Katrina Firlik is a neurosurgeon, one of only two hundred or so women among the alpha males who dominate this high-pressure, high-prestige medical ...
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Aug 13, 2008
Donna
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Katrina Firlik writes about brains in much the same way
Click and Clack write about cars--with deep understanding, experience, and irreverence. She makes it clear that a neurosurgeon--or, indeed, any kind of surgeon--is a mechanic first (hopefully an excellent mechanic) and a human being second. Emotions can't be allowed to get in the way of the application of skills honed over many years of intense training and practice.
In Another Day in the Frontal Lobe, Firlik displays keen More...
Click and Clack write about cars--with deep understanding, experience, and irreverence. She makes it clear that a neurosurgeon--or, indeed, any kind of surgeon--is a mechanic first (hopefully an excellent mechanic) and a human being second. Emotions can't be allowed to get in the way of the application of skills honed over many years of intense training and practice.
In Another Day in the Frontal Lobe, Firlik displays keen More...
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May 11, 2010
Samantha
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I had really high hopes for this book. I truly enjoy the nitty, gritty stories of medicine and hoped this would really be an insider's look at neurosurgery. Alas, it was not. It was interesting and gave some great historical information about the development and advances of neurosurgery. The cases she presented were really interesting, but there weren't really many of them and she didn't really give much in the way of description as far as surgery goes. The explaination of the different diseases
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Jan 08, 2010
Holly
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Having been relatively healthy my entire life, I don't have much inside knowledge on the inner workings of a hospital. I thought this book would be an interesting way to find out more. It ended up being a charming memoir, that at times was quite gripping.
The novel is very well written, and was an absolute breeze to read. This took me by surprise, as it is a book about neurosurgery. An impressive first novel from the author, I eagerly await her next.
I don't know about you, More...
The novel is very well written, and was an absolute breeze to read. This took me by surprise, as it is a book about neurosurgery. An impressive first novel from the author, I eagerly await her next.
I don't know about you, More...
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Dec 07, 2009
Charles
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Any writer who sets out to explain to the general reader the juicy workings of the human body has to deal with what might be called the Ew! Factor: Just how much do we really want to know about what goes on in there? On the other hand, TV hospital shows like "ER" and "House" and forensic detective shows like "CSI" have somewhat inured us to the grosser anatomical realities.
Katrina Firlik simply confronts the Ew! Factor in the very first paragraph of her More...
Katrina Firlik simply confronts the Ew! Factor in the very first paragraph of her More...
Nov 21, 2007
Tracey
rated it:
Spent yesterday afternoon/evening with Katrina Firlik's Another day in the frontal lobe : a brain surgeon exposes life on the inside - she discusses her profession in terms of her residency and some of the cases she dealt with. She has a firm grasp of her material, but still treats it with a light touch, allowing humour as well as heartbreak to show through. Highly recommended to anyone interested in a look at a semi-stereotyped profession.
Feb 05, 2009
Katrina Firlik shatters the myth most of us hold of brain surgeons as superheroes: they're merely masters of the trade. Critics agreed that her engaging, witty insight into the profession, her layperson's explanation of complex medical terms and routine surgeries, and her compelling stories more than overshadowed the blood-and-gore factor. A few critics expressed disappointment that Firlik only touched on her challenges as a woman in the field, particularly as the first woman admitted to Univer
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Oct 31, 2011
Diane
rated it:
This is not at all the kind of book I normally read but Dr. Firlik's memoir grabbed me from the first page when she describes the brain's texture as being much like tofu. This is a no-nonsense, wry look at life as a neurosurgeon. Katrina Firlik was the first female accepted into her program at the University of Pittsburgh and she never whines about bias or sexism. She goes through her training and appears confident and strong. Her book reveals some of the dark humor in the OR and also much o
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Jun 07, 2010
Maria (Ri)
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While a readable and informative inside look at neurosurgery, the tone of the this memoir kept me at bay and from fully enjoying it. Neurosurgery as a discipline attracts the arrogant and overly confident. Dr. Firlik appears to be no exception, though from her own descriptions of colleagues, she is perhaps more relatable to mere non-neurosurgery mortals than some other docs. Having said all that, though I read this for pleasure, I did find it helpful to me in my own medical practice. It p More...
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Jul 23, 2010
Ruth
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This was a very interesting look into the life of a practicing brain surgeon. The years of education and training required demand total dedication on the part of the student.This personal story of Dr. Firlik was especially interesting because she was one of few women training in a field that had always been a man's world and she sometimes felt she had to prove herself because of it. Concern for the patient was always expressed but sometimes tension was released by the staff by using a little cy
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Apr 19, 2009
Jon
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This is one of the more accurate depictions of resident life in medical training, and I appreciate it for that perspective. Much of the book reminisces on the author's training and the experiences she had during residency. It may be difficult for those outside the medical profession to appreciate these experiences or understand exactly what the author means.
This book sort of wanders through the various aspects of neurosurgery, offering anectdotes and the author's views on each topic. I More...
This book sort of wanders through the various aspects of neurosurgery, offering anectdotes and the author's views on each topic. I More...
