Rating: 
Summary: Better than Best
Review: As I read this book, I was profoundly moved. I was was born with a ASD & pulmonary valve defect. Dr Richard Varco and Lellehei did my surgery At the Variety Club Heart hospital in 1955 . I was one of the 1st one hundred surgeries done at the U of Minn.What incredable dedication , hard work, these men had. In my early twenties, I again needed heart surgery. This time again a very brillent, dedicated surgeon by the name of U Scott Page did a total correction.I have been able to live a wonderful. active life thanks the The King of Heart and team and Dr Page. I owe my life to the many, many dogs used to perfect progress of open heart surgery. I am a nurse, I have cared for many open heart patients. Thank you Dr Varco, Dr Lillehei and Dr S Page
Rating: 
Summary: Real Medical History, Real Interesting!
Review: Being an adult patient with a congenital heart defect, I was looking for some kind of hope that surgery would be promising for me. After reading "King of Hearts" not only was I amazed at how far surgery had came and how much safer it is now than then. I could not put the book down for wanting to know more about the peoples lives that went through the surgeries and the young Dr.s that performed them. Looking at the faces of the people in the photo's in the book made me feel even more like a part of that history. But what astounded me most was the determination of Dr. Lillihei to continue with reasearch after all his set backs. I can honestly say that G. Wayne Miller has made what some would consider to be an educational history book so interesting that I wasn't able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: A medical true to life must read
Review: Having been a patient with a congenital heart problem and having had heart surgery during the years of it's beginnings, I was absolutely spellbound by G. Wayne Miller's vivid and amazing portrayal of the life and medical breakthroughs of Dr. Lillihei. I am an avid reader of medical nonfiction and yet it was hard to believe that this was an actual real-life portrayal of the infancy of heart surgery, and not purely science fiction. It was equally amazing to step into the lives of the patients and the parents of these children and their bravery in the face of overwhelming odds of life and death. This story is an absolute must read for anyone who is interested in medicine, heart disease, and what it took to make medical miracles commonplace so that we can now take all of this for granted.
Rating: 
Summary: Dr. Lillehei: A surgeon--but a man
Review: I found the beginning of the book tedious at times. The author's need for accurate documentation made my mind wander. By the middle of the book things became more interesting and began to flow. The need for animal experimentation and human lives opens your eyes to the price of advancement in the medical field.
Rating:
Summary: King of Hearts is a Compelling read
Review: In Capote-esq style, up very close, through a small window focused on events in time, Mr. Miller has documented physicians/scientists struggle to understand and perfect open heart surgery detailing all the bodies and blood that were left in the wake of their effort.Not only is King of Hearts educational and informative, it makes for a compelling read as the story unfolds with all the drama of a strategic battle: heros, heroic decisions, luck and cowardice. This reader liked it.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome tale
Review: King of Hearts contains the topics of great literature - death, heroism and pride. The real beauty of this story is that it's all true. This is the tale of a brillant doctor and flawed human being who overcame great odds to develop open heart surgery. How quickly we forget in our technologically advanced world about the human sacrifices made for the sake of medical advancement. This book is a moving testament to the doctors and patients involved in the early struggle to repair heart defects. I was hooked from the opening scene and barely looked up until the final page. King of Hearts reads like a thriller and Miller carefully supports each plot twist with facts culled from medical archives and countless interviews. I think it is an impressive piece of reporting. Moreover, it is a powerful piece of writing. Miller uses his story telling skills to bring to life a milestone in medical history. So if you're in the medical field, you're an ER fan, or you crave great journalism, I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening, inspiring
Review: Mr. Miller's style of suspense keeps us reading to see what happens next. He vividly portrays the progress of open heart surgery, step by painful and bloody step. The reader suffers with the parents and doctors with each failed operation on each child, but watching as each technical problem is solved makes everything ok in the end. The reader learns about various congenital heart diseases of children, the symptoms, the physical descriptions, and the outcomes. Mr. Miller explains the procedures very well so no prior knowledge of surgery, medicine, or heart physiology is required. My favorite part is the race with the Mayo Clinic to perfect the heart-lung machine. The Mayo Clinic not only loses, but loses almost comically. Another favorite part is how the pace-maker was invented. This story along with the heart-lung machine story make this book worth reading. If you are interested in medicine, surgery, heart problems, medical history, medical technology, or just want to learn, then you will appreciate "King of Hearts."
Rating:
Summary: What a book!
Review: This book is a must read for any parent with a child in need of open-heart surgery. My son's defect was repaired at four months of age and this book was a major source of information for my husband and me prior to the surgery, as we sought to learn all we could about the heart and what open-heart surgery entails. Our pediatric cardiologist read it and loved it! We also gave the book as a gift to our son's heart surgeon. It is a thrilling book and helped us to understand the technicalities of our son's operation, along with giving us the perspective of what "standing on the shoulders of giants" truly means.
Rating:
Summary: king of hearts, a great book
Review: this book was both interesting and informative. it is about one of the first cardic surgeons, walt lillehei. he did so much for people yet so little is known about him. dr lillehei was such a complex man. it was fascinating to learn about his many different faces. i was impressed with the courage of the first cardic surgeons and the risks they took. this non fiction book held my interest the way a fiction book does. i would highly reccommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: King of Hearts
Review: This ia a truly amazing story of the pioneers of open heart surgery and their trials and disappiontments along with thier triumps, which grips you right from the introduction to the last page. Miller is definately an artist in his words and explaines how everything comes together. One can see how no other experiments of heart surgery can be achieved without the first pioneers as shown in this book.
| 
