Scalpel's Edge, The: The Culture of Surgeons

Rating:
Summary: Only so-so
Review: ...this book made me so excited that I had to write something. I had to read this book for a Health Care Sociology class and I ended up reading half of the book in one sitting even though I had other work to do. A lot of the information in this book is really shocking about surgeons and it has made me eager to volunteer in an OR so I can see any proof of this stuff for myself. I even got to learn about some types of common procedures surgeons do and it has definitely made me feel like I was observing these surgeons with the author.

Rating:
Summary: Marginal at best
Review: After reading the reviews for this book, I eagerly purchased my copy. I am a general surgery resident and thus I thought I would find this book especially interesting. I did not. The author makes some interesting and valid observations, however I felt the book lacked any true analysis of what it really means to be a surgeon. If I were a medical student reading this I would steer clear of a career in surgery! Specifically I was annoyed by her contention that surgeons are merely clinicians and not true scientists as well as her insistence on referring to all surgeons by the male gender (a point she made early on). Clearly I am living proof of the contrary. In short, I was extremely disappointed and had a very difficult time even finishing this book.

Rating:
Summary: Marginal at best
Review: After reading the reviews for this book, I eagerly purchased my copy. I am a general surgery resident and thus I thought I would find this book especially interesting. I did not. The author makes some interesting and valid observations, however I felt the book lacked any true analysis of what it really means to be a surgeon. If I were a medical student reading this I would steer clear of a career in surgery! Specifically I was annoyed by her contention that surgeons are merely clinicians and not true scientists as well as her insistence on referring to all surgeons by the male gender (a point she made early on). Clearly I am living proof of the contrary. In short, I was extremely disappointed and had a very difficult time even finishing this book.

Rating:
Summary: Review of The Scalpel's Edge
Review: Concise,well-written and highly readable, this book has rapidly become an underground classic for surgical residents. It addresses issues of vital concern to those contemplating surgery for themselves or their relatives.

Rating:
Summary: Only so-so
Review: I found myself being sucked into this book at times, and wanting to push it away at others. The material is interesting - I had never really thought of surgeons as having their own culture. The stories were interesting and sometimes shocking. But I feel like the writer dumbed things down a little too much. . .either that or she didn't have great writing skills. And she really added too much of her commentary. I was hoping for a neutral look - a simple report on the culture of surgeons - but she tried to get the reader to agree with her views far too often. It wouldn't hurt to read this book, but it wouldn't really be an enjoyable experience either.