This Is the Door: The Body, Pain, and Faith

Darcey Steinke delves into the world of pain for sufferers and their loved ones, structuring chapters around body parts like The Spine, The Heart, and The Knees.

She draws on history, philosophy, religion, pop culture, and personal stories—including her own back surgery and a pilgrimage to Lourdes—to offer new understandings of pain with brilliance, humor, candor, and empathy.

The book recounts her journey through excruciating back pain, interviews with physicians, and reflections on figures like Frida Kahlo.