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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I've always been interested in neuroscience and it was really interesting to get to read about all of the background of neurosurgery. It definitely wasn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed it!
I was expecting this to be a personal biography, but it is what is states - a biography of Brain surgery. Schwartz describes the development of various surgical techniques, and gives an interesting history lesson on key surgeons, their mentors and competitors and describes the sort of personality that thrives as a neurosurgeon today, and the constant weighty decisions they must make. We are lucky to have a society where Drs make the personal sacrifices they do to care for the rest of us.
I found the chapter on the brain vs the mind interesting and thought provoking.
I found the chapter on the brain vs the mind interesting and thought provoking.
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
A very interesting read and a lot more in-depth than some of the neurosurgery memoirs I've read. I really enjoyed all the history info and stories, but holy crap this book has more pop-culture references than any other I have read. That said:
POSITIVES
- parts were surprisingly funny
- I got way too excited when he said that Derek Shepard is the most accurate media portrayal of a neurosurgeon
- appreciated the reassurances that robots/AI aren't going to take over the world
- the epilepsy explanation was really interesting
- the creating vision section was kinda trippy, but neat to learn about
NEGATIVES
-parts def just felt like he was jerking himself off
-seems like some of his statistics at the beginning are misrepresentations since he only includes women & black people as minorities and I assume there are enough brown/Asian surgeons to skew that (model minority stuff and all aside)
POSITIVES
- parts were surprisingly funny
- I got way too excited when he said that Derek Shepard is the most accurate media portrayal of a neurosurgeon
- appreciated the reassurances that robots/AI aren't going to take over the world
- the epilepsy explanation was really interesting
- the creating vision section was kinda trippy, but neat to learn about
NEGATIVES
-parts def just felt like he was jerking himself off
-seems like some of his statistics at the beginning are misrepresentations since he only includes women & black people as minorities and I assume there are enough brown/Asian surgeons to skew that (model minority stuff and all aside)
informative
medium-paced
A very comprehensive look at the history of brain surgery. The author covers a thorough range of topics from the training to brain trauma to disease to how neurons work & what is the mind? to brain-computer interface. A very readable book with a manageable amount of jargon and scientific language - all communicated clearly and in an interesting manner (at least to a medical science nerd like myself). The author did a great job of circling back to a previous topic or person and making connections. He also pulled in stories about well known persons that related to the topic being discussed. A very well organized book.
The author recognizes the inequities over the history of brain surgery by acknowledging that women and persons of color have been excluded and are only slowly entering the field. And he doesn't shy away from discussing some of the unethical work in the history of this field. He also states "access to neurological care is just another example of the unequal distribution of resources on our planet without an easy solution. We neurosurgeons stand at the end od a long line of circumstances regulated by geopoliticaland socioeconomic factors out of our control". His acknowledgement of the less "shiny" aspects of this field are commendable.
He ends with the statement that brain surgeons are no smarter than anyone else - what makes brain surgery so difficult is the training and Jon are so challenging on so many levels that few want to make the necessary sacrifices ...to do the job. And that neurosurgery, is at its heart, a service industry. They swear an oath to dedicate themselves to a higher purpose far greater than themselves- the health of their patients.
The author recognizes the inequities over the history of brain surgery by acknowledging that women and persons of color have been excluded and are only slowly entering the field. And he doesn't shy away from discussing some of the unethical work in the history of this field. He also states "access to neurological care is just another example of the unequal distribution of resources on our planet without an easy solution. We neurosurgeons stand at the end od a long line of circumstances regulated by geopoliticaland socioeconomic factors out of our control". His acknowledgement of the less "shiny" aspects of this field are commendable.
He ends with the statement that brain surgeons are no smarter than anyone else - what makes brain surgery so difficult is the training and Jon are so challenging on so many levels that few want to make the necessary sacrifices ...to do the job. And that neurosurgery, is at its heart, a service industry. They swear an oath to dedicate themselves to a higher purpose far greater than themselves- the health of their patients.
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced