Preface; Note on Hmong Orthography, Pronunciation, and Quotations (291-92); Notes on Sources (293-294); Birth; Fish Soup; The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down For this first reading, I looked at the surrounding materials relating to the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down – notably, the Preface and the author’s notes on Hmong Orthography, Pronunciation, and Quotations, as well as on Sources. What struck me most clearly was the personal impact these experiences clearly had on Fadiman, and her emphasis in the Preface on establishing the need for cultures to merge and for us to explore Continue reading...