I HAVE BEEN LEFT (UNNECESSARILY) SEVERELY FACIALLY DISFIGURED BY MEDICAL INCOMPETENCE FOLLOWING UK NHS SURGERY IN JANUARY 2009, SO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND ANY USEFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION OR WAY FORWARD.

I'D CATEGORISE THIS BOOK AS USEFUL, BUT OF AN ACADEMIC RATHER THAN A PRACTICAL NATURE.

I'M ALSO NOT PARTICULARLY KEEN ON THE DISFIGURED AND DISABLED BEING LUMPED IN WITH CRIMINALS OR OTHER SOCIETY OUTSIDERS LIKE PROSTITUTES. BUT THEN AGAIN, IT IS A STUDY OF SOCIAL STIGMA, AND THE VIEWS FOR EXAMPLE OF THE CHILD OF A CRIMINAL, SCORNED BY HER SCHOOL COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD MIX WITH HER, ARE OF COURSE RELEVANT.

IT HAS USEFUL COMMENTS ABOUT THE ANNOYANCE FELT BY PEOPLE LIKE ME WHEN STRANGERS THINK THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DISFIGURED, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO INVADE OUR PRIVACY, WITH THEIR NOSEYNESS AND PATRONISING COMMENTS. AND SOME OF THE ANECDOTAL ACCOUNTS ARE TIMELESS, AND HELPFUL.

BUT OVERALL IT CONTAINS NO USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DISFIGURED, SO I'D RATE IT AS ACADEMICALLY INTERESTING BUT NOT REALLY OF PRACTICAL USE.