Reviews (6)

Pretty special...
I'm presently working my way through PA school, and this book has a ring to it I can't seem to keep out of my ears.Each new situation or patient I'm with brings back the words Selzer uses to present his stories.I'd strongly recommend it as a gift to those in MD or PA school--besides being outstanding writing, its fun to see the many ways medicine has changed, coupled with the countless ways it remains the same.Read especially "A Pint of Blood"...no matter how many times I read it, it still has me laughing.

Notes from a veteran doctor's perspective, excellent writing
Having read Doctor's stories first, I was prepared for Richard Selzer's excellent writing.This book must be the origin of some of the stories that wound up in Doctor Stories (Imelda, Impostor, Chatterbox) Good but not great.Score: 7
Under the old Amazon.com ranking system, I would give this book a seven on a ten point scale.As a fellow surgeon who enjoys Selzer's writings, I thought this was a good, yet not great collection of ruminations.Some ofthe chapters were quite touching, some were funny, and some were quiteplain.A few actually suffered from Selzer's exuberant imagination as hetried to stuff meaning and metaphor into patients' stories that didn't fit. Taking it all together, I'm glad I bought it, but I liked his book MortalLessons much better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Essays    3. Fiction    4. Medical - General    5. Medicine    6. Practice Of Medicine    7. Residents (Medicine)    8. Surgery    9. Surgery - General    10. Medicine: General Issues    11. Other prose: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (3)

How today's health practitioners work
Centuries of research and medical insights have contributed to the fundamental principles of today's medical and research practices: Doctors & Discoveries is dedicated to the pioneers who made these initial medical discoveries. Key figures in medicine from past to present are detailed in a collective biography of medical history chronicling their lives and achievements. Solid links are drawn between discoveries, discoverers, and how today's health practitioners work.

A great addition to your reference library
A splendid book for writers, doctors, scientists, reference librarians and any educated reader who wants to understand the history of medicine through the biographies of its chief proponents. From Paracelsus and Harvey to Koch and Gallo, this is a highly readable history. Great book on physicians as explorers/inventors!
I am always on the look out for decent books that can be used to teach students about phenomenal lives and mentors. This book accurately fills that need. Most of the physicians in this book were also researchers before scientific research was even a field. Many of these men (they are mostly men) came from backgrounds that were not particularly conducive to doing medicine, let alone the research that they ended up doing. Their families were not aristrocratic or learned, many had fathers who were tradesmen...yet for some reason, they chose to enter fields of medicine. Medicine was not always the prestigious field or career that it is now. Often, it was looked down upon, especially prior to its consolidation as a science. The work that these men did helped to raise the prestige of medicine, anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. History    4. Medical - General    5. Medical scientists    6. Medicine    7. Physicians    8. Reference    9. Science    10. Biography & Autobiography / Medical    11. History of medicine   

Reviews (12)

This is toilet paper
I found myself laughing at what amounts to a surgical resident with a godzilla ego.I can't believe that someone who is entrusted with protecting and saving lives can make such fun of the very people he is charged with helping.If I were one of these patients and read this scrambled mess, I would hire an attorney for slander and malpractice.I only hope that he never passed his boards and if he did, practices in a state far from mine....you're the type of ass that gives doctors a bad name.

Some clarification continues
I thought the writting was accurate, but, could have used some better editing.As a close to finishing Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow myself, I enjoyed the premise, theme, and characterizations.But, as others have stated, UAB is not among the best General Surgery Residencies, and Emory is not among the best or busiest Cardiothoracic Surgery Residencies.Perhaps each is among the most "malignant." this ain't good writing
If you work went to school or work at Bayview General (as I do) then it is a definite buy and read.His description of the characters is amusing.After you read it you will certainly have a new perception of arrogance at its highest level.There are a lot of people in a lot of specialties who work hard and try to put the patient first.Tell us once and get on with the story.If you are not familiar with Bayview I don't think you would enjoy it nearly as much, and remember, this is one person's (very biased) view. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Cardiovascular Surgery    4. Education & Training    5. Medical - General    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Physicians    8. Surgery - General    9. Surgery - Thoracic   

Editorial Review

Books about the education of physicians are so plentiful they practically constitute their own subgenre. For starters, there's Melvin Konner's Read more

Reviews (31)

This book led me to where I am now
After reading about her experiences, I made my decision to go into the field of medicine (as opposed to nursing or PA).This book may have been one of the determining factors in leading me to be who I am, and who I will be in the future!

Ugh...
Kind of a big bulk of dull recounts, set in a fog of years past. I find it hard to remember anything special about it. I strongly suggest in its place: On Call: A Doctor's Days and Nights in Residency, by Emily R. Transue, or Another Day In The Frontal Lobe, Katrina Firlik. These books are written with the depth that White Coat lacks.
OK, OK, I GET IT!!
You don't like fat people! That's totally cool, but for the love of god, settle down with the OBESE descriptions.I was also impressed (as I know you wanted me to be!) that despite the fact that you're a med student and working 36 hour days, you still managed to work out! Often! Good for you, sister!And good for ME!That's inspiring!!Lastly, I'm sure that it's because you work out, but how many times can you work in the fact that your size small lab coat (also, scrubs) was/were just too darned big for you?By my count, four.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Medical - General    5. Women    6. Biography & Autobiography / Medical   

Reviews (1)

If you ever wondered what your doctor was thinking......
.....read this book.This book was written from the heart.For the most part, it is written for an audience of young physicians but with an awareness that the patient may also be reading.It is told from the perspective of the experienced physician, in this case the author, Edward C. Rosenow III, M.D., who worked at Mayo Clinic for 31 years who learned "that many times the gift of caring and compassion are more effective in healing than the power of modern medicine."There are two main sections:The Art of Living and the Art of MedicinePeople will find it an invaluable guide for their own life and work.Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical - General    2. Self-Help    3. Self-Hypnosis    4. Advice on careers & achieving success    5. art of living,art of medicine,caring,happiness,patient,hope,compassion,therapy,doctor,medicine,communication,death,end of life,trafford,03-0631,1-4120-0262-1,142002621   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Consumer Health    4. Diseases - General    5. Medical - General    6. Mental Health   

Reviews (2)

the nature of caring
I literally can't tell you how much this book meant to me.Everybody at the nursing home where I volunteer looked different today, as I recalled people in the book, their experiences and knowledge, and realized that the people walking down the hall across from all had their own stories.Even I looked different to myself as I realized I was behaving differently and looking deeper. And that's exactly what the author set out to do, isn't it?

Nursing vs. Doctoring
I have just completed Veneta Masson's journal Ninth Street Notebook and am still reeling from the accuracy she describes the art of nursing.As a diploma graduate of the 60's and a master's prepared family and women's health nurse practitioner my career has offered many roles to intereact with the medical profession.Veneta describes very well our role as healers in the context of community and science.I highly recommend this book to the nursing community. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Literary    4. Medical - General    5. Medical / Nursing    6. Medical / Nursing / Home & Community Care    7. Nursing - Home & Community Care    8. Clinics    9. Essays    10. Medical    11. Public health nursing   

Reviews (4)

Great introduction to Freud with amazing illustrated slides.
The 'xxx for beginners' are marvellous not just because they give you a valuable grounding in forbidding subjects, allowing you to approach primary texts with more confidence, but because they are so entertaining, even in subjects you have little interest in.Though this book is a much-needed introduction to and exposition of Freud's basic theories, making you feel clever as you join the dots you always knew were there but for the intimidating jargon, the real joy is in the irreverent presentation, especially the illustrations.These are full of in-jokes about Freud's life and times which are not always treated explicitely in the text, as well as being technically expert, imaginative and, sometimes, bracingly shocking.So while it is pleasing, in these anti-Freudian times, to be reminded of the man's incalculable importance and influence, the illustrations offer an in-built critique that puts everything in perspective.Great fun.

Sometimes a Book is just a Book
This book is just a book, but a better book than its successor of the same title by Richard Osborne. Mostly because it does not hang onto the relationship between Jung and Freud as long and focuses more on the theories of Freud. In fact, what I really enjoyed about this book is that gave a good round about summary of most of Freuds theories inside each book. Certainly acts a good stepping stone for those who need to know Freud in a hurry and wants the gist of his work. Richard Appignanesi displays good understanding of Freuds work and summarizes it well and concise. Reccomended for the prodigal psychologist.

