Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Look into Medicine
Review: "When the Air Hits Your Brain" is an interesting account of the medical profession as told by a surgical intern. It talks about how not all surgeons are robots and that they are just humans doing a job (a very important job, but a job nonetheless). Every job has its ups and downs, and medicine is no different. This compassion, sorrow, fulfillment and emptiness is conveyed quite well in this book. It is a fast read that can be completed in an afternoon or two. The stories told in the book are ones that you'll remember for a while (especially if you're in medical school) and will want to tell your friends about.Overall, it's a great look into the struggles a medical intern goes through and how he copes with it all. His thoughts are funny and witty and make for an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Look into Medicine
Review: "When the Air Hits Your Brain" is an interesting account of the medical profession as told by a surgical intern. It talks about how not all surgeons are robots and that they are just humans doing a job (a very important job, but a job nonetheless). Every job has its ups and downs, and medicine is no different. This compassion, sorrow, fulfillment and emptiness is conveyed quite well in this book. It is a fast read that can be completed in an afternoon or two. The stories told in the book are ones that you'll remember for a while (especially if you're in medical school) and will want to tell your friends about. Overall, it's a great look into the struggles a medical intern goes through and how he copes with it all. His thoughts are funny and witty and make for an enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: It rocks.No ego
Review: As someone in the early stages of the medical profession, I fight daily with wondering if I've made the right decisions, especially when things turn sour. One paragraph in particular in this book, after Dr. Vertosick made an error during a surgery to clip an aneurysm, made a great impact for me. I appreciate that he has managed to maintain his humanity and can remember enough of his cases through his training to write about them. This book was thoroughly enjoyable, with a good balance of lightheartedness to cause laughter out loud and profound sadness to bring tears springing. I plan on purchasing this book for my friends and family who are also in the medical profession. But, probably those who would benefit most by the insights of this book wouldn't really get it or appreciate it.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating look at neurosurgical training
Review: Dr. Vertosick offers the history of his neurosurgical training, and it's a fascinating trip from callow student to practicing professional. Rare indeed is the book that can bring a tear to my eye, but this one did (the chapter titled "Rebecca"). Vertosick is an engaging author who wraps the story of his training in well crafted prose. My only complaint is that the book was too short; I'd have liked to know even more. Nevertheless, on the strength of this outing, I have found and read Vertosick's two other books "Why We Hurt" and "The Genius Within". Both are also excellent reads, although "Genius" is not for the scientifically faint-hearted.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating look at neurosurgical training
Review: Dr. Vertosick offers the history of his neurosurgical training, and it's a fascinating trip from callow student to practicing professional. Rare indeed is the book that can bring a tear to my eye, but this one did (the chapter titled "Rebecca"). Vertosick is an engaging author who wraps the story of his training in well crafted prose. My only complaint is that the book was too short; I'd have liked to know even more. Nevertheless, on the strength of this outing, I have found and read Vertosick's two other books "Why We Hurt" and "The Genius Within". Both are also excellent reads, although "Genius" is not for the scientifically faint-hearted.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I have read in a long time
Review: I am not in a medically related field at all but still this book was so good that I read it TWICE. It was a page-turner that I couldn't put down. Every chapter is captivating for a different reason. The dialog is fantastic. I couldn't stop laughing. If more people read this book, maybe we wouldn't have such a problem with malpractice suits. Doctors are only human.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding, Hilarious and Informative.
Review: I enjoyed reading "When The Air Hits Your Brain". Dr vertosick talked about his medical training from a third year medical student to his chief residency in Neurosurgery. Dr. vertosick candidly talked about some Neurosurgical cases and their outcome. He made me laugh, and sometimes he made me cry. There is a wealth of information about the structure and function of the brain which Dr Vertosick relates to things in everyday life so it's easy for everyone to understand. One can see the warmth and compassion of Dr Vertosick in his writing. I highly recommend this easy to read, and well written book.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding, Hilarious and Informative.
Review: I enjoyed reading "When The Air Hits Your Brain". Dr vertosick talked about his medical training from a third year medical student to his chief residency in Neurosurgery. Dr. vertosick candidly talked about some Neurosurgical cases and their outcome. He made me laugh, and sometimes he made me cry. There is a wealth of information about the structure and function of the brain which Dr Vertosick relates to things in everyday life so it's easy for everyone to understand. One can see the warmth and compassion of Dr Vertosick in his writing. I highly recommend this easy to read, and well written book.
Rating:
Summary: A shocking look at reality, but I loved it!
Review: I had brain surgery for epileptic seizures and was cured. But as a result of this experience, I've continued to be fascinated with medicine and surgery. This book gave me the chance to see what it may feel like to be on the other side. Dr. Vertosick takes the reader through his medical residency and through the long hours of being yelled at and belittled while trying to make people well. I think anyone who wants to go into medicine needs to read this book. It's scary, but exciting at the same time! It's like you are going through this experience with the author and you want to finish reading the book so you can know you survived the journey and accomplished your goal. If you are not interested in medicine or the operating room, you can probably live without this information. But for everyone else, it's a must read!
Rating:
Summary: The best in non-fiction
Review: It's been a while since I read this book, but I can't think of any book I've read in the last year that I've enjoyed more. It gave me a glimpse into the arcane world of neurosurgery in a way that was completely understandable and by turns touching, frightening and -- hilarious. Trust me.
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