Melody B. (5ducksfans) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 92 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 16
I really don't know what to say about this book, but I'll try:
First, the medical stories were really only enough to fill a few articles.
Second, I never really felt like I was *there* and getting in on the inside scoop.
Third, I found her very judgemental. She actually has the gall to speak ill of a patient who wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Stupid, yes. Worthy of snide remarks from a "professional"? NO. It's not even like she was using it as a cautionary tale. She was just plain mean and unprofessional.
Also, along those lines, she talks about how she "tolerates" religious people. In fact there's a whole section on her beliefs and how she is clearly correct. Whether I agree with her or not, what does this have to do with brain surgery? And really, her tone was incredibly insulting.
Fourth, she is incredibly shallow - complaining about how everything she does is so important and the burden it places on her. She muses about what it would be like to have a normal desk job or something that is not "important" so she wouldn't have this kind of stress. This makes me think a) she clearly has no clue what the rest of the world deals with; b) she is a complete egomaniac; and c) if it's so bad, why are you in it????????
Fifth, and related to my last question, is that she seems like she really doesn't give a hoot about any of her patients. They're just another thing to squeeze in to her already totally overloaded days. Well, gee, I'm sure they're all very sorry for the imposition.
If you want to read some REALLY good medical memoirs, start with Atul Gawande. Also check out Jerome Groopman (sp?). These are NOT more difficult reading - just light years superior. Seriously, after you read these, Frontal Lobe will look like an amateur "everybody's writing a book" book.
First, the medical stories were really only enough to fill a few articles.
Second, I never really felt like I was *there* and getting in on the inside scoop.
Third, I found her very judgemental. She actually has the gall to speak ill of a patient who wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Stupid, yes. Worthy of snide remarks from a "professional"? NO. It's not even like she was using it as a cautionary tale. She was just plain mean and unprofessional.
Also, along those lines, she talks about how she "tolerates" religious people. In fact there's a whole section on her beliefs and how she is clearly correct. Whether I agree with her or not, what does this have to do with brain surgery? And really, her tone was incredibly insulting.
Fourth, she is incredibly shallow - complaining about how everything she does is so important and the burden it places on her. She muses about what it would be like to have a normal desk job or something that is not "important" so she wouldn't have this kind of stress. This makes me think a) she clearly has no clue what the rest of the world deals with; b) she is a complete egomaniac; and c) if it's so bad, why are you in it????????
Fifth, and related to my last question, is that she seems like she really doesn't give a hoot about any of her patients. They're just another thing to squeeze in to her already totally overloaded days. Well, gee, I'm sure they're all very sorry for the imposition.
If you want to read some REALLY good medical memoirs, start with Atul Gawande. Also check out Jerome Groopman (sp?). These are NOT more difficult reading - just light years superior. Seriously, after you read these, Frontal Lobe will look like an amateur "everybody's writing a book" book.
Tish O. (tish) -
Helpful Score: 10
the author talks/writes like a neurosurgeon;if that does not bother you than you will enjoy this book. there is much medical jargon and trips into the brain but the book is empty of much emotion and feeling.sometimes humerous but mostly bland.
Michelle J. (mlbish) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Certainly an entertaining book, but really just okay. Although I had some complaints with the book, none of them made me want to stop reading. I couldn't put it down. However, it was poorly written and edited. There are some cringe-worthy mechanical/grammatical errors. Because the author has a difficult day job, however, I suppose we can forgive some of the sub-par writing. The last chapter, in my opinion, was extraneous and self-indulgent. I could have done without that--it left a bad taste in my mouth and I wish the editor had removed it. About the tone of the book: although it does take guts and self confidence to succeed in the field of neurosurgery, that came across in writing as arrogance on several occasions, especially at the beginning of the book. The arrogant tone did seem to wane as the book went on (or maybe I just got used to it).
But, as I mentioned before, all my complaints aside, I was riveted through the whole book.
But, as I mentioned before, all my complaints aside, I was riveted through the whole book.
lovtoride-n-read reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Katrina Firlik writes a chummy, frank book about her life as a neurosurgeon. It sometimes wanders but not too far. This is a fun and honest description of her training and practice in a little described area of medicine.
Jodi H. (jodi-m) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on
Helpful Score: 2
Dr. Firlik writes a great narrative, and includes interesting anecdotes about a world we (hopefully) never need to know about. I would recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in medical non-fiction.
Klaire B. (ibreadn) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
As someone who works for several orthopedic surgeons this book helped answer a lot of questions I didn't want bother the doctors with. Even if you are a patient, or simply curious the author has written a book that is easy to read and informative without making you feel intimidated. You are sure to get an "ah ha! So that's why they...." at some point during the book. I recommend it for a quick, good-to-know sort of read.
Helpful Score: 1
The first paragraph of the jacket blurb says it all: . I greatly enjoyed this book and learned a number of medical facts from it, too.
Katie B. (wirenth) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
i found this book fascinating. not only did firlik discuss her life as a brain surgeon, but also her motivations for becoming one in the first place, as well as her experiences in medical school and residency. and all of it packaged in a light, friendly manner of writing.
Merry D. (lucybell) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a really tough lady who writes with a lot of sensability.
Helpful Score: 1
I am a freshman at University this year, and eventually want to become a "brain Surgeon." This book provides excellent insight to the life of a surgeon, and is extremely well written.
Sidney H. (shardie1) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the last two chapters of this book the best. I thought that she tried a little too hard to be amusing. On the other hand, she was too apologetic for the black humor she and her colleagues share. But, overall, it was an enjoyable book about the day to day life of someone on their way to becoming a "brain surgeon."
Chris R. (nanor5) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
As a psychologist, I know much about this book's content, and iI am predisposed toward the topic. However, Dr Firlik is such a good writer, and explains her topics so well, that she makes all her stories interesting, as well as touching. This is a very enjoyable read for anyone interested in how the brain works, looks, and how it is dealt with when things go wrong.
Taryn C. (TarynC) -
Helpful Score: 1
As a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse for 30 yrs, maybe I am jaded. I figured this would be an interesting book. There were a few things I did find fascinating, but overall it's a little boring, a little too long and to me, just another typical Physician writing about their job/calling/ego "saving the world".
June A. (pertdoe) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 191 more book reviews
I really liked this book. It might not be for everyone but this is my kind of reading.
Connie K. (conniecon) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 3 more book reviews
It was interesting. A little dry sometimes. I would have liked more stories, but interestering.
Barbara J. (nanabjones) reviewed Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside on + 5 more book reviews
This was a very informative book if you are interested in neurosurgery or in training to be a surgeon in that specialty. I especially enjoyed her sense of humor and frankness about the training. She related a few cases which were unique in her experience and their outcome. All in all, a book I plan to pass among my book club friends.
