false 213233 7 The struggle to perform well is universal: each one of us faces fatigue, limited resources, and imperfect abilities in whatever we do. But nowhere is this drive to do better more important than in medicine, where lives are on the line with every decision. In his new book, Atul Gawande explores how doctors strive to close the gap between best intentions and best performance in the face of obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable. Gawandes gripping stories of diligence, ingenuity, and what it means to do right by people take us to battlefield surgical tents in Iraq, to labor and delivery rooms in Boston, to a polio outbreak in India, and to malpractice courtrooms around the country. He discusses the ethical dilemmas of doctors participation in lethal injections, examines the influence of money on modern medicine, and recounts the astoundingly contentious history of hand washing. And as in all his writing, Gawande gives us an inside look at his own life as a practicing surgeon, offering a searingly honest firsthand account of work in a field where mistakes are both unavoidable and unthinkable. At once unflinching and compassionate, Better is an exhilarating journey narrated by arguably the best nonfiction doctor-writer around (Salon). Gawandes investigation into medical professionals and how they progress from merely good to great provides rare insight into the elements of success, illuminating every area of human endeavor. 1573617 3 4 2007 Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance total:2135|5:636|4:983|3:428|2:81|1:7| 2135 8565 3255 531 2 3 false false Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun May 20 04:18:00 -0700 2007 Sun May 20 04:32:00 -0700 2007
What made Complications so exhilarating was that we were learning about being a doctor just as Gawande was learning about being a doctor. Literally: he wrote most of those essays while still a resident. The humility this brought to Ga...more...]]> 5 3 false false Fri Nov 07 13:13:17 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 07 13:25:53 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Jun 14 14:42:09 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 07 21:07:42 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue Jun 26 04:48:45 -0700 2007 Tue Jun 26 04:48:45 -0700 2007
In his next work, 'Better', Gawande continues his Montaigne-like ruminations on his profession. The essays h...more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue Jan 13 05:13:47 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 16 19:02:54 -0800 2009
The book got better and better. Proper re...more...]]> 5 3 false false Mon Jul 14 20:09:16 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 03 07:21:58 -0700 2008 Sat Dec 27 00:50:38 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 02 14:52:51 -0800 2008 Sun Dec 14 15:58:26 -0800 2008
What I admire so much about Gawande is his ability to wrap his analytical mind so effortlessly around s...more...]]> 5 2 false false Sat Oct 25 15:30:51 -0700 2008 Wed Nov 12 06:28:54 -0800 2008 Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance is a collection of essays that probe skillfully and poignantly into the depths of medical ethics and the performance of doctors. He is a fine researcher and an astute observer who carefully delineates many facets of each issue that he explores, ...more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu May 29 18:32:47 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 06 15:31:08 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 06 11:34:49 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 14 18:24:06 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 20 14:13:22 -0800 2007 Sun Jan 06 07:23:24 -0800 2008 Complications by Atul Gawande made my top ten list last year, and I've had my eye on this book for awhile now. Since it is still only available in hardback I'd resigned myself to waiting until the paperback version came out, but I found it at the public library right before I left for the break and ...more...]]> 3 2 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 23 07:03:29 -0700 2007 Fri Oct 12 07:59:22 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 1 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 07 07:16:19 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 13 06:42:35 -0700 2007 Complications, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I thought it was good, not great, but still makes some very thought-provoking arguments. It's written for the general public (he thoroughly explains all the medical details) but I think it would be of m...more...]]> 2 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Sep 11 19:32:14 -0700 2007 Wed Nov 14 09:01:58 -0800 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Oct 25 20:23:47 -0700 2008 Mon Dec 08 23:37:47 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Mar 27 07:51:33 -0700 2009 Fri Mar 27 09:23:20 -0700 2009 1
Dr. Atul Gawande is a 2nd generation doctor, son of a urologist. I decided to read this book after watching two excellent presentations at NIH, the Art of Failure, and the Science of Failu...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Feb 21 20:29:42 -0800 2009 Sat Feb 21 20:31:34 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 27 09:36:26 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 27 09:47:21 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jul 23 14:03:23 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 16:17:55 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 19 09:44:01 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 19 10:10:35 -0700 2009 more...]]>