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The Doctors Mayo
The Doctors Mayo is the biography of the "old doctor" William Worrall Mayo, his sons "Dr Will" and "Dr Charlie," and the world-famous Mayo Clinic which they built at Rochester Minnesota.
437 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 26, 2018
This is the story of the Mayo Brothers from the 1800s to 1939 (when they both died within months of each other). The original 1940s hardcover is a huge book and the first few hundred pages is about their father (before the brothers were born), who laid the groundwork for the sons' practice. I actually found the first third of the book to be the most interesting. The middle section that covers the Mayo brothers is extremely clinical and overly detailed with minor medical incidents. The last section gives many more stories about the two brothers, their personalities, and their later years. There is almost nothing in the book about other family members or wives.
What surprised me was the lack of plan that any of the Mayos had. They just cobbled things together as they needed them. They pushed for a team approach to medicine, but also seemed to create a somewhat unorganized environment. And I was also surprised by their lack of spirituality. They partnered with the nuns at St. Mary's Hospital but the Mayos were not Catholic nor religious, even being somewhat progressive in their views of spirituality. Many in the Christian community stood again their father and even the sons lacked support from all in the early years. There is quite a bit of politics in the book, especially with their father as mayor, legislator, and a member of three different political parties in his adult lifetime! The sons had their own political troubles with those that accused them of inappropriately advertising for business and trying to be celebrities. There is plenty of small-town history and arguments, not just from Rochester but from minor villages in southern and central Minnesota.
For its time this must have been a fascinating volume. Today it needs a good revision by cutting out a few hundred pages and focusing on the important things in the Mayo history instead of every minor detail that is written about here.
What surprised me was the lack of plan that any of the Mayos had. They just cobbled things together as they needed them. They pushed for a team approach to medicine, but also seemed to create a somewhat unorganized environment. And I was also surprised by their lack of spirituality. They partnered with the nuns at St. Mary's Hospital but the Mayos were not Catholic nor religious, even being somewhat progressive in their views of spirituality. Many in the Christian community stood again their father and even the sons lacked support from all in the early years. There is quite a bit of politics in the book, especially with their father as mayor, legislator, and a member of three different political parties in his adult lifetime! The sons had their own political troubles with those that accused them of inappropriately advertising for business and trying to be celebrities. There is plenty of small-town history and arguments, not just from Rochester but from minor villages in southern and central Minnesota.
For its time this must have been a fascinating volume. Today it needs a good revision by cutting out a few hundred pages and focusing on the important things in the Mayo history instead of every minor detail that is written about here.
April 2, 2011
Working in medicine, of course I knew about the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. And living in the midwest, of course I knew something of the Clinic's founders, the Mayo family: Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his sons, Drs. William and Charles Mayo. I've even visited Rochester, and toured the Clinic. So, for 20 years or more, I've carried Clapesattle's book, The Doctors Mayo through every move, intending someday to read it.
Well, last month I did. And I was astounded.
I had no idea about this period of time, how science exploded in the late 1800s and into the 20th century. The expansion of medical and surgical skills, and the minds that drove such rapid advances in scientific knowledge.
And the incredible positioning of the Mayo family - such hard, hard workers, dedicated physicians who through luck, brilliance and hard work contributed so much to science, medicine and surgery. Seeing opportunities and potential everywhere - in medicine, basic sciences and in people. I had no idea of their contributions to health care delivery systems, quality assurance, medical ethics, physician compensation models, medical education, medical records.
And to find out of their contributions to the community, yes to support the Clinic, but also to improve the quality of life in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr Will and Dr Charlie - such hard workers and so dedicated to medicine and to each other. Were their families happy?
Well, last month I did. And I was astounded.
I had no idea about this period of time, how science exploded in the late 1800s and into the 20th century. The expansion of medical and surgical skills, and the minds that drove such rapid advances in scientific knowledge.
And the incredible positioning of the Mayo family - such hard, hard workers, dedicated physicians who through luck, brilliance and hard work contributed so much to science, medicine and surgery. Seeing opportunities and potential everywhere - in medicine, basic sciences and in people. I had no idea of their contributions to health care delivery systems, quality assurance, medical ethics, physician compensation models, medical education, medical records.
And to find out of their contributions to the community, yes to support the Clinic, but also to improve the quality of life in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr Will and Dr Charlie - such hard workers and so dedicated to medicine and to each other. Were their families happy?
August 14, 2018
The first half of this book is the most interesting, with a node to EuroAmerican settlement in Southern Minnesota. Attitudes reflected are those of the time, an events include those on the Minnesota River in the 1850s and 1860s. The development of surgery as a medical field coincides with the advent of the medical practice of the Mayo family. The book is tainted by a little too much hero worship, but nonetheless is interesting at least the first half to two thirds. The last portion is ponderous and lacks the detail and description of the earlier chapters. I would not re-read the last part, but will likely read the first part again to understand the southern Minnesota setting of the late 1800s.
November 21, 2020
If you can find a copy of this book, I would encourage you to read it. The author writes in the style of days past, but delightfully. The Mayo brothers seem to have been men of uncommon integrity and showed such compassion and humanity in their dealings with those who came to them for care. The story of how the Mayo Clinic came about, and what it stands for, is remarkable, and Mrs Clapesattle gives full credit to those many, many people who helped to bring it into being. In some ways, they seem to be another race of beings altogether. It’s not the easiest read but so, so worthwhile in my opinion.
April 7, 2021
Published in 1969, this is quite dated, and some of the inherent sexism of earlier times is a bit hard to read through (at one point the author states that if the wives of the doctors seemed bored, they would be given money for a trip... generous but also... wow). But it's a good history of the early days of the Mayo brothers and their father, and how the Mayo Clinic came to be. I would have liked more about the nuns who so many of the buildings at the St. Mary's Campus are now named after, and who were critical to the start of the Mayo Clinic.
March 1, 2018
I found this book absolutely fascinating. Every time I turned a page the Mayo doctors were contributing something fantastic and new to the medical community. Their contributions can really not be overstated. I did not know much about them, but now I am a fan.
June 30, 2022
This book was so interesting! A bit of a challenge to get through but learned so much about the Mayo Brothers. This book is not politically correct but it was written many years ago. Highly recommend if interested in the history of medicine in the US.
August 4, 2019
A necessary read.
Want to read
June 11, 2022Personal collection softcover book
July 18, 2022
Inspiring history of diligence, humility, teamwork, service and constantly looking to learn from others. They truly lived and breathed medicine virtually their entire lives.
September 18, 2022
I had decided that this book would not interest me before I read it. I was wrong. It is a very interesting book about the beginning of the Mayo Clinic.
February 8, 2024
Story of the founding of the Mayo Clinic. Good in some spots. Very bad in others.
August 24, 2013
I was captivated almost immediately by this compelling story of two brothers who revolutionized methods of thinking and put their principles in action, for the sake of
their patients.
I rescued this book (1938 ed.) from my mothers library when she passed at 93. She was a nurse in the 1930's . But it was 4years before I noticed it on my bookshelf and decided to read it. Our whole family is into medicine one way or another. My own career involved 23 years at WVU School of Medicine as a microscopist and SEM technologist.
Who was Helen Clapesattle? Not just any old author.
From memory, I believe she was a secretary, then manager for the clinic, who had the best view of the brothers in action and in truth.
their patients.
I rescued this book (1938 ed.) from my mothers library when she passed at 93. She was a nurse in the 1930's . But it was 4years before I noticed it on my bookshelf and decided to read it. Our whole family is into medicine one way or another. My own career involved 23 years at WVU School of Medicine as a microscopist and SEM technologist.
Who was Helen Clapesattle? Not just any old author.
From memory, I believe she was a secretary, then manager for the clinic, who had the best view of the brothers in action and in truth.
November 25, 2012
This book is an amazing history of one of the most intriguing health care systems in the US. The brothers Mayo and their father set the foundation for what we know as the Mayo Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital, Methodist Hospital and Rochester, MN. The author does a wonderful job of describing the development of the Mayo Clinic as a health care system by first describing Dr. Mayo and then his sons and their eventual partners. It is also an amazing history of surgery and health care.
May 27, 2013
My interest in this book was fueled by my connection to the hospital they founded. May not be as interesting to those who do not have a personal tie to the Mayo Clinic. These men were clearly brilliant and in the right place at the right time. The author treats the brothers like heroes and I was left wondering what they were really like.
January 4, 2012
It took me a long time to get through the book because it's not a gripping page-turner but I was fascinated by the tale of the Mayos and how the Clinic evolved into what it is today. The changes in surgical techniques and medical practices detailed in the book surprised and intrigued me. Thanks to Kate for loaning me the book.
February 15, 2014
If you are not interested much in science and/or medicine, this may not be for you. I enjoyed it and found it to be as much about the history of medicine and how modern medicine became just that, as well as the Mayo brothers themselves. I did "speed read" in parts, but overall, I thought it was very good.
June 4, 2008
It was very interesting to learn about how Mayo Clinic came into being, get a glimpse of the history of Rochester and an understanding of the Mayo family. Wonderful to read about true life men, who were heroes!
January 15, 2017
The background history about modern medicine was what captivated me, besides the Mayo history. This story of a father, his 2 sons & their farsightedness is compelling evidence of the power of 3 individuals. Even after 20+ years employed at Mayo Clinic, I re-read this book every 5 yrs or so.
October 9, 2022
Very interesting read about the history of the Mayo Clinic and the Mayo family doctors. The Mayo brothers were definitely pioneers in the field of surgery and their legacy lives on in the Mayo Clinic today.
November 2, 2008
Great book it but it takes a hile to read you have to have time to sit and read with no distractions..
August 31, 2011
Fascinating history of the Mayo brothers, how they grew up and how they got to be so famous.
September 25, 2014
I'm putting this one in my top ten favorite books. Excellent; interesting and informative.
January 17, 2015
Very insightful book about the Mayo brothers and their father.
April 11, 2014
This is a good read. Tell the story of there lives and death very interesting. I really liked it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews