When the Air Hits Your Brain cover art

When the Air Hits Your Brain

Tales from Neurosurgery

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When the Air Hits Your Brain

By: Frank T Vertosick Jr. MD
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
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About this listen

With poignant insight and humor, Frank Vertosick, Jr., MD, describes some of the greatest challenges of his career, including a six-week-old infant with a tumor in her brain, a young man struck down in his prime by paraplegia, and a minister with a .22-caliber bullet lodged in his skull. Told through intimate portraits of Vertosick's patients and unsparing-yet-fascinatingly detailed descriptions of surgical procedures, When the Air Hits Your Brain - the culmination of decades spent struggling to learn an unforgiving craft - illuminates both the mysteries of the mind and the realities of the operating room.

©2008 Frank T. Vertosick, Jr., MD (P)2016 Tantor History & Commentary Medical Medicine & Health Care Industry Professionals & Academics Surgery Human Brain Witty Health care Brain Surgery

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Critic reviews

"A riveting report that shatters the mystique of the brain surgeon as a wizard of technical prowess." ( Publishers Weekly)
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Slow to start but picks up to be the best book i have listened to so far.

Brilliant!

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Very enjoyable and humanistic, the reading is subtle and calm, the voice you'd hope to hear inside your brain doctors head !

Like the medical bits of E.R

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Incredibly good. Insightful, emotional, interesting and enlightening. Would read again, an absolute favourite on the first read and the second listen a few months later. I took lessons away from this book that will stay with me for life, not that it tries to cram any down your throat, but it was so honest and Vertosick’s turn of phrase is often simple and thereby impactful, that you may or may not find yourself thinking about the chapter you just read for a while. This book has made me excited to read again.

Yes, there was some cheesy sentences, but I entirely forgive it and it’s very minor and not throughout.

The narrator was great, it wasn’t a voice or performance that distracted from the book in my opinion.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading. This book was entirely engaging in my opinion.

Brilliant

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A good insight into brain surgery and the effects on both the patients and the doctors

Very interesting

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I listened to this intently, slightly unsure of what to expect as the narrator spoke the authors initial impressions of what the book wouldn't be and gave indications of name changes (which is to be expected when dealing with intimate medical procedures)... However, it was very engaging - I am glad I was able to get taken for the journey that the author has compiled based on their early career. I don't think my review can do it justice - it's a masterful mix of heart wrenching tragedy, amazing - bordering on miraculous - efforts in saving human life. You never know how each case the author meets will pan out and their narrative is too engaging - it can be nailbiting! An amazing drama - which is entirely real, save for the aforementioned name changes to protect identities. It strikes at the core of what you may consider your humanity - empathy, fear, optimism (and a touch of disgust if you're squeamish..!). Superb. I downloaded this book with the monthly token after seeing it advertised for something to listen to while I pottered about - no chance of that. I couldn't move - I was hooked and following along with the gestures and the facial expressions that the author has captured while telling their story.

Absolutely gripping.

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Great book. Really enjoyed. Interesting and approachable introduction to neurosurgery.
Fifteen word minimum? Seriously? Just annoying.

Interesting and well written

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An interesting look at neurosurgery, with some stories being happy, some sad, but all fascinating.

fascinating

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A collection of neurosurgery anecdotes during the author's residency programme. Well written, presents important ethical and professional challenges.

Good book

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Interesting book about the life of a great person. Listened all the way through and very captivating.

Great book

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....I found myself being educated in many ways...regarding self, health, the other side of the coin with what doctors do and deal with....yes, as he says, this was written before many changes were made but it is very relevant and thought provoking....good listen.

A lot of mind opening thoughts!

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