that can arise when caring for others. The experiences in the high desert give the story a distinctive atmosphere and make the journey particularly memorable.
I also appreciated the way the book invites readers to think about cultural understanding and the importance of listening and learning from communities different from our own. The combination of personal experience, medical encounters, and reflections on life gives the book a sense of authenticity.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, Indigenous culture, personal journeys, and stories about service and human connection. It left me with several things to reflect on after finishing it, particularly the different ways people understand healing and what it means to truly care for others.
**A thoughtful and memorable read that offers both a personal story and an opportunity for reflection.**
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People* offers a deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and the experiences that shape a life of service. Erica M. Elliott brings readers into a world that feels both unfamiliar and deeply human, sharing experiences that encourage reflection on the meaning of healing and the relationship between people, tradition, and place.
What stood out to me most was the book’s human perspective. Rather than presenting medicine simply as a profession, Elliott explores the personal connections, challenges, and moments of unexpected insight that can arise when caring for others. The experiences in the high desert give the story a distinctive atmosphere and make the journey particularly memorable.
I also appreciated the way the book invites readers to think about cultural understanding and the importance of listening and learning from communities different from our own. The combination of personal experience, medical encounters, and reflections on life gives the book a sense of authenticity.
Overall, this is a meaningful memoir for readers interested in medicine, Indigenous culture, personal journeys, and stories about service and human connection. It left me with several things to reflect on after finishing it, particularly the different ways people understand healing and what it means to truly care for others.
**A thoughtful and memorable read that offers both a personal story and an opportunity for reflection.**
September 27, 2026
**Review of *Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life among the Navajo People* by Erica M. Elliott**
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* offers a compelling and deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and the experiences of working among the Navajo people. Erica M. Elliott brings readers into a world that is both professionally challenging and personally transformative, sharing experiences that encourage reflection on what it truly means to care for others.
One of the book’s strengths is its human perspective. Rather than presenting medicine simply as a profession, Elliott explores the relationships, cultural experiences, and unexpected moments that can shape a physician’s understanding of healing. The stories provide insight into the realities of practicing medicine in a remote community while also highlighting the importance of compassion, trust, and respect for cultural traditions.
The book is particularly engaging when Elliott reflects on the lessons she learned from the people she served. These experiences give the narrative an intimate quality and invite readers to consider healing from perspectives that extend beyond conventional medical practice.
Overall, *Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* is a meaningful memoir that combines medical experience with personal reflection and cultural encounters. It will appeal to readers interested in memoirs, medicine, Native American communities, and stories about how professional experiences can profoundly change the person behind the profession.
*Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* offers a compelling and deeply personal look at medicine, culture, community, and the experiences of working among the Navajo people. Erica M. Elliott brings readers into a world that is both professionally challenging and personally transformative, sharing experiences that encourage reflection on what it truly means to care for others.
One of the book’s strengths is its human perspective. Rather than presenting medicine simply as a profession, Elliott explores the relationships, cultural experiences, and unexpected moments that can shape a physician’s understanding of healing. The stories provide insight into the realities of practicing medicine in a remote community while also highlighting the importance of compassion, trust, and respect for cultural traditions.
The book is particularly engaging when Elliott reflects on the lessons she learned from the people she served. These experiences give the narrative an intimate quality and invite readers to consider healing from perspectives that extend beyond conventional medical practice.
Overall, *Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert* is a meaningful memoir that combines medical experience with personal reflection and cultural encounters. It will appeal to readers interested in memoirs, medicine, Native American communities, and stories about how professional experiences can profoundly change the person behind the profession.
September 30, 2026
A Moving Journey of Medicine, Humanity, and Connection
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a deeply compelling memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of medicine, culture, community, and human connection.
Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people are presented with honesty and compassion, taking the reader beyond the clinical side of medicine and into the lives, traditions, challenges, and relationships that shape the communities she served. What makes the book particularly memorable is the sense that medicine here is not simply about treating an illness—it is also about listening, understanding, earning trust, and recognizing the person behind the patient.
The high-desert setting adds another layer to the story. Elliott captures both the beauty and the difficulties of practicing medicine in a remote environment, while reflecting on the experiences that changed her understanding of healing and of people themselves.
What stayed with me most was the humanity throughout the book. There are moments of difficulty, discovery, compassion, and unexpected wonder, and they come together to create a memoir that feels both personal and meaningful.
A thoughtful read for anyone interested in medicine, Indigenous communities, memoirs, or stories about the profound ways that serving others can transform the person doing the serving.
A heartfelt and illuminating memoir that reminds us that sometimes the greatest lessons in medicine happen beyond the examination room.
Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert is a deeply compelling memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of medicine, culture, community, and human connection.
Erica M. Elliott’s experiences among the Navajo people are presented with honesty and compassion, taking the reader beyond the clinical side of medicine and into the lives, traditions, challenges, and relationships that shape the communities she served. What makes the book particularly memorable is the sense that medicine here is not simply about treating an illness—it is also about listening, understanding, earning trust, and recognizing the person behind the patient.
The high-desert setting adds another layer to the story. Elliott captures both the beauty and the difficulties of practicing medicine in a remote environment, while reflecting on the experiences that changed her understanding of healing and of people themselves.
What stayed with me most was the humanity throughout the book. There are moments of difficulty, discovery, compassion, and unexpected wonder, and they come together to create a memoir that feels both personal and meaningful.
A thoughtful read for anyone interested in medicine, Indigenous communities, memoirs, or stories about the profound ways that serving others can transform the person doing the serving.
A heartfelt and illuminating memoir that reminds us that sometimes the greatest lessons in medicine happen beyond the examination room.
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