The Tenth Nerve: A Brain Surgeon's Stories of the Patients Who Changed Him

by Chris Honey

Combining a humane perspective, lively anecdotes, and a deep curiosity about the uncharted territories of the human brain, The Tenth Nerve is a richly fascinating memoir that will fill you with wonder.

“The scalpel can only go so deep, and technical skill can only take one so far.”


In this absorbing narrative, Dr. Chris Honey, an accomplished neurosurgeon at Vancouver General Hospital, weaves his personal journey together with case studies that reflect the thrill of scientific discovery and the limitations of medicine. Operating on a terminally ill child amid an Ebola outbreak in Liberia, he questions his preconceptions about what it means to "win" against a disease. Reflecting on his own path into neurosurgery, he brings to life a relatively new, high stakes field of medicine — one that historically demanded emotional detachment and often attracts extreme personalities.

With a compassionate eye, he traces the courage and determination of several patients suffering from mysterious, unrecognized illnesses, and invites us into the operating room with Dr. Honey and his team to witness the extraordinary discovery — involving the tenth cranial nerve — of an entirely new disease and its cure. And, outside the OR, an unusual friendship with a former patient alters his perspective on clinical detachment, and what "quality of life" really means.

Riveting and dramatic, The Tenth Nerve offers a rare window into the world of a pre-eminent neurosurgeon and seven exceptional patients that made him a better doctor.

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one I never would have picked up if it were not a selection for my book club. However, I am glad I read it. The descriptions of the surgical procedures could be a bit off-putting but the advances in medical science are so improved because doctors like Chris Honey are willing to ask questions and look for answers.

[Mike Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watched Chris speak as a guest speaker at an event I was curious to read this book. This book combines personal stories and experiences with the technical side of brain surgery. I appreciate the writing style and how the patient experiences are woven into the book.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biased as I am, this is an engaging narrative of impactful experiences with details that hold my technical and philosophical interest. The author simultaneously sees themselves as godlike and sees god as a mysterious and humble being in the face of its people.