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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Insightful and relevant. This is a well-written book about a topic that is extremely disheartening. It is not a book filled with fast-paced action or lurid details - if you are looking for drama and heart-stopping heroism, this is not the point of this book. It is not a ripped from the headlines - must-see-tv- in book format. Instead it will ask you to think about things that will (and should) make you uncomfortable and ask questions that have no easy answers.
Really interesting book. I see a lot of parallels between the Healthcare and Education system.
A piece of COVID-19 literature, The Emergency is a non-fiction memoir written by a doctor who worked in a South Side Chicago ED during the pandemic (and the years leading up to it).
Fisher's book is divided into chapters, that can be classified into two types; the months of the pandemic (ie. March 2020) and letters to real people. In the regular chapters he shares a standard day in the ED at his hospital including example patients and their stories, interactions with his colleagues and the impact of the pandemic not just on the health of the people in Chicago but also on the already tense racial situation in Chicago and really the entire US. The chapters that are letters are usually written to a person mentioned in the previous chapter. These letters could be to patients, family members or colleagues and are an opportunity for Fisher to speak in a more narrative style and explain contextual information as if he was speaking to the person. Throughout the book there is a very clear message that Emergency Medical professionals do not get to spend real time with their patients. Fisher explains that there is really only about 3 minutes of time per patient for him to actually evaluate and treat the person face-to-face, and these letters emphasize this message in their own way. By showing the reader that he wishes he could give the real-life people he works with a clearer picture of what is going on in the hospital, the city, the country and the world he shares information with the reader while also showing his vulnerability as a human and a doctor just trying to do his best.
As a black man and someone who fully understands and appreciates the challenges faced by the community members whom he serves, Fisher is able to give an OwnVoices perspective of both the political and racial climate during the pandemic as well as an informed medical opinion on what was going on. He has both first-hand experience and the knowledge and training to carefully dissect the pandemic from many different viewpoints and perspectives. This book is extremely well written. It is clear and concise and filled with valuable information, but it is also personal and story-like and relatable for the average reader. Through reading this book I really feel like I can not only picture the ED Fisher described, but also feel as though he was a friend I've recently had coffee with. At this imaginary coffee date I was entertained with interesting day-to-day stories, caught up on our time apart during the pandemic, and also informed about so many important issues related to race, economics, health care, and American history and politics. It was quite the coffee date! And for a non-fiction text to cover all of those topics (and more) and be written in an interesting and almost narrative fashion, it checks all the boxes I need for a good book! I highly recommend it!
Fisher's book is divided into chapters, that can be classified into two types; the months of the pandemic (ie. March 2020) and letters to real people. In the regular chapters he shares a standard day in the ED at his hospital including example patients and their stories, interactions with his colleagues and the impact of the pandemic not just on the health of the people in Chicago but also on the already tense racial situation in Chicago and really the entire US. The chapters that are letters are usually written to a person mentioned in the previous chapter. These letters could be to patients, family members or colleagues and are an opportunity for Fisher to speak in a more narrative style and explain contextual information as if he was speaking to the person. Throughout the book there is a very clear message that Emergency Medical professionals do not get to spend real time with their patients. Fisher explains that there is really only about 3 minutes of time per patient for him to actually evaluate and treat the person face-to-face, and these letters emphasize this message in their own way. By showing the reader that he wishes he could give the real-life people he works with a clearer picture of what is going on in the hospital, the city, the country and the world he shares information with the reader while also showing his vulnerability as a human and a doctor just trying to do his best.
As a black man and someone who fully understands and appreciates the challenges faced by the community members whom he serves, Fisher is able to give an OwnVoices perspective of both the political and racial climate during the pandemic as well as an informed medical opinion on what was going on. He has both first-hand experience and the knowledge and training to carefully dissect the pandemic from many different viewpoints and perspectives. This book is extremely well written. It is clear and concise and filled with valuable information, but it is also personal and story-like and relatable for the average reader. Through reading this book I really feel like I can not only picture the ED Fisher described, but also feel as though he was a friend I've recently had coffee with. At this imaginary coffee date I was entertained with interesting day-to-day stories, caught up on our time apart during the pandemic, and also informed about so many important issues related to race, economics, health care, and American history and politics. It was quite the coffee date! And for a non-fiction text to cover all of those topics (and more) and be written in an interesting and almost narrative fashion, it checks all the boxes I need for a good book! I highly recommend it!
This book is sharp, powerful, and gorgeously written. It’s a visceral takedown of the racialized system of US healthcare we all take for granted as inevitable; somehow, Fisher also manages to write a story of humanity and love at the same time. The format (essays and letters interspersed) works well without being gimmicky. I especially loved his insights as a Black male physician — it’s a perspective not frequently shared.
At times, he was a bit heavy handed with Sociology 101 elements that were obvious and repetitive for folks with a stronger understanding of inequity. Regardless, the writing was strong enough to overcome this. Five stars for one of my favorite books of 2022.
At times, he was a bit heavy handed with Sociology 101 elements that were obvious and repetitive for folks with a stronger understanding of inequity. Regardless, the writing was strong enough to overcome this. Five stars for one of my favorite books of 2022.
A lovely little last minute find at the library I was immediately drawn to this book. It’s definitely something that pulls to anyone who works in healthcare; especially these past few years and especially if you specialize in Emergency Medicine. A constant feeling of never being able to do enough for your patients trails behind you for far longer than Covid 19 has been in the conversation. The style of this book was easy and comforting. To put the history of healthcare in this country that he was able to in the form of letters to patients was a smart idea and made it easier to digest.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
hopeful
informative
medium-paced