The story of one man’s evolution from naive and ambitious young intern to world-class neurosurgeon.With poignant insight and humor, Frank Vertosick Jr., MD, describes some of the greatest challenges of his career, including a six-week-old infant with a tumor in her brain, a young man struck down in his prime by paraplegia, and a minister with a .22-caliber bullet lodged in his skull. Told through … lodged in his skull. Told through intimate portraits of Vertosick’s patients and unsparing yet fascinatingly detailed descriptions of surgical procedures, When the Air Hits Your Brain—the culmination of decades spent struggling to learn an unforgiving craft—illuminates both the mysteries of the mind and the realities of the operating room.
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He explains neurological principles through engaging patient stories, but he also uses those stories–and his own development as a neurosurgeon–to hint at how amazing life is.
Superb medical memoir that lets you experience what it’s like to do a variety of brain and spinal surgeries while standing next to the kind of guy you’d like to spend time with. A surprisingly touching and moving book. Not boring, not too much jargon, etc. Loved this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was an eye opener into the world of Neurosurgeons.
Learn things we patients rarely consider – the humanity and challenges of our surgeons!
Informative and entertaining.
This book was very informative and was interesting to read.
Enjoyable read. Shows a different side of the medical profession.
Interesting, a little out of date, but still helpful in understanding the complexity of brain surgery.
Original, insightful
Really rnjoyable book
Very enjoyable read. It was very informative about socialized medicine in the UK. Makes you think twice about our medical system in the great USA.
I enjoyed this medical read. The author used very interesting cases to make his point. I didnt realize at first that his career in nueroscience started so long ago (like when there was smoking in hospitals!) However at the end the author recapped how certain procedures have changed and others remain relatively unchanged. If you’re fascinated by …
I am a retired RN. Although I never worked on a surgical unit, I can say that the descriptions of the author’s experience ring true. I found myself reluctant to put the book aside for even a short period such as dinner. It held my attention all the way through to the end.
Interesting and informative.
Somewhat outdated but still fascinating
Best medical memoir I’ve ever read—I’m in health care field and have read a lot of them.
Great read.
I purchased this book because members of my extended family have experienced brain surgery. We saw the outcome following the surgeries, but there was so much we had no clue about. Now we understand more about what happens.
I enjoyed this glimpse into the training of a neurosurgeon. Somewhat frightening, sometimes emotional and sometimes funny, it always rang with truth. You did not get the impression that the author exagerated or embellished. If you enjoy this type of book definitely read this one.
I really appreciated the authors description of becoming a doctor. I’m not one but have seen many — and I’m not all that impressed. I wish I would’ve gotten to know this guy, though!