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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
One of the most beautiful and honest books I’ve read this year.
This is an enjoyable memoir that has some really nice moments. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of her childhood and the vivid imagery used. I love a good medical mystery story (don't expect that here) and stories from the ER, which the reader gets in every chapter. I didn't love the preachy "lessons" learned at the end of each chapter, but they don't ruin the book in any way. I think Harper could have left that part out, and the actual stories would have ultimately been more powerful, but overall a quick read.
I wanted to love this book, and at the beginning of it, I was enjoying it, but then I got about halfway... I didn’t like how the author was holier-than-thou, mentioned meditation and yoga A LOT, and complained about the healthcare profession over and over again. The second half of the book I had to push myself to finish.
This is a moving and eloquently written reflection on experiences in the healthcare field and the life lessons it provides. Dr. Harper is a beautiful force of strength, resolution, and grace that all healers and human beings should take note of.
I just couldn’t get into this book. There were some interesting stories, but it just felt like something was missing. I appreciated that Harper wrote about her life and career from an intersectional feminist lens.
ETA- I think what this book was missing was real vulnerability. Harper seems almost too perfect. I never felt like she truly “broke.” Additionally the dialogue and stories are written in a way that feel fake and cheesy. This memoir comes across as a bit superficial and trite.
ETA- I think what this book was missing was real vulnerability. Harper seems almost too perfect. I never felt like she truly “broke.” Additionally the dialogue and stories are written in a way that feel fake and cheesy. This memoir comes across as a bit superficial and trite.
Dr. Harper shares many stories throughout her life beginning with childhood and stops in between that led to her career in medicine. Despite this book being a memoir, it read like short stories with each chapter highlighting different cases of key moments in her life. Each story built Dr. Harper to where she is now, ultimately helping her grow and heal after her traumatic childhood.
Each chapter was incredibly interesting and easy to read. I say easy due to the language and conversational tone, but by no means is the content easy to consume. I highly recommend readers interested in this book to look at other reviews as I may have missed some content warnings.
Content warnings: medical content, death, domestic abuse, rape, child abuse, racism, alcoholism, drug abuse, abortion
I don’t want to be stereotypical to those employed in the medical field, but her stories gave Grey’s Anatomy vibes. Maybe that’s why each story was easy to consume? Perhaps because it gave the television show vibe. Beyond the medical content, Dr. Harper has a lot to share about sexism in the hospital (well, overall in life), racism, addiction, trauma and so many other things she sees on a day to day basis.
The biggest eye opener is how Dr. Harper hit on really important issues in our healthcare system. But, the one flip side to these lessons is it seem presumptions that readers are familiar with the medical field. At times I felt lost, and really had no idea what she was talking about. The few points I did understand, the writing felt a bit preachy, not allowing me to make a decision for myself.
Overall, these were great stories, but it definitely felt one-sided.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I loved the writing! Weaving storytelling with moral observations, Harper is honest and intelligent. Lots to digest and hope for the future.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced