Scan barcode
wildweasel105's review
4.0
Bellevue Hospital. The very name evokes a sense of the best and the worst of medicine. But, who really understands its importance in American history? David Oshinsky brings us a detailed account of how the original "alms house" gradually becomes the number one center of medical care and research from the late 1700's to modern times.
This is truly a fascinating look at the institution from its modest beginnings to its world renowned position in medical science, from the building that quarantined those caught in every epidemic that swept New York City from the early 1800's, to modern day research into molecular biology. Oshinsky spares no detail in not only how Bellevue was built, but the why, and its very impact on the evolution of the American health care system. I've been in the medical field for over 42 years now, and this book never failed to amaze me!
This is truly a fascinating look at the institution from its modest beginnings to its world renowned position in medical science, from the building that quarantined those caught in every epidemic that swept New York City from the early 1800's, to modern day research into molecular biology. Oshinsky spares no detail in not only how Bellevue was built, but the why, and its very impact on the evolution of the American health care system. I've been in the medical field for over 42 years now, and this book never failed to amaze me!
els123's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
jilly7922's review
4.0
David Oshinsky is a well known American historian, whose previous books are "Polio: An American Story," "A Conspiracy so Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy," and "Worse than Slavery: Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice." This book is basically a narration of the history of Bellevue hospital. I chose this book to read because my knowledge of Bellevue Hospital consisted of it being a hospital for the insane, and a place where horrific human experiments took place. I wanted to learn more about it, than the misconceptions that I thought I knew.
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. I was pleasantly surprised reading this book, as it was a very informative narrative. It wasn't what I was expecting to read, the amount of information that I read was vast and it was an uplifting read. I did want the book to tug at my heart strings and elicit more depth of emotion. I always enjoy when I can feel what the author is feeling while he/she is writing and I just wish I felt more. Because it would be all that much more enjoyable.
I want to thank Netgalley, David Oshinsky, and Doubleday Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Come and read my book blog at: http://turnthepagereviewsbyjill.blogspot.com/
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. I was pleasantly surprised reading this book, as it was a very informative narrative. It wasn't what I was expecting to read, the amount of information that I read was vast and it was an uplifting read. I did want the book to tug at my heart strings and elicit more depth of emotion. I always enjoy when I can feel what the author is feeling while he/she is writing and I just wish I felt more. Because it would be all that much more enjoyable.
I want to thank Netgalley, David Oshinsky, and Doubleday Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Come and read my book blog at: http://turnthepagereviewsbyjill.blogspot.com/
namsmommy09's review against another edition
3.5
I didn't expect to find this as interesting as I did. We have all heard the name at least, but this hospitals LONG history was detailed in this book. Many stories were about how they handled the many pandemics and disease of the early 20th century. There is also the story of a doctor murdered in the hospital and the damage from Hurricane Sandy and the rebuilding efforts. Being only blocks from ground zero during 9/11 - included is also they way the hospital staff pitched in not only on the day, but in the weeks, months and years that followed. I enjoyed learning about this place and would like to one day see it in real life.
lalaoblivion's review
5.0
Loved it. It could be titled Bellevue: A Medical History of America, and I would be just as happy. It was a dense read, but enjoyable. I learned a lot, I think, and I'm glad I spent the past month reading it.
rdlevitt's review
5.0
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. It was an amazing balance of nonfiction research and great storytelling. Some stuff I already knew, but a lot of it was new information to me and the narrative flowed in a way where I didn't feel like I was reading a textbook.
It's truly amazing how important Bellevue has been for American medical history. It gave me a newfound appreciation for public health and public hospitals. It also made me exceedingly glad to experience modern medicine as it is today, rather than being a patient in the past (the descriptions of surgery and treatments pre-germ theory and pre-anesthesia were truly gruesome).
It's rare that I'm sad when a book is over, but that's what happened this time.
It's truly amazing how important Bellevue has been for American medical history. It gave me a newfound appreciation for public health and public hospitals. It also made me exceedingly glad to experience modern medicine as it is today, rather than being a patient in the past (the descriptions of surgery and treatments pre-germ theory and pre-anesthesia were truly gruesome).
It's rare that I'm sad when a book is over, but that's what happened this time.