"I MAKE the world!This is my GIFT!"
(See page 79 for explanation and a very funny illustration of the second stage of psychosexual development).This book, in addition to being very informative, is also incredibly funny.Very well written and drawn; thoughin the form of a comic book, it is nevertheless a splendid introduction toFreud's life and work.The author and illustrator are quite witty as wellas knowledgeable, and in this book they have succeeded at what should bethe goal of all beginners' book writers: piqued my interest in the subjectand made me want to learn more.Would be a great supplementary text in acourse on Freud or on psychology/psychoanalysis in general.Highlyrecommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. History    5. Medical - General    6. Social Scientists & Psychologists    7. Biography & Autobiography / Medical   

Features

• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Audio - Nonfiction    3. Audiobooks    4. Biography    5. England    6. Essays    7. Medical - General    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Pets    11. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    12. Veterinarians    13. Veterinary Medicine - General    14. Yorkshire   

Subjects:  1. Alzheimer's disease    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Family relationships    4. Health    5. Medical - General    6. Patients    7. Sociology    8. Wall, Mary M    9. Wall, Mary M.    10. Biography: general    11. Coping with illness    12. Wall, Frank A   

Editorial Review

The hardest part of being a parent is the certain knowledge that there are some things you can't control. When Beth Kephart's son Jeremy was labeled with the unsettlingly vague diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder (a behavioral disorder related to autism) in the fall of 1991, there were no definitive medical answers, no guidebooks to Jeremy's inner world, no maps to help Jeremy's mom and dad lead their boy back into the land of relatively uncomplicated childhood. Jeremy was a beautiful child who screamed whenever strangers came near him and spent long hours every day obsessively rearranging his toy cars into indecipherable patterns. He was an early talker, but by the time of his diagnosis Jeremy's speech had degenerated into mindless parroting--a condition known as echolalia. Jeremy's triumph over his disability and his journey to reintegration is the primary story of this beautifully written book, Kephart's first.Read more

Reviews (33)

Lyrical writing style, some useful advice
The author writes in a highly personal, lyrical, and IMO
A Self-Portrait of a Mother's Love
As beautifully as it is written, as much praise as it has received, and as interested as I am in the subject, A Slant of Sun was hard to pick up.For in opening these pages, I had to pry open a part of myself.The struggle wasworthwhile, however, for the elegant prose of this book sheds light and hope upon the challenges faced by parents whose children receive the diagnosis of "Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" as well as other invisible and elusive conditions that can affect the development of young children.
This is a great read
Unlike most books about autistic children written by their mothers, this mom doesn't offer the difinitive methodology for "recovery", no recipe for success.She tells the story of herself and her son to tell what she has found to be the greatest truth of the parent child relationship - love matters.You do your best, you love your child, you teach him/her what is important.So many parents of autistic children, particularly those with very young children, are so afraid of the future, they want answers.You will not find those answers here.This doesn't tell you what to do, but suggests that whatever path you take, be sure it is full of love.This is a lovely book,beautifully written, sweetly told. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family relationships    2. Parents of exceptional childre    3. Kephart, Jeremy    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Developmentally disabled child    6. Parental Memoirs    7. Children with Special Needs    8. Parenting    9. Autism    10. Pervasive developmental disorder    11. Parents of autistic children    12. Biography & Autobiography / Medical    13. Biography: general    14. Child care & upbringing    15. USA    16. Parenting   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Medical    3. Medical - General    4. Oncology    5. Terminal Care    6. Biography: general    7. Medical / Terminal Care    8. Medicine | Palliative Medicine    9. Palliative medicine    10. Terminal care nursing   

Editorial Review

Martha Manning's previous memoir, Read more

Reviews (11)

Absolutely Delightful
Not being Catholic, I was afraid when I picked this book up that parts would be over my head.However, Manning does an exceptional job ofdescribing Catholic rites without getting bogged down in the explaination. I thought this book was touching and hysterical at the same time and Iwould wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone, even non-Catholics, who isinterested in the religion.

