In this partially autobiographical work, best-selling author Lewis Thomas offers insights on subjects as wide-ranging as gender differences, how it feels to be a patient, human vs. computer intelligence, the future of cancer research, and the longevity of the planet-interspersing all with charming anecdotes about his family, his colleagues and himself.
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"Interesting accounts of discovery and failure in academic medicine in New York City as it evolved from an art to a science. Particulary interesting to those who trained at the institutions mentioned: NYU Bellevue, Cornell, Rockefeller, etc. "
— Anastasia (4 out of 5 stars)
" A journal-like commentary on the state of medicine past, present, and future. It's funny because his comments in 1975 about the state of medicine are just as accurate if made today. A great read. My favorite chapter is his praise of the nursing profession. "
— Spencer, 12/11/2013" Very fascinating essays on his career as a physician and microbiologist from 1930 to late 1980s - a time when scientific discoveries transformed medicine and health. "
— Cristi, 12/1/2013" Lewis thomas is certainly one of our best science essayists. I always enjoy his work. These are general essays mostly, about biology. "
— Charles, 7/18/2013" An inspiring book for all the medical types, and I LOVED it. "
— Grace, 7/10/2013" A really great book about medicine in the last century. It is written in a conversational tone. It is great for anyone wanting to learn more about medicine and read a great book. It is now one of my favorite books. "
— Lafe, 5/20/2013" A master of the personal essay. Evocative of medicine as practiced in his father's era (1910) and his own (1937 forward). He laments, as do I, the loss of the physician's physical touch. "
— Richard, 4/27/2013" I know I read this and I remember that I liked it, but I would need to read it again to accurately review it. "
— Vicki, 4/20/2013" A classic. Great read from the one of the early fathers of medicine writing "
— Daniel, 11/5/2012" Intriguing essays on science and how it relates to everyday life and the medical world. I love the way Thomas writes. "
— Rae, 9/30/2012" Lewis Thomas does what no science class I've ever taken could do -- he makes me like science. Especially appreciated the stories from his own and his father's experiences in medicine. "
— Courtney, 9/23/2012" All three Thomas books are apologies for meaning to be found in creation. Sadly, the author falls short of tying that back to God. Nevertheless, he comes so close, and his explanation is beautiful. "
— Kristina, 9/17/2012" Thomas goes between being fun, biographical, interesting, and scientific all over the place. It feels like a series of essays rather than a woven piece, but not without originality. "
— Brian, 2/24/2012" Really a series of essays, that follow Dr. Thomas' life in medicine and its evolution from hand-holding to scientific care, sometimes unfortunately at the expense of dehumanizing the patient even more. "
— Jean, 2/22/2012" More good stuff from Thomas. "
— Brittany, 12/5/2011" Great book on the not-so-distant attempts of modern day (witch) doctors to understand the inner essences of all things somatic. Pretty interesting stuff at the end there on Lewis' attempts to understand the root causes of cancer. "
— Chris, 11/1/2011" Interesting accounts of discovery and failure in academic medicine in New York City as it evolved from an art to a science. Particulary interesting to those who trained at the institutions mentioned: NYU Bellevue, Cornell, Rockefeller, etc. "
— Anastasia, 9/29/2011" Really a series of essays, that follow Dr. Thomas' life in medicine and its evolution from hand-holding to scientific care, sometimes unfortunately at the expense of dehumanizing the patient even more. "
— Jean, 7/31/2011" A classic. Great read from the one of the early fathers of medicine writing "
— Daniel, 2/1/2011" Lewis Thomas does what no science class I've ever taken could do -- he makes me like science. Especially appreciated the stories from his own and his father's experiences in medicine. <br/><br/> "
— Courtney, 11/30/2010" A master of the personal essay. Evocative of medicine as practiced in his father's era (1910) and his own (1937 forward). He laments, as do I, the loss of the physician's physical touch. "
— Richard, 8/7/2010" I know I read this and I remember that I liked it, but I would need to read it again to accurately review it. "
— Vicki, 7/25/2010" A journal-like commentary on the state of medicine past, present, and future. It's funny because his comments in 1975 about the state of medicine are just as accurate if made today. A great read. My favorite chapter is his praise of the nursing profession. "
— Spencer, 5/3/2009" Great book on the not-so-distant attempts of modern day (witch) doctors to understand the inner essences of all things somatic. Pretty interesting stuff at the end there on Lewis' attempts to understand the root causes of cancer. "
— Chris, 3/16/2009" Lewis thomas is certainly one of our best science essayists. I always enjoy his work. These are general essays mostly, about biology. "
— Charles, 7/18/2008" An inspiring book for all the medical types, and I LOVED it. "
— Grace, 3/24/2007Lewis Thomas (1913–1993) was born in New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Princeton and a doctorate in medicine in 1937. He went on to become professor of pediatric research at the University of Minnesota, chairman of the Departments of Pathology and Medicine and also dean at the New York University—Bellevue Medical Center, chairman of the Department of Pathology and dean at Yale Medical School, and president of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. His now classic book, The Lives of a Cell, won the National Book Award in 1974.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.