Reviews
The Open Heart Club: A Story about Birth and Death and Cardiac Surgery by Gabriel Brownstein
debbiecuddy's review
5.0
I can't think of a time when I've found myself in tears at the end of a work of non-fiction until this book. I've always been interested in reading about medical history, but what really drew me to this book was that during the past eight years two of my brothers have undergone life saving open heart surgery due to a congenital heart defect. Their defect was thought to be just a benign heart murmur when they were young, but became life threatening as they aged.
The author writes about his experiences with open heart surgeries and living with congenital heart disease in an open and candid manner that helped me to gain some understanding of what my brothers experienced. In alternate chapters the author explores the fascinating history of open heart surgery. Even more interesting was that I learned about the contributions made by women and people of color.
At the end of the book I was overcome with gratitude to everyone who, over the years, had a part in saving the lives of my brothers and so many other people.
The author writes about his experiences with open heart surgeries and living with congenital heart disease in an open and candid manner that helped me to gain some understanding of what my brothers experienced. In alternate chapters the author explores the fascinating history of open heart surgery. Even more interesting was that I learned about the contributions made by women and people of color.
At the end of the book I was overcome with gratitude to everyone who, over the years, had a part in saving the lives of my brothers and so many other people.
nightfallphantom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
emileereadsbooks's review
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
Thank you Netgalley and Public Affairs for a free digital copy.
I learned so much about open heart surgeries and the history of this field of medicine while reading this title. This book is a hybrid of science textbook and memoir. I think it is well written, but something about the writing style didn't click with me. I wasn't fully invested.
I learned so much about open heart surgeries and the history of this field of medicine while reading this title. This book is a hybrid of science textbook and memoir. I think it is well written, but something about the writing style didn't click with me. I wasn't fully invested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
theshaggyshepherd's review
4.0
The Open Heart Club by Gabriel Brownstein is a great addition to my memoir titles this year. Brownstein simultaneously tells us about his personal struggles with congenital heart disease as well as a partial history of the field of pediatric as well as adult cardiology. This is not the book to read if you want a comprehensive history of pediatric or adult cardiology but do not let that deter you from reading this gem. Bronwstein focuses on the testing and surgery procedures that have been relevant to his personal journey. I really like how he jumps back and forth between the history and his own life rather than doing one completely first and then the other because it really ties everything together well. He also does not simply focus on the procedures but tells us much about the different scientists that developed them. He did a great job of combining history and personal relevance.
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