Wed, Jul 15
|Book Society
The Elusive Body: Medicine, Mystery & the Diagnostic Crisis
What does it mean to live without an answer? Join New York Times health editor Alexandra Sifferlin and UCSF diagnostician Dr. Gurpreet Dhaliwal for a discussion about her new book, The Elusive Body — and why, despite enormous strides in medicine, the medical system often fails patients.
Time & Location
Jul 15, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Book Society, 2945 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
About the event
Most of us trust that when something is wrong, medicine will have an answer. But what happens when it doesn't?
In The Elusive Body: Patients, Doctors, and the Diagnosis Crisis, New York Times health and science editor Alexandra Sifferlin investigates what it truly means to live without an accurate diagnosis — and what's being done about it. Drawing on a landmark 2015 National Academies report finding that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, Sifferlin spent years tracking the efforts to close that gap. At the center of her story: Dr. Gurpreet Dhaliwal, one of the most celebrated diagnosticians in the country, who joins her in conversation for this special Book Society evening.
Together, they'll explore how doctors think, where the system breaks down, and what patients can do when the answers don't come easily.
Your ticket includes:
A thought-provoking conversation with Alexandra Sifferlin and Dr.…
Tickets
Book Society Members
Ticket rate for active Book Society Members only. One ticket per member. Additional guest tickets should be purchased at General Admission rate. Or tell your friends to join ! Learn more about how to become a member today at www.booksociety.social/membership
$30.00
+$0.75 ticket service fee
General Admission
Non-member ticket rate
$45.00
+$1.13 ticket service fee
Member Ticket + Book
Book Society Member Ticket + a copy of The Elusive Body NOTE: Ticket rate for active Book Society Members only. One ticket per member. Additional guest tickets should be purchased at General Admission rate. Or tell your friends to join ! Learn more about how to become a member today at www.booksociety.social/membership
$63.00
+$1.58 ticket service fee
General Admission + Book
General Admission + copy of The Elusive Body
$78.00
+$1.95 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00