Scan barcode
A review by bookfairy99
Admissions: Life as a Brain Surgeon by Henry Marsh
4.0
I found Marsh's book captivating, though sometimes hard to read. Not just because the stories he tells deal with the harsh reality of life-threatening conditions but because witnessing his flawed actions is, frankly, off-putting. We all want to think of doctors, and surgeons in particular, as being infallible paragons of virtue and perfect decision-making. Yet, recognizing they're as human and flawed as the rest of us is terrifying.
My favourite chapter was the last one, where Marsh described his views on death, end-of-life care, and what it really means to die "a good death." I also appreciated his take on practicing medicine in Nepal. The parts set in Ukraine were more challenging to read - perhaps because I was born in Romania, and some of the descriptions hit a little too close to home.
Overall, I found this a complex, interesting, thought-provoking book, one I'm glad to have read.
My favourite chapter was the last one, where Marsh described his views on death, end-of-life care, and what it really means to die "a good death." I also appreciated his take on practicing medicine in Nepal. The parts set in Ukraine were more challenging to read - perhaps because I was born in Romania, and some of the descriptions hit a little too close to home.
Overall, I found this a complex, interesting, thought-provoking book, one I'm glad to have read.