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Spartacus, MD: An Incredible Memoir of a Doctor in Service of His Country
Risky surgeries. Heroic undercover missions. Unimaginable pride. In his unforgettable memoir of war and healing, Dr. Giora Treister outlines the raw realities that come with being an Israeli doctor with a scalpel in one hand and a sword in the other.
We’ve all heard the famous maxim attributed to doctors “First do no harm.” But what happens when a medical physician is tasked with stepping onto the battlefield for the sake of his country?
While most doctors never need to worry about the practicalities of the “who” or “why” of their practice, Dr. Giora Treister is not most doctors.
From the battlefields of the Yom Kippur War to the cutting-edge halls of the ophthalmology department, from secret missions in the mountains of Kurdistan to high-stakes medical diplomacy in Soviet Russia, Dr. Treister’s life reads like an epic. A decorated military physician, a pioneer in ocular trauma, and an adventurer who moved effortlessly between war zones and world-class hospitals, Dr. Treister has made a life at the crossroads where science, medicine, and history meet in the most dramatic ways.
More than a grandiose account of an unconventional professional life, more than a riveting historical document, Spartacus, M.D. is a larger-than-life memoir of a man who defied expectations in the dichotomous journey between the compassionate and the ruthless.
We’ve all heard the famous maxim attributed to doctors “First do no harm.” But what happens when a medical physician is tasked with stepping onto the battlefield for the sake of his country?
While most doctors never need to worry about the practicalities of the “who” or “why” of their practice, Dr. Giora Treister is not most doctors.
From the battlefields of the Yom Kippur War to the cutting-edge halls of the ophthalmology department, from secret missions in the mountains of Kurdistan to high-stakes medical diplomacy in Soviet Russia, Dr. Treister’s life reads like an epic. A decorated military physician, a pioneer in ocular trauma, and an adventurer who moved effortlessly between war zones and world-class hospitals, Dr. Treister has made a life at the crossroads where science, medicine, and history meet in the most dramatic ways.
More than a grandiose account of an unconventional professional life, more than a riveting historical document, Spartacus, M.D. is a larger-than-life memoir of a man who defied expectations in the dichotomous journey between the compassionate and the ruthless.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2025
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June 17, 2025
Scalpel and Sword: A Doctor’s Odyssey in War and Healing...
The memoir Spartacus, MD by Dr. Giora Treister deftly depicts a life divided between the operating room and the battlefield. Treister's path, as an Israeli ophthalmologist and military officer, is strikingly vivid from covert operations in the rugged mountains of Kurdistan to innovative eye operations restoring sight. His writing is raw, capturing the weight of decisions taken under duress where a steady hand might save a life or defend a country. This is a monument to courage and conviction, not your typical doctor's narrative.
From war-torn settings to international medical conferences, Treister's story leaps from adrenaline to intellect. Longer reflections show a man struggling with duty, loss, and love; short, sharp sentences drive home the anarchy of conflict. His unreserved candor about personal relationships and career achievements adds complexity and helps this memoir to be relevant outside of its historical background. Spartacus, MD honors Israel's special legacy by giving readers looking for a mix of heroism, heartbreak, and humanity a strong, unforgettable read. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
The memoir Spartacus, MD by Dr. Giora Treister deftly depicts a life divided between the operating room and the battlefield. Treister's path, as an Israeli ophthalmologist and military officer, is strikingly vivid from covert operations in the rugged mountains of Kurdistan to innovative eye operations restoring sight. His writing is raw, capturing the weight of decisions taken under duress where a steady hand might save a life or defend a country. This is a monument to courage and conviction, not your typical doctor's narrative.
From war-torn settings to international medical conferences, Treister's story leaps from adrenaline to intellect. Longer reflections show a man struggling with duty, loss, and love; short, sharp sentences drive home the anarchy of conflict. His unreserved candor about personal relationships and career achievements adds complexity and helps this memoir to be relevant outside of its historical background. Spartacus, MD honors Israel's special legacy by giving readers looking for a mix of heroism, heartbreak, and humanity a strong, unforgettable read. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review