A review by thisotherbookaccount
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery by Henry Marsh
4.0
There are many boxes you need to tick in order to become a doctor, let alone a good one. Intelligence is obviously one of them, along with a passion for the work and the ability to withstand blood and gore. As for me, I always believe that I fit at least two of the necessary characteristics. I love reading about medical science for one and have no problems with blood and gore.
The reason I am not a doctor, though, is that I am simply not smart enough to be one.
The next best thing, of course, is to read about doctors and doctoring, which is what Do No Harm is all about. This time, the spotlight is trained on brain surgeon Henry Marsh, with decades of experience — and stories — under his belt.
You read books like that for a few reasons. One, to peep into the world that you are otherwise not invited to; two, to learn just how fragile the human body is. Grow a lump that is slightly smaller than the nail on your pinky and, depending on where it is in your brain, and you can be fucked for life. There aren’t very many brain surgeons in the UK (where Marsh is from), let alone the world — and for good reasons. Brain surgery is tough and offers no guarantee of recovery. Risks, too, are through the roof.
What I love about this book is the honesty presented on the pages. Marsh doesn’t pretend like he is the best surgeon in the world. Mistakes were made in the past, some with heavier consequences than others, but it perfectly illustrates the challenge of brain surgery. Oftentimes, when you have to pick between a bad decision and a worse decision, you do the best you can. Marsh doesn’t shy away from these difficult choices and presents them in this book through even more difficult stories.
A highly recommended book for anyone interested in what goes on in a hospital setting.
The reason I am not a doctor, though, is that I am simply not smart enough to be one.
The next best thing, of course, is to read about doctors and doctoring, which is what Do No Harm is all about. This time, the spotlight is trained on brain surgeon Henry Marsh, with decades of experience — and stories — under his belt.
You read books like that for a few reasons. One, to peep into the world that you are otherwise not invited to; two, to learn just how fragile the human body is. Grow a lump that is slightly smaller than the nail on your pinky and, depending on where it is in your brain, and you can be fucked for life. There aren’t very many brain surgeons in the UK (where Marsh is from), let alone the world — and for good reasons. Brain surgery is tough and offers no guarantee of recovery. Risks, too, are through the roof.
What I love about this book is the honesty presented on the pages. Marsh doesn’t pretend like he is the best surgeon in the world. Mistakes were made in the past, some with heavier consequences than others, but it perfectly illustrates the challenge of brain surgery. Oftentimes, when you have to pick between a bad decision and a worse decision, you do the best you can. Marsh doesn’t shy away from these difficult choices and presents them in this book through even more difficult stories.
A highly recommended book for anyone interested in what goes on in a hospital setting.