Reviews

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande

trin's review against another edition

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4.0

Another of Sab's recs, this is a fantastic account by a surgeon in the last year of his residency. Gawande blends discussion of interesting and curious cases with thoughts on both ethical and technical issues facing doctors today, and makes it all immanently readable—I was never, not once, confused by jargon or technical terms. Gawande is thoughtful and compassionate, and willing to recognize faults both in his profession and in himself. If you're at all interested in medicine, or enjoy watching Scrubs or House or any of those shows, this is really well worth checking out.

mauvenotebook's review

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challenging reflective

4.0

dilchh's review

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4.0

I rarely like these types of books, but this book is definitely different. I never once got bored reading all of his experience. It is so fun and knowledgeable in so many ways.

awwcripes's review

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5.0

fantastic read, not just for doctors but anybody with an interest in healthcare.

book_concierge's review

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5.0

This National Book Award finalist REALLY makes you think! It opens your eyes to the imperfections in our system of medical care.

Gawande is a surgical resident (when he wrote it), a thinker and a poet. He uses case histories to explore the thinking, the philosophy, of medicine. He speaks of mistakes and intuition, luck and skill, good outcomes despite bad treatement, and devastating outcomes despite excellent care. This should be required reading for all medical students and regularly re-read by all MDs.

After I'd read it I couldn't stop talking about it, and convinced one of my F2F book clubs to read it in July 2005.

iceangel32's review

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3.0

Looking foward to his second one

stephanie_grunwald's review

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

alidottie's review

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4.0

I love Gawande's medical books. They are so easy to read and not overly complicated for the nonmedically trained reader

cgmulder's review

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informative fast-paced

5.0

timelapse's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25