Pay no attention to the Kirkus review of this book
The review by Kirkus Reviews of Chasing Grace shows a completemisunderstanding of the book. The reviewer states: "Her textseems like the record of a pleasurable, meandering conversation exchanging anecdotes about their childhood than a measured, reflective study." Maybe that's because it was a conversation about childhood, not a study of the Catholic Church.I was wary of this book. I thought that it might be a "I survived Catholicism" Catholic-bashing type book. I was pleasantly surprised.This book is about a woman's journey from childhood to adulthood. It is centered by experiences with her religion. That makes perfect sense because the seven sacraments are rites of passage for Catholics. To be sure she did have some horror stories to tell about her experiences in the Pre-Vatican II church, but she seems to have learned that The Church is populated by people - and people fail.Those wretched nuns she described did fail the church and maybe the church failed them. But, as anyone who knows anything about the Catholic Church, the Church has made such progress. Manning seems to recognize that. Or at least forgive the Church for it's transgressions. She sees past the human failings of the Church and sees the grace within. END

Life as Sacrament
Martha Manning not only writes a delightfully charming and hilarious account of her Catholic girlhood, she also, and more importantly, connects adult life experiences with acramental spirituality.Relating real lifeexperiences in the context of each of the 7 Sacraments celebrated in theCatholic Church, she gives a tangible reality to spirituality and exploreslife as a place where one encounters the living presence of God.It isobvious that for Ms. Manning, all of life is sacred and sacraments are tobe lived - not just as ritual moments, but as the very fabric of everydayexperience.This is a gem. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Catholic Church    6. Catholics    7. Ex-church members    8. General    9. Manning, Martha    10. Medical - General    11. Psychotherapists    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography: general    15. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    17. Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church   

Reviews (23)

Funny and real - in the land of Very Scary Things
This is one of the best books I have read lately.It's definitely not a cancer-as-slapstick memoir.Joni Rodgers got horribly sick, could have died, and she pulls no punches as this book surveys the physical, emotional and financial wreckage.
Excellent Combination of Tragedy and Humor!!
I read this book because I asked my fiance to bring me any book from the library and he picked this one because he thought I'd like it...and the reality is that YES I DID LIKE IT.
A note from the author
It's been five years this month (Feb 2006) since BLBH was published, and I still get email from readers every week. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to post a review or drop me a line! Hope I get a chance to meet and greet many of you as I tour with my new novel, THE SECRET SISTERS. Be well, be joyful. ~ Joni ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1962-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Cancer    6. Diseases - Cancer    7. Health    8. Health & Fitness    9. Health/Fitness    10. Lymphomas    11. Medical - General    12. Patients    13. Rodgers, Joni,    14. Specific Groups - Special Needs    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. Biography & Autobiography    18. Women    19. Medical   

Reviews (3)

Deeply insightful regarding the philantropic benefit of European colonialism
This book is a very frank account of a French medical missionary's experiences in Central Africa. The length to which Schweitzer went to ease the suffering of the native tribes is touching and displays a great deal of empathy and dedication. It showcases the concern of a medically advanced society for the less fortunate. The number of lives saved by the provision of modern European medicine that would certainly have been lost without his intervention is deeply disturbing.

deeply offensive for us natives of Gabon
I read this book out of curiosity because my grandmother remembers Dr. Schweitzer very well. I found this book very offensive because of the imperialistic language of "superior Europeans coming to the rescue of inferior childlike Blacks". He calls us "children of nature" and "savages." Read the book, it's all in there.

Candid and well written
This book will have most of its appeal to those with interest in medicine, missionary work, or anthropology.It consists of Schweitzer's medical case histories, travels, hospital administrative chores, reflections on African and European culture, and general overview of his first decade and a half in Gabon on the west coast of Africa.Schweitzer's candid comments about the Africans and the harsh conditions under which he worked help make this book better than the average account of third world philanthropic endeavors.Schweitzer shows true insight and compassion for those he came to help and I found the book highly engaging. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1875-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    6. Gabon    7. Medical    8. Medical - General    9. Missionaries, Medical    10. Missions    11. Missions, Medical    12. Physicians    13. Practice Management & Reimbursement    14. Practice Of Medicine    15. Schweitzer, Albert,    16. Africa    17. Biography: general    18. Health systems & services    19. Nature / Natural Resources    20. Schweitzer, Albert   

Reviews (4)

Truly inspirational
In this era of our hunger for all things "reality", this book truly stands out as an inspiration of the real lives of women scientists.As written in their own words, these women really come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Their stories are riveting and unique.Every woman thinking about a career in science and medicine should be able to identify with at least some of the women in the book and find in them the inspiration to pursue their career dreams.These autobiographies humanize these intelligent and creative women, and demonstrate that women in science are multi-faceted and can have a career, family, and outside interests.Dr. Neilson has done an excellent job of assembling these life stories and of uniting them all together.I highly recomment the book for all women thinking of, or already immersed in, a career in scientific research.

