ABSTRACT
Richard Holloway, referring to a raging religious debate, described the noise of clashing opinion as "the thickest of overcoats to cover against the chill of uncertainty". Holloway's memoir is a study of the importance of uncertainty and the human quest for its antithesis. An important conclusion of his own quest is that a journey consisting of relentless and honest attempts to understand will always have uncertainty as its destination. This might be depressing if it were not for the fact that uncertainty is necessary for hope to exist. The importance of a clinician's ability to live and work with uncertainty needs to be emphasised. The tension created in the clinician who has to provide a secure base for their patient but has little security in their situation of work is obviously extremely regrettable. The task of being with can be effortful and at times will feel risky or dangerous at a profound level.
