Vernon Rowe's The Ride takes the reader by foot, by plane, by horse, and by helicopter into the heart of a healer and confronts his uncertainty, explores his pain, and celebrates the human condition. Dr. Rowe, a neurologist by trade, reveals himself to be a doctor of the heart as well. When he looks at an MRI of a poet's brain, he sees "not even a single syllable of one tiny poem," but when he listens to his patients' stories, or looks within himself, he discovers a world beyond the scan, a realm where people can experience a connection "so strong it can heal. Like love." In Rowe's poems and stories, less is more. Gem-like poems and spare, uncluttered stories demonstrate the power of this fine writer. This book is a ride I encourage you to take. --JACK COULEHAN, M.D., M.P.H., author of MedicineStone