No comments about Fever & Thirst: An American Doctor Among the Tribes of Kurdistan, 1835-1844.

No comments about The Genius of C. Walton Lillehei and The True History of Open Heart Surgery.

5 comments about The Chase for Beauty.

1. Great read. I would absolutely recommend this book. Can't wait to see more things by this author. He really made the story personal and exciting. Couldn't put it down.



2. Even though this book is about a gruesome murder, it is so beautifully written that I couldn't put it down. I kept turning each page wanting to read more and more about the Hurwitz family. With half the book left to read, I had to take it with me on vacation instead of opting for a beach book full of fluff. A must read about a family that doesn't give up no matter how ugly life gets!



3. I read this book in one day. Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I found myself unconsciously rolling into the next.
   
   At first, I thought that I was interested in this book because of the setting. Being from Pittsburgh, it was exciting to notice familiar landmarks in the the story. But, upon reflection, I realize that it was the story, itself, and the messages attached to it, that really kept me engaged. Of course, the writing style also helped. Reading this book was effortless, but the reward and experience was incredible.
   
   This book is a must-read for anyone who: doesn't like to read, loves to read, has lost a loved one, has a personal struggle of their own, is looking for motivation, needs help rebuilding, has an interest in religion, likes crime or drama, is interested in the medical community, or wants to be moved.
   
   In truth, this page-turner is a perfect fit for anyone who wants a good read. It explores a range of emotions, from shock and fury, to empowerment and peace.
   
   Not only does the book capture the emotional roller coaster of sorrow and joy, it also looks at everyday situations and challenges in a honest, simple way. This true story is a personal, fresh read with a momentum of its own. Once you pick it up, it's impossible not to get swept away.



4. Like a couple of the other reviewers, I'm not a huge reader (although I spent much of college in literature classes).
   
   I was drawn to this story because it sounded almost like fiction when I heard about the horrific murder and the glitzy plastic surgeon. Indeed it was a page-turner.
   
   A great part of the book was the descriptive style that Mendelson uses to take the reader into the lives of the Hurwitz family--their joys, their great sorrow and their need to move past the terrible tragedy.
   
   Without giving too much away, my favorite part of the book comes after the murder, when Dr. and Mrs. Hurwitz make a decision for their future.
   
   All in all, it was a good read. The only thing I might have changed was the title. I'm not sure that "The Chase for Beauty" captures enough of the emotion that the book truly exudes.



5. I read this book because I'm a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and I heard a lot of buzz about the story of Dr. Hurwitz, The Total Body Lift and the clockwork orange murder in Squirrel Hill.
   
   I finally decided to pick it up after reading an article about it in the post gazette back in September. The article describe the book as having a short beginning, a long middle, and an ending that was going in the right direction. I personally felt like the beginning and the middle were page turners, while the ending didn't have enough closure, probably because these were all true accounts.
   
   I also felt like I wanted to learn a lot more about the murderer of Karen. In the Post Gazette article, it says the author interviewed the murderer for 5 days at Fayette County prison. I'd love to read the transcript of that interview. I was definitely confused as to whether or not the boy was crazy, jealous, or both.
   
   What I loved most about The Chase was that the author recreated Dr. Hurwitz's life and made me feel like I was an actual part of it.
   
   Pick up this book if:
   - you're from Pittsburgh because it will without a doubt hit home
   - you need to be inspired by someone who has had it a lot worse than you
   - you want to learn how to appreciate the joy and beauty in life

No comments about Medicine Man to the Inuit: A Young Doctors Adventures Among the Eskimos.

4 comments about Connecting the Pieces: The Discovery of Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder.

1. Ethan Martinez is one of my good friends, and this book was amazing. it showed how much him and his mother both have struggled to get through his disoder.



2. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone touched by early onset bipolar disorder. Told from the viewpoint of a mother and her son, the story recounts the years of misdiagnosis, struggles with school, and the difficulty explaining what might look like defiant behaviors to others. Ms. Kratt and her son, Ethan, both write from their own perspectives, giving the reader the opportunity to gain much understanding of this complex mental illness. It is a hopeful story, and parents struggling with understanding a child with this diagnosis will find comfort and helpful information.



3. This is one family's journey to find answers and relief. It is told "side by side" as the left page is by mom and the right side by son.



4. Diane is a mom who has and is doing everything possible to help her son overcome the obstacles of having bipolar disorder to have a successful and happy life. Her knowledge of the resources available and her ideas about improving care for children with bipolar disorder are inspiring. I'd recommend this book for teachers, school administrators, coaches, counselors and especially parents struggling with this issue.

1 comments about Man of Vision: The Story of Dr. Robert Morrison.

1. You know a book's worth when you read the last few pages very slowly hoping it will never end and just go on and on. Dr. Robert Morrison's book inspired me, like I try to do with my students, to always strive to be the "best you can". Even if you fall short sometimes, it's the striving that counts. Dr. Bob is truly an inspiration to millions of people with poor vision and especially contact lens wearers. The bottom line is, HE CARES. About the poor people in undeveloped nations, the royalty around the globe and the common person who has a vision problem and needs help from a master. I will never forget this book, and more importantly the man, Dr. Bob, who strived and succeeded in " making a difference " in life. I pray everyday that my high school students become the Jane Goodalls and Bob Morrisons of the future and straighten out some wrinkles in a troubled earth. Read this book.

2 comments about The Best I Can: Odyssey of a Survivor.

1. I met Ross Phelps in Prague in 1990. This is an amazing true story of personal strenght, will and courage. The book is definitely worth of buying it. Martin Kostal, Prague - Czech Republic



2. Knowing this family as I do and playing a peripheral role in their experience to support the patient, Ross Phelps, I can strongly recommend Elaine Phelps' narrative account of her son's determination to survive - in fact, thrive - in the face of a killer cancer. Ross' ongoing, 15-year battle with a pediatric bone cancer, osteosarcoma, is an inspiring story of personal will. This book will be a source of comfort and hope to cancer patients, their caregivers, their families and friends.

No comments about Unlocking the Doctor's Little Black Bag: A Personal Account of the Adult Life of a Doctor.

1 comments about A Philosophy of Practice of Surgical Pathology: Dermatopathology As Model.

1. This is a detailed description of Ackerman's views about dermatology, dermatopathology and surgical pathology. Like so many Ackerman's works, it is also a work of art, sometimes with the impressive detail, color and light of stained glass in a medieval church.

2 comments about A DOCTOR'S WAR: Introduction by Pete McCarthy, author of McCarthy's Bar.

1. This short autobiographical account of an Irish doctor's World War II experiences is so riveting that I stayed up way too late to finish it. Dr. MacCarthy served in Europe and was then shipped out to the Asian theatre where he endured the unthinkable. The most striking things I took away from this book is how strong human beings can be in the face of terrible events and how good can triumph within each of us. As the preface said, if you went to a movie and saw all the things portrayed which Dr. McCarthy lived through, you'd think it too far-fetched to be true.



2. This book has been re-printed.
   
   New ISBN is 1903464706