I picked this book up on a whim after seeing it in a bookstore, not really knowing what to expect. To my delight, what I got was a book by Henry Marsh, an esteemed neurosurgeon in London, that felt like I was at a pub with him just listening to him tell a wide-range of stories from throughout his distinguished career. The tone was very conversational, and what made it feel even moreso was a humorous mix of him knowing to explain certain medical terms, but having others that sound foreign to me but he must assume everyone has knowledge of these 'basics.' I say that not as a bad thing, but further evidence of his writing style (and nothing was too complicated or confusing to look up).

I took several different insights from this book, reflecting various parts of the medical field:

First, as a Brit he really only talks about the British health system and how the National Health System he works in (as opposed to the private health system he goes to for his own treatments) operates. This was not a key aspect of his book (though he did draw distinctions between his hospitals and those in very poor, post-Cold War Ukraine where he ended up visiting and teaching often at various points in his career), but as an American who only knows the ups and downs of our health system-- it proved a unique perspective. I think this was particularly striking to me BECAUSE it was not something he was specifically discussing, it was just the standard system in his eyes.

Next, on a more personal level to Dr. Marsh, it was very interesting to hear about how he changed as a surgeon-- in both his mindset and his skills-- as he developed from a young doctor just out of school until to being the old seasoned vet he is now. As he approaches the end of his career, he is able to look back with humility and candor on the mistakes he made and laugh at his own self-importance. This was definitely refreshing to read.

Lastly, in terms of medical professionals in general, reading this book and hearing everything through Dr. Marsh's voice really opened up a human and fallible side of the medical profession to me. Though this insight has every right to be terrifying-- discussion of fatal mistakes made by surgeons, pride of doctors influencing life-or-death decisions, etc.-- the way in which he discussed them made it almost comforting. Realizing there is a human being behind those decisions and actions, particularly in later chapters where he discusses his experience being a patient and a family member of a patient, really provides all medical professionals even more gravitas and respect. Hearing about how he is able to detach himself from the patient during most surgeries, but struggling with the fear and inability to do so when treating friends and colleagues, gives great insight into the mindset of a surgeon at every stage of diagnosis, treatment, and surgery. Again, sitting here not in a hospital, Dr. Marsh being able to make these various aspects almost endearing is probably easy enough-- and who knows what aspects of these books will pop into my head next time I or a loved one are the patient. However, overall I really found it comforting to hear the human side of the doctors, and knowing just how heavy they carry the weights of failures-- whether or not they are responsible for those failures.