Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

What does the term 'better' mean to a surgeon? Atul gives his interpretation in a clear and easy to follow way. I have found that is was easily applicable to the aviation field (which is more relevant to me) and gave an interesting starting point for us to define our own 'better. I am a fan of his work anyway so was confident I would enjoy this book. As I work with people who have English as a second language there are often concerns about misunderstandings, I find that I am attracted to books that define terms that we all thought we knew already. They give an insight into the complexity of a topic and remind me that even between native speakers we can interpret what something means differently. A great read for people wanting to discuss what better means for their work.

Gawande exhorts us to write, and this is my first response. As a Cardiologist in training this book is inspirational. It is essentially a collection of essays on doctors attempts to understand and implement systematic changes to improve patient care. The discussion of what it takes to be the best rather than merely average is fascinating, and emphasised to me the importance of attitude and personality. There are also chapters covering how doctors should be paid, as well as the role of doctors in executions. These chapters are interesting, but don't really add to the central theme that we should all endeavour to try harder. The book will change what I do, and you cannot get higher praise than that. An essential read for any doctor.

Perhaps more interesting to doctors than any one else. How to improve your practice of medicine in a number of easy steps. Worth a read.

Atul Gawande is superlative writing on medical practice and ethics being honest about his own and others' difficulties. I was interested to read that hospitals where he had practised had regular and confidential meetings of peers to examine what had gone wrong and how mistakes could be avoided in the future. It is, therefore, no surprise to read that he is careful to assess his own surgical techniques and hand on his knowledge to his students. The patients are treated with respect and compassion even under anaesthetic when they would remember nothing about the experience. Such generosity is heartwarming. I look forward to subsequent 'journals'.

I had bought this book some time ago and meant to start reading it on a number of occasions. I only wish I had read it a long time ago. I am a teacher who believes in empowering my fellow professionals to discover the power of their own agency to make a greater difference in people's lives. I feel that I have found my kindred spirit in Atul Gawande. I started reading the book at a steady pace yesterday morning and wound up inhaling it in a little over 24 hours. And I still have so much to learn from it. Page after page, he recounts powerful stories from around the world of professional resilience and courage in the face of the most challenging of circumstances. More importantly, page after page, he offers simple but not simplistic insights that will have you reflecting for a long time to come. I sense that his book will only achieve what he has set out to do when you decide to talk to a number of people of what you have read in it. I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of my highlights of 2015.

Amazingly thought provoking, gets you to learn about and consider situations and issues you've never thought of before or not thought much of before. Really accessible and interesting to all, really well told with a good historical perspective of medicine and how far we've come, yet there is always more we can do. Inspiring!

Thought provoking, incitful and well written. A surgeon's observations on health care in the US, and the issues it faces going into the future. Solutions are likely to be found in improved human performance, diligence and commitment rather than expensive technological advances.

12 chapters - largely unrelated to one another - on various aspects of medicine. These include stories about medical advances, for example in childbirth and the treatment of war injuries at the front line and cystic fibrosis, and observations in healthcare in the US (how doctors are paid; how they are sued for malpractice from time to time; their part in the administration of lethal injections) and in India (a mop-up operation following an outbreak of polio where it was thought to have been eradicated and surgery and innovation in conditions of extreme poverty and hardship). Gawande writes very well and no piece lacks interest - thought some hold more interest than others. Coming to this after Being Mortal and The Checklist Manifesto, the book suffers a little by comparison. There's no overarching theme here to match the 'take-aways' from those extended discussions of a single topic. But Gawande's concluding reflections on why he writes - so as not to be just one cog in a machine but engage with the world directly and at scale - make perfect sense. And he certainly succeeds here - it's just that he'll succeed even more later...

El libro es lo máximo

One of my favorite books on medical topics. Atul Guwande is a fantastic writer, knowledgeable, empathetic, just an all-around good read. The initial chapter on hospital-borne infections, hand washing, and the reference to the work on positive deviance and childhood malnutrition in Vietnam is eye opening. I've given away several copies.

Interesting read for anyone who's spent any amount of time in a hospital. gives a different outlook into health care.

good

Take aways that stand out: pick something that gets you up every morning; change it; count it; write about it; ask for feedback; don't complain; a refreshingly positive deviant.