Michael Stein is the author of six novels and two books of nonfiction, including The Lonely Patient: How We Experience Illness (Harper Perennial, 2008) and The Addict: One Patient, One Doctor, One Year (William Morrow, 2009). His work has twice been cited as distinguished in The Best American Essays. A physician, he directs health policy at Boston University and is executive editor of Public Health Post. (updated 4/2018)