Apr 21, 2009
Abbi
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Favorite tidbits:
The issue of brain texture is on my mind all the time.
There is, on average, 1 neurosurgeon for every 66,000 people in this country. Compare that to the African continent where the ratio is 1 neurosurgeon per 6 million people. One piece of advice: avoid a head injury while on safari.
Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to enjoy it, make the most of it, while your neurons are still buzzing with live connections.
In a study of a More...
The issue of brain texture is on my mind all the time.
There is, on average, 1 neurosurgeon for every 66,000 people in this country. Compare that to the African continent where the ratio is 1 neurosurgeon per 6 million people. One piece of advice: avoid a head injury while on safari.
Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to enjoy it, make the most of it, while your neurons are still buzzing with live connections.
In a study of a More...
Apr 15, 2009
Christina
rated it:
Another interesting book! I've been on a lucky streak lately, I think.
I loved learning about neurosurgery and the lives of the people who choose to practice it. I liked Dr. Firlik's subtle, dry humor and her clear, quick style. I did get irked, occasionally, by her strong opinions about barely relevant things like religion. In general she was an interesting, relateable narrator, though. Her tone was never condescending nor emotionally manipulative. I kept comparing this to the More...
I loved learning about neurosurgery and the lives of the people who choose to practice it. I liked Dr. Firlik's subtle, dry humor and her clear, quick style. I did get irked, occasionally, by her strong opinions about barely relevant things like religion. In general she was an interesting, relateable narrator, though. Her tone was never condescending nor emotionally manipulative. I kept comparing this to the More...
Jun 06, 2009
Kat
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I really wanted to like this book. It was fun to read about brain things again for a change, and interesting to read about them from a neurosurgeon's point of view. I got super-irritated by her unnecessary (to me) rant against religion, and had a hard time recovering. I think it's possible to state what you believe without belittling those who happen to think differently than you do.
So, a little preachy, a little whiney about money (I seriously do not think she, a practicing neuro More...
So, a little preachy, a little whiney about money (I seriously do not think she, a practicing neuro More...
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Dec 04, 2011
Ellen
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Great book, especially if you're interested in medicine and the way our bodies work. It's a little graphic at times, but I actually like that; I don't want a cleaned-up version of what it's like to drill into someone's head and so on. I love a lot of detailed information, and the author delivers on that score.
But that's not all: the author spends a fair amount of time discussing things like ethics, bedside manners, beliefs about death and the afterlife, and what she sees in the future More...
But that's not all: the author spends a fair amount of time discussing things like ethics, bedside manners, beliefs about death and the afterlife, and what she sees in the future More...
Sep 21, 2010
Amanda
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Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlick is more about the perceptions, experiences, and opinions of a Brain Surgeon, rather than the day-to-day activities of one. It is admirable as a nonfiction piece because it manages to capture and keep the attention of the reader with witty, light-hearted passages and stories. Some may interpret her voice as condescending and arrogant, however, you would have to project your own misgivings of surgeons to think so as Firlick strives to prove just
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Sep 23, 2009
Jenny
rated it: 
This is a favorite. I like non-fiction and reading about all things medical. I read this, at the time, because a close friend was doing her medical residency in a male-dominated surgical field and I wanted to know what that experience was like. Found it fascinating. I read it two years later when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and still liked it (but paid a lot more attention the second read around). Excellent book if you enjoy reading about the medical field. Dr. Firlik writes in a co
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Aug 19, 2010
Barbara
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It’s always inspiring to read about pioneering women, perhaps especially those in fields that are predominately male. Firlik writes eloquently of her training to be a neurosurgeon and renders many medical concepts understandable. I wish she had dwelt a bit more on what her choices meant for her personal and family life. I was surprised to read in the brief bio following the text that she had a child, as the idea of becoming a mother was only mentioned once in passing. If her views on religi
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Sep 25, 2010
Cindy
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Maybe it's because I have my own neurological issues (want to see my MRI?), but I find the brain fascinating stuff. So this book is right up my alley. It starts by talking about the texture of the brain. Is it more like tofu or toothpaste? I'm not sure, but it was sure an interesting image.
Firlik is both a doctor and a good solid writer. She compares neurosurgeons (they don't just work on brains; they do spines too) to mechanics. Sometimes it's medicine, but sometimes it's tinkering. More...
Firlik is both a doctor and a good solid writer. She compares neurosurgeons (they don't just work on brains; they do spines too) to mechanics. Sometimes it's medicine, but sometimes it's tinkering. More...
May 07, 2010
Becca
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Medical memoirs are my version of brain candy and being weeks away from earning my own M.D. from Dr. Firlik's alma mater, I thought this would be an apropos read. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm part of Dr. Firlik's intended audience. Granted most medical memoirs are written for the layperson, but being some what of a connoisseur of the genre, I can tell you that some are more interesting to those of us who have done are own time in the neurosurgical OR and some of them are less so.
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Nov 04, 2008
Mellissa
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I found this book an excellent read for anyone thinking about entering the neurosurgical profession or fascinated by a neurosurgeon's workday. I liked the down-to-earth approach to medical jargon and her diagnosis explanations, as well as her humor. I enjoyed hearing about a typical day and some of her not-so-typical cases.
I would agree, there are parts of this book that don't seem to "fit" with the book's theme- such as her views on religion- but I found that most of her More...
I would agree, there are parts of this book that don't seem to "fit" with the book's theme- such as her views on religion- but I found that most of her More...
Jan 31, 2008
Jennifer
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I became interested in this book because my husband was diagnosed with a benign pituitary tumor that caused frontal lobe damage. I am also fascinated by the medical profession and was eager to read this foray into the amazing world of neurosurgery.
I did not receive any further insight into my husband's condition (beyond what I already knew), since this book is a memoir rather than a composition of case studies. Nonetheless, I wasn't disappointed. Firlik is a fantastic writer, and is More...
I did not receive any further insight into my husband's condition (beyond what I already knew), since this book is a memoir rather than a composition of case studies. Nonetheless, I wasn't disappointed. Firlik is a fantastic writer, and is More...
Jan 04, 2011
Osho
rated it:
A well-written and easy to follow account of Firlik's training as a neurosurgeon (she was the first woman admitted to her neurosurgery residency). The narrative is more of a gloss plus clinical highlights than a more in-depth account lof her training; it is not especially psychological, though she does highlight the developmental turning points associated with the residency. There is some material, but not much, about the relationships between surgeons (either specific people or categorical grou
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Dec 27, 2009
Cheryl
rated it:
NONFICTION.
A surprisingly witty and candid book, demystifies the extensive training and life of a brain surgeon with candor and a literary style that proves truth can be stranger than fiction. She uses several real cases to humanize her work. It is a memsmerizing peek into medicine's most pretigious and secretive specialty... where once I thought only nerds without a heart worked! Little did I know.
Another very strong recommendation, a great eye-opening read!!
A surprisingly witty and candid book, demystifies the extensive training and life of a brain surgeon with candor and a literary style that proves truth can be stranger than fiction. She uses several real cases to humanize her work. It is a memsmerizing peek into medicine's most pretigious and secretive specialty... where once I thought only nerds without a heart worked! Little did I know.
Another very strong recommendation, a great eye-opening read!!
Oct 03, 2009
Imran
rated it:
“It’s not brain surgery.” An oft misunderstood profession, Dr. Firlik exposes the humanity in this profession. Not only does she have a strong grasp of her subject mater, but she expresses it in a way that the physician, the non-physician can enjoy. She makes the technical, easy. She takes us through her residency and humorously tells us tales of her experiences.
Many times medicine can seem obscure, even to the medical student. The one thing I received from this book is an unrav More...
Many times medicine can seem obscure, even to the medical student. The one thing I received from this book is an unrav More...
May 04, 2010
Jean
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A breezy brain surgeon memoir that gives away little personal, but elucidates much about the current state of brain surgery and the related mysteries of brain disease, trauma, and genetic deficits. I couldn’t help liking and admiring the author’s clear style, information, and what little she tells of her personal life. The author seems to have next to no moments of doubt. The biggest flaw revealed is her tendency to “look like a teenager” and thus run the danger of not being taken seriously b
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Mar 12, 2008
Sarah
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Firlik's memoir of her seven-year neurosurgery residency is interesting, but never quite grabbed me. Hell, it's about brain surgery -- how can that not be interesting? -- but her brisk tone tends towards superiority in places, particularly when discussing her opinions on class, religion, and the business of medical insurance.
But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of actual neurosurgery, particularly where the surgeon combines technique with straightforward mechanical skill, Firli More...
But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of actual neurosurgery, particularly where the surgeon combines technique with straightforward mechanical skill, Firli More...
Jul 12, 2009
Frank Jude
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Firlik exposes the tedium, the romance, the long hours and the mystery entailed in brain surgery. There are some really interesting tales here, but what comes across most is her warmth and good natured humanity. AND the importance these simple characteristics hold for surgeons, their patients and the families of the patients. You'd want her -- or someone like her -- on YOUR surgical team!
Jul 06, 2011
Cathy
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I am not sure what to say about this book. I liked how it gave an insight on how things work from a surgical resident standpoint and how it explained what life is like as a brain surgeon. However despite all of the information she relates I hate to say that there was nothing I found really remarkable about this book. Maybe it is because of my lack of interest in neurosurgery in general
Sep 13, 2010
Linnae
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Did you know the live brain has about the consistency of tofu? Unless it's being squeezed out of the skull under pressure. Then it's more like toothpaste.
I enjoyed the medical stories and descriptions of neurosurgery residency, and found it very readable for the lay person. If the description above was too gross for you, this book may not be the best choice.
I enjoyed the medical stories and descriptions of neurosurgery residency, and found it very readable for the lay person. If the description above was too gross for you, this book may not be the best choice.
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Aug 30, 2009
Jessica
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I have a whole new appreciation for the human head and it's anatomy. Plus, Katrina Firlik does a does a superlative job of introducing the world of neurosurgery to the lay person, with the added twist of the female surgeon's perspective. Some vivid stories of patients that I won't forget anytime soon. Loved this book, and its take on the mystery that is the human brain.
