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King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open-heart Surgery Audiobook
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(4.08) - 123 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Few of the great stories of medicine are as palpably dramatic as the advent of open heart surgery, yet, until now, no one has brought to life all of the thrilling specifics of this triumph. G. Wayne Miller has dramatically and meticulously reconstructed the amazing true story of how a group of renegade Minnesota surgeons, led by Dr. Walt Lillehei, accomplished what many experts considered to be an impossible feat: he opened the heart, repaired fatal defects, and made the miraculous routine. Drawing on archival research and exclusive interviews with Lillehei and legendary pioneers such as Michael DeBakey and Christian Barnard, Miller takes readers into the lives of these brave doctors and patients as they risked reputations and lives to revolutionize health care.
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"This is the fabulous story of the mavericks who pioneered open heart surgery. Doctors and patients as heroes. Inspiring.The tragedy is that if they tried to do the same things today, they would most likely lose their license and probably be jailed. "
— Beth (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Fast-paced and scrupulously researched.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“King of Hearts is breathless reading.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“The reader’s restraint from characterization or drama, while retaining the power of the gripping story, appropriately commands the listener’s fascination up to the sad, almost operatic, ending.”
— AudioFile -
“Highly recommended for all readers.”
— Library Journal -
“Could not have come at a more opportune time.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Cullen heightens the drama through good pacing and inflections that are breathtakingly exhilarating at appropriate moments. Even listeners uninterested in medical history will find themselves entranced.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A Booklist Editors’ Choice, October 2001
King of Hearts Listener Reviews
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" Another medical history. Very interesting and engaging. "
— Debbie, 1/5/2014 -
" Facinating and would read again. I want to own this one. "
— Lezlee, 12/29/2013 -
" Excellent and informative book. My daughter has a congenital heart defect. Great read about the first open heart surgeon. "
— Jennifer, 12/25/2013 -
" True story of Walt Lillehei, the maverick who pioneered open heart surgery. Very exciting. I'll recommend this to everyone. "
— Cindy, 1/19/2013 -
" Another great book about open heart surgery. Amazing! "
— Meagan, 1/14/2013 -
" Reading this again, to try to fully appreciate how much had to happen for my every day work to become so routine! amazing story of the evolution of cardiac surgery! "
— Shuli, 11/25/2012 -
" Lillehei's life is a study in the peaks and valleys of brilliance. A must read for anyone with a cardiology bent. "
— Brandt, 9/14/2012 -
" Very interesting book of open heart surgery at the University of Minnesota. There is no way they could do those experiments today because of all the ethical concerns. "
— Mark, 1/16/2012 -
" Excellent book on the history of open heart surgery! "
— Tiffany, 12/6/2011 -
" One of those books that you read and can't quite believe anyone REALLY did this! It gave me a great appreciation for modern surgery and the men who risked everything to learn. "
— Kris, 11/22/2011 -
" I great book to illustrate that medicine is an art and a science. I was torn between the heartbreak of the lives lost and the enlightening genius of the surgeon as he worked toward what is now a fairly routine surgery. "
— Luc, 8/18/2011 -
" Great book about the beginnings of open heart surgery. Very informative, as well as thought provoking. Gives the tell-all truth about the surgeons and what they went through to pioneer such an important medical field. "
— Zenren, 6/11/2011 -
" So incredible! It is amazing how new heart surgery is and how hard of a struggle it was to figure out. This book makes me realize how much there still is to learn in all areas of medicine. Great book. "
— Joy, 3/27/2011 -
" True story of Walt Lillehei, the maverick who pioneered open heart surgery. Very exciting. I'll recommend this to everyone. "
— Cindy, 3/20/2011 -
" Another great book about open heart surgery. Amazing! "
— Meagan, 9/19/2009 -
" Another medical history. Very interesting and engaging. "
— Debbie, 8/16/2009 -
" So incredible! It is amazing how new heart surgery is and how hard of a struggle it was to figure out. This book makes me realize how much there still is to learn in all areas of medicine. Great book. "
— Joy, 7/20/2009 -
" Facinating and would read again. I want to own this one. "
— Lezlee, 5/30/2009 -
" Great book about the beginnings of open heart surgery. Very informative, as well as thought provoking. Gives the tell-all truth about the surgeons and what they went through to pioneer such an important medical field. "
— Zenren, 5/10/2009 -
" Very interesting book of open heart surgery at the University of Minnesota. There is no way they could do those experiments today because of all the ethical concerns. "
— Mark, 7/9/2008
About G. Wayne Miller
G. Wayne Miller is one of the most acclaimed journalists in New England. His first work of nonfiction, The Work of Human Hands, about Children’s Hospital in Boston, was described by the Los Angeles Times as “a song of human suffering that is harrowing to read and impossible to forget.” His four-year investigation of life inside Hasbro, Toy Wars, was praised by The New York Times. He is a staff writer at The Providence Journal, where he has won numerous journalism awards. He is also the author of a novel, Thunder Rise, and a nonfiction book on high school, Coming of Age. He lives in Pascoag, Rhode Island. He can be reached at www.gwaynemiller.com.
About the Narrators
John Lescault, a native of Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He lives in Washington, DC, where he works in theater.
John Lescault, a native of Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He lives in Washington, DC, where he works in theater.