Very inspirational book!
It has been wonderful to read "What's Past is Prologue: The Personal Stories of Women in Science at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine" by Dr Neilson. As a woman planning to enter academic medicine currently at the end of my MD/PhD training and also a mother of 2 young children, this book was not only highly inspirational but also provided a window into the personal lives of outstanding femalescientists. It makes me realize that my struggles and joys are quite universal and our paths albeit different lead to common dreams. Overall, I highly recommend this book to both women and men alike interested in academic medicine.

Review
What's Past is Prologue is one of the most inspirational books I have read. I am a female physician in training in internal medicine and found these personal stories by my female collegues very unique and admirable. I strive to also become a female physician scientist.It was very rewarding to hear how they juggle family and their successful careers. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Medical    2. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology    3. Biography & Autobiography / Women    4. Education / Vocational Guidance    5. Essays    6. Medical    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Women    9. Careers - Science & Technology    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Research    12. Women physicians    13. Women scientists   

Reviews (15)

Terrible
This book was a tremendous disapointment.Ridiculous.A waste of the short time it takes to read - unless you are an ABA teacher and need to read something to build your ego.Other than that - save your money.

Asperger's Syndrome, The Universe and Everything: Kenneth Hall
I thought, overall, this was a unique book. The only negative was the handfull of references to Harry Potter books that Kenneth loves to read. (Christian parents-edit reading to your child as you go.) It had some very interesting insights into the operating personality of a young boy with Asperger's. I have a son with AS who is nine, so I was looking for a book on his level to help provide an explanation and understanding of his diagnosis.For the most part, this book has been a help to him, though it does seem to be redundant and lengthy at times.I definitely recommend that the parents read this book to your AS child with siblings present should any questions arise.It provides a good explanation for the other children of "why" their brother/sister has a hard time with certain things.It also helped us to realize some further, more vague, symptoms of AS that our younger son demonstrates and in which he personally recognized "Hey, Momma, that's me!"So we are in the process of getting him evaluated as well.Overall, this was a good book to begin to teach your child more about his/her uniqueness and the good points about who they were created to be.

Inside View of Aspergers
Awesome! Kenneth is a 10 year old boy with AS. This book helps AS parents, teachers, & others to understand the delicate and complicated perspectives of an AS child's brain. Kenneth describes how the world looks to him and how so many things are a challenge for him. I've read the book numerous times. I have also quoted it in meetings and appeal hearings to help others understand my AS son's strenths and weaknesses. It allows "outsiders" an inside look at the world of Aspergers. My son has read it and feels it is describing his life. He is amazed that there is someone in the world that feels the way he does and views things the same way. This is a definite read for all who interact with these special children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Asperger's syndrome    3. Family relationships    4. Children with Special Needs    5. Learning Disabilities    6. Diseases - Nervous System (incl. Brain)    7. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    8. Asperger's Syndrome    9. Biography/Autobiography    10. Autistic children    11. Popular works    12. Psychology    13. Psychotherapy - Child & Adolescent    14. Child & developmental psychology    15. Clinical psychology    16. Paediatric medicine   

Reviews (1)

I don't know what to say
I silently absorbed all of this work and just came away with such empathy it's very difficult to express it. It is a good manual to prepare you for such procedures. Too much to say about it, my words fail. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Health Care Delivery    4. Heart    5. Medical - General    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Patients    8. Recovery    9. Transplantation    10. United States   

Reviews (1)

IT'S NATURE...NOT NURTURE...
This is a wonderfully written book and a fascinating look into the debate of nature versus nurture in the area of gender assignment. Intelligent and insightful, the author draws a compassionate portrait of a family who, faced with a decision in the wake of a tragedy, relies upon the advice of a well-respected doctor, which reliance turned out to be misplaced. The book details the aftermath of the family's fateful decision and the impact it was to have on them all.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Gender Studies    5. General    6. Medical - General    7. Sex Roles (Sociological Aspects)    8. Specific Groups - Special Needs    9. Surgery - General    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Medical    3. Medical - General    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Neuroscience    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Medical / Neuroscience    8. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology