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jacqui_des's review against another edition
3.0
[b:Dead Center: Behind the Scenes at the World's Largest Medical Examiner's Office|1982568|Dead Center Behind the Scenes at the World's Largest Medical Examiner's Office|Shiya Ribowsky|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266948684s/1982568.jpg|703050] was not quite what I was expecting. I found the forensic information, exploration of the common myths of forensic science and [a:Shiya Ribowsky|381448|Shiya Ribowsky|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg]'s behind-the-scenes look at the role of PA’s and the working of the ME’s Office incredibly fascinating. However, I found the second half of the book rather tedious, which focused on the identification and information management processes that were implemented in NYC following the 9/11 attacks.
Memorable Quotes
Memorable Quotes
"Death is still, cold, quiet, and gray. Life is moving, warm, noisy, and full of color. The opposite of life is not only death, it is also the absence of joy."
"By the time we get involved with a body, death has come and gone, leaving us with only the empty shell, the abandoned luggage of what was once a human being."
"Death merely heralds the beginning of our work."
"It takes a special kind of fortitude to willingly confront and interact with a rotting body, or one that is cut up into pieces. And it takes a person who understands the social necessity of this act to do it properly."
"Reality is messier, slower, and less dependent on star detectives."
"In cultures different from the United States, suicide is not considered a failure of the courage to face life, but as a legitimate response to certain life situations."
"...the dead always have something to teach the living."
ricottae's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death, Medical content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
tinyhandsmcgee's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed the harmony between storytelling and self-reflection. I’m always curious about the ME’s perspective in high profile cases and casualties. Really enjoyed this.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating look at the work of a Medico-Legal Investigator for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in NYC. I only meant to peek at it for a second and ended up reading the whole thing in an afternoon. The running of the morgue and the work with doctors and hospitals and police and families was very fascinating. (Interestingly, the medical advisor at my job has made statements agreeing with the author that most doctors do not have the foggies idea how to fill out a death certificate and that no one should take one at face value unless issued after an autopsy.)
Most interesting and compelling and heartbreaking was the discussion of the aftermath of 9/11. The author was at that time in charge of handling the identification of the dead, which turned into a gargantuan task after 9/11 given the state of the remains recovered. He provided an absolutely fascinating look at the organization and management of the system he had to devise on the spot and at the things that went wrong (surprisingly few) and the things that were learned from the horror of it all. I learned quite a few things from this book that were never discussed in the news coverage -- the hard feelings that exist between the NYPD and FDNY and the families over the 2 classifications of victims and the disparate treatment, the length of time the fire continued to burn and the details of deaths, the fact that remains of four of the hijackers were found and identified but no death certificate has ever been issued, and the sheer outpouring of appreciation that the OCME team received doing their difficult work.
Altogether a great read and one that will likely stick with me for a while.
Most interesting and compelling and heartbreaking was the discussion of the aftermath of 9/11. The author was at that time in charge of handling the identification of the dead, which turned into a gargantuan task after 9/11 given the state of the remains recovered. He provided an absolutely fascinating look at the organization and management of the system he had to devise on the spot and at the things that went wrong (surprisingly few) and the things that were learned from the horror of it all. I learned quite a few things from this book that were never discussed in the news coverage -- the hard feelings that exist between the NYPD and FDNY and the families over the 2 classifications of victims and the disparate treatment, the length of time the fire continued to burn and the details of deaths, the fact that remains of four of the hijackers were found and identified but no death certificate has ever been issued, and the sheer outpouring of appreciation that the OCME team received doing their difficult work.
Altogether a great read and one that will likely stick with me for a while.
innae's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir spends about half the book relaying Ribowsky's life - and how he ended up at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for New York city, and then the second half of the book focuses on what happened surrounding the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Ribowsky keeps things as light as he can, but I still cried. He was obviously a light for many of the victim's families.
He also ends with the discussion on why he is no longer with the OCME, and it brought up memories of how many of our first in cops at the Century 16 shooting in Aurora are no longer cops. Once you have that defining moment in your career it is hard to find the passion to stay with just normal day to day. Also, the trauma can affect you in ways you didn't realize.
I really enjoyed this book.
He also ends with the discussion on why he is no longer with the OCME, and it brought up memories of how many of our first in cops at the Century 16 shooting in Aurora are no longer cops. Once you have that defining moment in your career it is hard to find the passion to stay with just normal day to day. Also, the trauma can affect you in ways you didn't realize.
I really enjoyed this book.
bookedrightmeow's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
• Kind of stunned that this book isn't more well-known. I was riveted every time I picked it up
• Covers the author's time as a New York medicolegal investigator, dispatched to everything from natural deaths to homicides
• Definitely not for the faint of heart. Never gets gratuitous but goes into a lot of medical details
• Shares an extensive history about the author's involvement in the 9/11 recovery efforts and years-long victim identification process
• Also delves into the author's upbringing in an Orthodox Jewish family and what led him to a career in medicine
• Written with the utmost respect and compassion for the victims he encountered, as well as for their families
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Violence, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Grief