WAVERLY - Culture, religion, ethics and science collide in a nonfiction work about a Hmong family, a child diagnosed with epilepsy and a California hospital.

Faculty at Wartburg College are using Anne Fadiman's award-winning book, "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," to explore cultural differences, sensitivities and the human experience. On Monday, Fadiman will visit the college to participate in the conversation.

Fadiman will speak at a 1:15 p.m. convocation in Neumann Auditorium at Wartburg. She will present a lecture at 7 p.m. in McCaskey Lyceum of Saemann Student Center, followed by a brief book signing. The events are free and open to the public.

Published in 1997, "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" examines the clash between a California hospital and a refugee family from Laos over the care of a Hmong child diagnosed with epilepsy. The book allows Wartburg students to understand the challenges and frustrations of all parties involved and has stimulated interesting discussions among students, Wartburg associate professor Cynthia Bane said. Bane teaches an Inquiry Studies 101 class which uses the text.

"It's been a good lesson in understanding," Bane said.

The book also illustrates how Western and Eastern views offer different approaches to health. Westerners tend to view health as the absence of illness, Bane said. But according to Fadiman's book, for the Hmong, spirituality and physical health are interrelated, Bane said.

The award-winning text is required reading for first-year students at Wartburg. Since 2003, the college invites administrators, faculty, regents and the public to read and discuss the year's selected text through its Readings in Common program, said Rebecca Blair, professor in residence of Liberal Studies. Blair estimates that about 150 have read Fadiman's book.

"I think certainly what we aim for … is to have a book that will speak to university to the human condition at any time. At any place," Blair said.

Fadiman's visit is made possible by the Michaelson, Briner & Kildahl Literary Symposium.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.