The House of God: Another look

Since its publication in 1978, Samuel Shem's The House of God has sold over two million copies in over 50 countries. While it has remained popular among medical students, its value as a literary text to promote critical reflection on self and profession continues to be unrecognized in professional spheres. In spite of the ongoing conditions in medical training that prompted Shem's satirical novel, The House of God continues to evoke negative responses from academic medicine and has even been dismissed as "dated." This article examines the novel, its reception by academic medicine, and the relevance of its satire through an analyses of articles, reviews, and letters, along with Shem's observations on the novel and its controversies. Finally, the future of The House of God is proposed.