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lvfl's review
4.0
Really fascinating. Great read for those interested in the history of American medicine. Although it's centered around Bellevue, it's really about American medicine and society more broadly.
frogggirl2's review
4.0
Sometimes, the book detours away from a major thought and never returns. The style of language is sometimes a little lackluster. That being said, there are a lot of really interesting tidbits, fascinating and historically important characters and important innovations. It's a rousing paean to medicine, doctors, this specific hospital and the overarching principle of the moral right of providing for those in our community who are most in need.
harmless_old_lady's review
5.0
Just as fascinating and enthralling as the reviews said! wow. So much history, starting with the earliest days of the city of New York! So many significant advances in medicine and science, not to mention caring for the poorest and most vulnerable residents, lots of "undocumented" New Yorkers in their doors. Just amazing and one of the most readable histories I have ever encountered. Loved it.
stptacek's review
4.0
Excellent book...especially for those with interest in the medical field. I had to slog hard through some of the earlier chapters, but was glad I stuck with it. The passage about Bellevue's role in 9/11 almost brought me to tears. Fascinating book.
biblioventurer's review
3.0
A well-written, well-researched tome on the history of New York's most infamous/famous hospital. More interesting than I anticipated, although I did still paced myself, only reading so much at a stretch. I was a little disappointed in the section on the psychiatric wards and Nellie Bly, but really enjoyed the section on AIDS, having not previously realized the pervasiveness of that illness.
missmis99's review
4.0
I was sucked in completely to this book. Knowing little of the history of this institution, I was fascinated to learn about its history and impact on medicine and the larger community.
My one issue was the book was it was written thematically and not chronologically which sometimes made it confusing to keep the timelines straight.
My one issue was the book was it was written thematically and not chronologically which sometimes made it confusing to keep the timelines straight.
regina_confettibookshelf's review
5.0
This is the best non-fiction book I have read this year. As other reviewers have noted, it's more of a history lesson set within the walls of Bellevue. Topics covered include the Civil War, Florence Nightingale, Nellie Bly, the assassination of President Lincoln, various plagues, AIDS, Superstorm Sandy, and much much more. Highly recommend this for anyone interested in history, medicine, or even just good non-fiction writing.
abookishtype's review
4.0
When I read non-fiction, I usually end up reading something weird (Agent Zigzag or Grunt) or something awful (Nazi Hunters or Five Days at Memorial). It’s rare that I read a book that highlights the better angels of our nature, but that’s what I found (for the most part) in David Oshinsky’s Bellevue: A History of America’s Oldest Hospital. There are varying dates for the founding of Bellevue Hospital stretching back to the 1730s. Bellevue has been open ever since the eighteenth century and only closed briefly once, during Superstorm Sandy. The hospital’s mission has always been to take care of patients who couldn’t pay for their care. Even today, they take care of people no one else will...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss for review consideration.
trillium9's review
5.0
Great book. I really liked being able to see all the things that I learned about in my health policy classes playing out in a more personable way. This really reads like a history of medicine and hospitals in the United States, starting with the Yellow Fever epidemic of the late 1700s and going all the way through hurricane Sandy and the Ebola crisis.