Editorial Review:

The struggle to perform well is universal: each one of us faces fatigue, limited resources, and imperfect abilities in whatever we do. But nowhere is this drive to do better more important than in medicine, where lives are on the line with every decision. In his new book, Atul Gawande explores how doctors strive to close the gap between best intentions and best performance in the face of obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable.

Gawande's gripping stories take us to battlefield surgical tents in Iraq, to delivery rooms in Boston, to a polio outbreak in India, and to malpractice courtrooms around the country. He examines the ethical dilemmas of doctors' participation in lethal injections, the influence of money on modern medicine, and the astoundingly contentious history of hand-washing. Offering a searingly honest first-hand account of work in a field where mistakes are both unavoidable and unthinkable, Better provides rare insight into the elements of success that illuminates every area of human endeavor.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Atul Probes Deeply:

Atul Gwande's "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance" is a collection of essays that probe skillfully and poignantly into the depths of medical ethics and the performance of doctors. He is a fine researcher and an astute observer who carefully delineates many facets of each issue that he explores, be it washing hands, malpractice concerns, or the Apgar score.
As a non-fiction writer, I was acutely aware of how adept Gawande is at using narrative to illustrate and discuss complex moral and ethical... more info

Fascinating. Must read. Classic.:

A fascinating and quick read, in each section there are plenty of inspiring stores about doctors making a difference. Dr. Atul Gawande, a general surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital and staff writer for the New Yorker has keen observation and insight to make single stories demonstrate not only the failings of our healthcare system but also the solutions to them because of individuals asking questions on how to do better. Ultimately, one of the questions he asks is how can doctors and hospitals be... more info

The progress of medical science:

Like another Amazon reviewer, I found this book to be the best book written about the medical profession in some time. Dr. Gawande's style is lively and thought-provoking, particularly as he discusses practicing medicine in war-torn Iraq or how doctors struggle with ethical concerns relating to capital punishment.

Another Great Look Inside the Medical Profession:

I thought Atul Gawande's last book, Complications, was one of the best books written on the medical profession in a long while. In it, Gawande showed a deep respect and sympathy for patients while trying to be clear about what would help the medical establishment do a better job from a doctor's point of view. In this book, he covers some of the same ground but, as his title implies, here he is focused specifically on what it takes to do things better as a doctor. The chapters here are grouped under three... more info

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