Continuing my quest for wonderful reads, this month, I came across a non-fiction book named The Knife’s Edge. For those of you who want to develop with the development of knowledge, this book can be a pearl in the necklace. Here is my review of The Knife’s Edge:
“The Knife’s Edge is a beautifully crafted book by an equally crafty cardiac surgeon, Professor Stephen Westaby. As its caption suggests, it’s truly an account of the heart and soul of a cardiac surgeon who deals with the ups and downs of life, every single moment at work. You’ll see the sacrifices and pains behind that routine of multiple mind-boggling surgeries that are handled under extreme pressure by surgeons, yet with great precision. Sometimes, their hands are tied; sometimes, their times are.
I also appreciate the way the author has raised his questions on the working of a healthcare system that he believes to be lacking in advanced equipment and resources required for a job that is considered to be the toughest in the professional domain. It was sad to learn about the conditions in which critical heart surgeries of infants and adults take place when the system is unable to provide for the best, which it is surely able to achieve with such talented nursing personnel and surgeons.
Some compassion for the sufferers and a slight change in administrative mindset can avoid many dangers, fears and risks to the ‘precious’ life. Suffering is never a good sight to witness, whether by patients’ families or their surgeons.
This book not just covers the author’s professional cases but also his personal life that sometimes displays the shades of sadness, fear and misery and the feelings of joy on other occasions. I feel life is never normal when death becomes a regular part of it. I was moved by the incidents like those of Sophie and Oliver, the little patients who came back from the clutches of death, simply because their surgeon forever believed in hope and in magic at times when he strove constantly to achieve perfection.
While it’s advantageous to be aware of the basics of anatomy and medical procedures when you read this book, the life stories, thoughts and experiences of Prof. Westaby are worth cherishing, especially when the book is so well edited and supported by a glossary of medical terms. Go for it any day, guys!”
Lead a happy life, reading and growing…:)
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