Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I was quite excited to receive an advance copy of Henry Marsh’s Admissions:  Life as a Brain Surgeon; I enjoy memoirs, and I tend to enjoy case studies, so it seemed like a natural fit.  When my hubby found it available on audio I was even more excited, since it meant I could actually GET to it sooner rather than later.  As I read it, however, I did find that I ended up feeling differently about it than I was anticipating.  Here’s what I think you ought to know going in.

What This Book Is–And Isn’t

1.  This IS an extremely well-written memoir, and one that manages to avoid crossing the line into over-technicality (despite its topic).
2.  This ISN’T a book that focuses on Marsh’s career.  Instead, he reflects a bit on his child- and young adulthood and occasionally on his most memorable cases.  He relates his volunteer work in Nepal (and, to a far lesser extent, in Ukraine).  He spends far more time than I expected, however, ruminating on the healthcare system in the UK, on how doctors’ daily lives have changed, and on the limitations of brain surgery.
3.  This IS a book that mingles significant self-assurance with self-deprecation.
4.  This IS a book by a man who cares deeply about animals and the environment.
5.  This ISN’T a book of faith.  Marsh is openly atheistic, and his ideas about how his profession and his lack of belief are related are presented with a presumptive style that I didn’t appreciate.  Presumably any memoir, by definition, presents the opinions of its author, but I doubt Marsh’s colleagues all share his views on that particular subject.
6.  This ISN’T a particularly cheerful book.  It is what it is, you understand; I just find it helpful to know that sort of thing going in.
7.  This IS an interesting read all the way through.  (Although being a memoir, it inevitably lacks complete resolution.)
8.  This IS a book you ought to read if you’re interested in a British brain surgeon’s life experiences and how those experiences shape his view of our world and its future.

There you have it, folks.  If you decide to read it, let me know what you think!