The Making of a Surgeon

... 'twas a good book. Brought me back to memory lane when I was being made a Surgeon!

I wanted to be a doctor; more I wanted to be a surgeon. In 1960's Houston, however, boys from public schools and working class families did not get ANY encouragement. One day, purely by accident (literally a draw from a hat) I was assigned to read The Making of a Surgeon. When I closed the book, I knew that I would someday make it. Why? The central lesson of the book was that the best surgery residents were those that got up at night and actually saw patients. Dr. Nolen made it clear that surgery residency was primarily a matter of attention, compassion, and work. Not brilliance, not political connections, not a long family history in medicine. A real revelation for a small town Texas boy. I mean, I could work!Some of the procedures are technically dated, and some diseases are hardly seen now, but the face of surgery residency in New Orleans in 1988 was remarkably similar to that in the New York of Dr. Nolen's book. The style is conversational and engaging. The only real regret is that Dr. Nolen will not be writing any more.Should be required for every child that thinks they can't possibly be a surgeon.

As a soon-to-be medical school graduate, I was guided to this book by one of my professors. And, when I started reading it, I just couldn't put the book down! What I loved about it was how straightforward, clear, and unpretentious William Nolen is about his experiences all throughout his training, which began as a medical student and ended as a surgeon. Moreover, the book is a time capsule of sorts. It contains a clear description of the tasks (e.g. suction pipetting by mouth) and diseases (e.g. tetanus) that residents performed and diagnosed in the 1950s, many of which are no longer commonly done or seen. Also, Nolen's classic description of New York City in the 1950s is genuine and rich in history (if you're willing to look up the history behind some of the places -- such as Luchow's Restaurant -- that he alludes to in his book). Overall, I think it is superbly written, and a must-read for anyone interested in surgery, great writing, or both.

I read this book many years ago and still recall many things from it today. The book is well written and documents first-hand experience beginning as an intern in Bellvue Hospital. One can picture oneself accompanying William Nolen on his rounds and facing many dilemas both medically, politically and physically. I understand that today we face a declining number of medical students who choose to go into surgery whether due to demographics, creature comforts or whatever. This book "tells it like it is" from the point of view of an individual thinker who doesn't mind "rocking the boat", a la the current book "Heart Frauds" by Dr. Charles McGee. In summary, a very enjoyable read that brings us "behind the scenes".

I thought this was one of the best medical books I've read. The book was somewhat outdated though in its reference to surgical procedures and residency, but that also makes you appreciate the advancement of surgery over the last 30 years. I didn't really pay attention to how old the book was though, as the main point was Dr. Nolen's maturation from a clueless intern into a competent surgeon. He describes many different facets of surgical training from the first appendectomy to life outside of the hospital. I believe Dr. Nolen wrote an excellent book and meticulously gives a full perspective into the life a surgical resident. I enjoyed his writing style, which was very clear and straight forward. I think this book is a must read for anyone considering a surgical career.

I picked this book up on the chance that there would be a few pages of interesting reading, but I was total unprepared for the wonderful story that Dr. Nolen unfolded before my eyes. From his start as a medical student to his residency, the book successfully relates his emotions and in and out of the operating room. "The Making of a Surgeon" is a must read for individuals considering the medical field for their life's work.