Cry of the Damaged Man

by Tony Moore

"Remarkable, and very moving." – Oliver SacksWhile driving to work in 1984, Dr Tony Moore was hit by a 30-tonne truck, crushing him and his car and changing his life forever. A well-known surgeon and rehabilitation specialist, he now tells his story of recovery from a patient's point of view, but with a doctor's knowledge and experience. Temporarily disabled and emotionally devastated, Tony Moore records how, from the depths of despair and isolation, he emerged as a more perceptive doctor and changed individual.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Astir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this while a friend was in hospital and rehabilitation following a catastrophic accident. It gave me what I wanted: an insight into the deeply personal world of profound damage and gradual recovery as experienced by a keen mind. Moore doesn't quite have the linguistic zest of Oliver Sacks and doesn't draw upon the dazzling breadth of medical and cultural knowledge as F. Gonzalez-Crussi, but comparisons to the kings of the pop medical genre are perhaps unfair - this is a trauma memoir first and foremost, and while there are informed medical asides (and this perspective of a doctor become patient is a fascinating one), the focus is primarily upon emotional recovery; the narrative of a high-achieving, demanding man who had 'a desire to care in an abstract way' slowly accepting his limitations and eventually becoming a more complete personality.

[cerebus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I'd liked this more....I admire his honesty and candour, I just never felt involved with the story.

[Mish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this for school. I remember being interested in what the author had gone through, but it was a real struggle to get through it.

[Aliki Pavlou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Moore goes cheek to jowl with the subject matter in this chronicle of a horrific car accident and how he clawed his way back to health having been hit by a 30 tonne truck on his way to work. He is gravely candid and his reasons are simple; “To brighten it up would be an unforgivable lie.”

It’s short and to the point at 213 pages. There’s no waffle, writing for effect and he doesn’t “come hither” his reader with stories of gallantry, hailing the work of healing as a feat exclusive to “the damaged man”, a surgeon himself (in Melbourne, I believe).

I believe I read a review by another, who said she couldn’t complete the book because of the author’s arrogance. There’s not a hint of arrogance, the book reeks of it, rendering it, for me at least, a little nauseating to read.

Nevertheless, perhaps you don’t get that kind of hair-raising tale telling without the arrogance of just about every surgeon I’ve ever met. A gentle approach to the facts would have denied us the experience of being poleaxed by 30 tonne of steel. The insult to his mind and body by this event was driven home mercilessly and I’m thankful he had the courage not to pull his punches.

Finally, he’s brutal when describing the support or scarcity thereof of friends and family. When it comes to the latter, he leads the way in how one should behave when shockingly ignored by someone close. Shared High School classes, medical school, and even involvement in each other’s weddings bore out a friendship for the ages. Facebook support groups for those suffering chronic or severe disabilities and/or pain overflow with tales of abandonment and laments of, “they don’t understand, I try to stay quiet and not bother them, it’s hard for them too, but just a call, or a visit changes everything. What do I do?”. The author ran into this “friend” who, blanched and made his excuses based on how busy he’d been. Unimpressed and unconvinced, Moore isn’t having it, “you did what you wanted to- you cop the consequences” and thus ended the friendship. To those crying out in isolation, there’s one way of doing it!

A great and honest read, arrogance and all.

[Chris S · Rating 2 out of 5]

One mans story of a temporary trauma that passes with time, leaving only some extremely mild physical limitations for an older individual.

Tony Moore has not faced an insurmountable challenge, in fact his challenges are probably rather average.

The startling take away is the total absence of insight he has into 'his' patients, many of whom will never recover from brain injury in a manner that even remotely resembles what he has detailed for us here. A number of them clearly have been dealt permanent challenges of a magnitude that dwarf anything Tony has encountered, yet all we hear about is Tony riding a bike again, or being skittish in traffic.

It never seems to occur to him that their stories may be many times more worthy than his own. But they are cattle, who exist to satisfy his career and aspirations of status.

A very shallow book, both spiritually and in terms of content.

[Ms Captain Honkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read this phenomenal book so many times at different stages. Cannot recommend it highly enough.
6 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Each time as brilliant as before. For a Dr/Specialist to write with such succinct vulnerability & honesty amidst the infinite trauma he was suffering, simply inspiring to say the least. The courage & determination he showed was & is real testament to the power of the human spirit when tested.
We have moved around alot so my daughter recently found this book again for my birthday. Because it is out of print, she bought it 2nd hand in pristine condition. It was one of the most beautiful birthday presents ever.
Thank you Tony Moore for your life changing book🩷

[Renai Chamoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt very compelled to reading this book after I found it amongst my mums belongings after she passed. Inside it was signed by the author telling my mum she had been an excellent patient. My mum was in the same rehabilitation centre that he was the at the time director of. Gives me a much better understanding of what my mum went through, and the adversities she overcame and faced. Thank you Dr Tony Moore for everything you are, your book, your humour (parts of the book are actually laugh out loud moments) and for helping my Mum recover.

[Rachel Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poignant reminder of how trauma and pain impact us so completely...and that the body (not our puny ego in the cockpit!) calls the shots in the quality of our life.

[Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone put it in words.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and eye opening.