false 1580804 0312427654 9780312427658 113 32 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573870m/1580804.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1580804.Better_A_Surgeon_s_Notes_on_Performance 3078 Atul Gawande 5773 1227 0 1 false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 31 11:18:12 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 11:18:25 -0700 2009
In his introduction, Gawande asks, “What does it take to be good at something in which failure can be so easy, so effortless?”—and even though he says, “This is a book about performance in medicine,” the question applies not just to medical practitioners. All of us can ask the same question about our jobs and our lives. What does it take to be good? What does it take to be better? This is why I bought and read Better.

Gawande’s answers are anti-climactic at first. He breaks his results down into three categories: diligence, doing right, and ingenuity. Fine. He tells us stories that demonstrate each one, and we see clearly in these stories how being diligent, doing right, and taking fresh approaches improved outcomes. This is a familiar formula: big themes, some examples, conclusion. Great.

Sure, the stories are sometimes fascinating, but the problem is that diligence, doing right, and ingenuity are the kinds of words thrown up in primary colors on black-bordered posters with images of skyscapes, mountain-tops, or waterfalls. They are noble ideals, but they are vague as pieces of advice for doing what we do better. I would imagine it’s hard even for doctors to internalize these lessons.

But then comes the afterword, where the gold is buried: “Suggestions for Becoming a Positive Deviant”—which, for non-statistics-types, means “suggestions for becoming better.” Huzzah! There are five: 1) Ask an unscripted question, 2) Don’t complain, 3) Count something, 4) Write something, and 5) Change. This is the good stuff. Gawande’s final suggestions here are simple and applicable to anything. They subtly encourage creativity. They are suggestions that teach. If I have an office next year, I will post them on my wall.

Do I recommend it? Yes, if only for the afterword. The stories are well told, too, I guess.
Would I teach it? No. For non-fiction writing, I might use some of Gawande’s New Yorker articles, though.
Lasting impressions: Perfectly fine stories sorted by theme and a summary that makes them all worthwhile.
]]>