Post: #1

This book was amazing. Really enjoyed it.

http://www.amazon.com/Do-No-Harm-Henry-M...do+no+harm



It took me about 20 pages to become engrossed. At first I thought it might be a bit dry - but it wasn't. Just a really interesting and revealing look at what it is like to spend 30 years being a brain surgeon.

The author (and brain surgeon), Henry Marsh, is a really cool guy. He is really open about all the fuck ups he has made in his career. And how - with brain surgery - the hardest thing is not the surgery but weighing up the odds of the benefits of surgery with the always present catastrophic risks.

He details what it is like telling people they are going to die and talks about the pain he goes through when he fucks up somebody and leaves them paralyzed or in a coma after an operation.

Some of the most gripping writing I have ever read. Yet - really enjoyable. Since the author is a cool guy. He is the very best of what the old fashioned English education system could produce. As is demonstrated in the book with him constantly getting into trouble for pissing off management.

You can see an interview with him here:





I am too tired to put together a proper review of the book. But then again it is quite a short book - so I don't want to spoil it. And more than anything I just want to convey my passion for this book.

Right now - it is in the ten best books I have ever read. I was really sad when I finished the book. Seems sad I won't get to hang out some more with the author since he is such an interesting (and funny) guy.

Post: #2

Thanks for the recommendation Cardguy.

As a brain surgeon's son I really have no idea what he did for a living because he never talked about it...Maybe this book will give me a chance to actually understand him a little more.

Post: #3

Going to give this a read. Thanks.

Post: #4

I think there is a very good chance this book will be my book of the year.

Anyway - the author (and brain surgeon) is in the news today. He is a cyclist himself - and with his experience of operating on cyclists who have being seriously injured in crashes, he believes that helmets are a waste of time for cyclists.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsb...eless.html

I have heard people say this in the past - but it is interesting hearing a brain surgeon say the same thing.