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Surgeon on the Edge
Surgeon on the Edge is a literary memoir about the cost of becoming a surgeon and the even greater cost of leaving.
Frances Mei Hardin, MD-a former ENT surgeon turned writer and entrepreneur-invites readers into the interior life of modern medical the devotion, the brutality, the prestige, and the quiet unraveling that happens when a person learns to outrun their own limits for too long.
Rather than follow a traditional hero's journey, the memoir unfolds as a katabasis-a descent into the underworld of residency and the long, uneven climb back to herself. Structured through the hypnosis sessions she pursued as an attending, the book returns to the moments she could not fully inhabit at the the operating rooms and call nights that demanded more than she had, the subtle dissociation that became a survival strategy, and the exquisite competence that masked a life growing increasingly narrow and airless.
Hardin writes with the precision of a surgeon and the emotional clarity of a novelist, dissecting the hidden curriculum of medical the shame around vulnerability, the cult of endurance, the performance of invincibility, and the way ambition can silently harden into identity. As she traces her journey toward stepping away from the profession she fought a decade to enter, she asks the question that sits at the center of so many high-achieving
Who am I when the work that once defined me no longer fits?
Surgeon on the Edge is not simply a story about medicine. It is a story about embodiment, reinvention, and the courage to stop living a life out of alignment with oneself. It speaks to anyone wrestling with burnout, trapped in a role they have outgrown, or navigating the quiet grief of realizing that success does not always feel like freedom.
Unflinching, elegant, and deeply human, Surgeon on the Edge is an autopsy and a a story of breaking, returning, and choosing a life that finally feels like your own.
Frances Mei Hardin, MD-a former ENT surgeon turned writer and entrepreneur-invites readers into the interior life of modern medical the devotion, the brutality, the prestige, and the quiet unraveling that happens when a person learns to outrun their own limits for too long.
Rather than follow a traditional hero's journey, the memoir unfolds as a katabasis-a descent into the underworld of residency and the long, uneven climb back to herself. Structured through the hypnosis sessions she pursued as an attending, the book returns to the moments she could not fully inhabit at the the operating rooms and call nights that demanded more than she had, the subtle dissociation that became a survival strategy, and the exquisite competence that masked a life growing increasingly narrow and airless.
Hardin writes with the precision of a surgeon and the emotional clarity of a novelist, dissecting the hidden curriculum of medical the shame around vulnerability, the cult of endurance, the performance of invincibility, and the way ambition can silently harden into identity. As she traces her journey toward stepping away from the profession she fought a decade to enter, she asks the question that sits at the center of so many high-achieving
Who am I when the work that once defined me no longer fits?
Surgeon on the Edge is not simply a story about medicine. It is a story about embodiment, reinvention, and the courage to stop living a life out of alignment with oneself. It speaks to anyone wrestling with burnout, trapped in a role they have outgrown, or navigating the quiet grief of realizing that success does not always feel like freedom.
Unflinching, elegant, and deeply human, Surgeon on the Edge is an autopsy and a a story of breaking, returning, and choosing a life that finally feels like your own.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Frances Mei Hardin
2 books6 followersFrances Mei Hardin, MD, is an ENT surgeon turned writer, consultant, and media entrepreneur. After more than a decade at the hospital, she left clinical medicine to redefine what a modern physician’s career can look like. She is the CEO and co-founder of The Hippocratic Collective, a physician media company whose podcasts, publications, and events reach millions of trainees and healthcare professionals. Her work explores identity, medical culture, reinvention, and the emotional cost of becoming—and unbecoming—a surgeon. Frances Mei lives in Nashville with her husband and their dog (Beignet) and cat (Edley).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 27, 2026
wow
I couldn’t stop reading. I was in clinic on my lunch break devouring a quarter of the book at a time. As a general surgery applicant, I have heard horror stories about residency. This was a good cautionary tale in some respects, but what I really took away was how to cope in healthy ways. Thank you for sharing your experiences! Thank you for speaking up about the things you’ve endured and how you grew.
I couldn’t stop reading. I was in clinic on my lunch break devouring a quarter of the book at a time. As a general surgery applicant, I have heard horror stories about residency. This was a good cautionary tale in some respects, but what I really took away was how to cope in healthy ways. Thank you for sharing your experiences! Thank you for speaking up about the things you’ve endured and how you grew.
April 14, 2026
3.5 stars! Feels like this should be required reading for anyone who considers themselves an “insecure overachiever.” The six sessions with the residency allocated therapist toward the end of the book were incredibly eye-opening…
March 22, 2026
Very honest about residency and its toll but pretty negative view about medicine imo.
February 26, 2026
a deeply vulnerable, validating, and human look into medical training
This book is everything I didn’t know I needed and then some. It describes the unfortunate but ever common experience of residents across the US, myself included. I am empowered, emboldened, and in awe of Dr. Hardin.
This will be my new go to gift for anyone considering medicine & for everyone who loves someone in medicine too.
- an OBGYN
This book is everything I didn’t know I needed and then some. It describes the unfortunate but ever common experience of residents across the US, myself included. I am empowered, emboldened, and in awe of Dr. Hardin.
This will be my new go to gift for anyone considering medicine & for everyone who loves someone in medicine too.
- an OBGYN
March 4, 2026
Triggering lol
April 30, 2026
3.5 rounded up. that said, I TORE through this. seriously couldn't put it down.
i was a little nervous to read this as an incoming pgy-1 because i thought it was going to totally expose the many issues within the residency system, but this book is really more of an account of the author's experience in the toxic af ENT program at Mizzou. there are a couple reasons I wouldn't rate it higher.
1) i wish this book had more self-reflection. i cannot imagine surviving one year of the residency program that Dr. Hardin describes, let alone five. i also can't imagine leaving medicine after all of that -- I have SO much respect for the author for everything she endured and the difficult decisions she made. but, a few things stood out to me that I feel like warranted a little more reflection. lots of casual mentions of coping using alcohol, and only a brief mention of sobriety toward the end. a few scattered mentions of being pressured by her parents to choose medicine. the biggest thing was the fact that she stuck it out for five years when she was seemingly verbally abused at work every day. i wish she offered readers more insight on why she stayed as long as she did. it is only after she passes her boards that she gives herself permission to leave medicine vs practice for a decade then leave as she'd originally planned. a quote that she includes toward the end is "better to admit that you walked through the wrong door than spend your whole life in the wrong room." -- 100% agree, but I wish she gave readers more insight on her timeline and why she chose to endure her residency program for all 5 years. because I feel like the lesson to be had here is that there IS an escape route. we're taught that we have to just put our head down and keep going and that we're *so lucky* to be where we are, but we CAN leave if our career isn't serving us. I don't feel like toughing it out for 3-7 years is the right choice for everyone if they end up in a residency that is truly not serving them. I don't think the author is encouraging to others to do that at all, but again, I just wish we got more of her insights on why and how she returned to work every day when it was clearly a TERRIBLE environment.
2) there were a handful random grammatical/syntax errors that threw me off a bit. made the book feel a little undone.
i was a little nervous to read this as an incoming pgy-1 because i thought it was going to totally expose the many issues within the residency system, but this book is really more of an account of the author's experience in the toxic af ENT program at Mizzou. there are a couple reasons I wouldn't rate it higher.
1) i wish this book had more self-reflection. i cannot imagine surviving one year of the residency program that Dr. Hardin describes, let alone five. i also can't imagine leaving medicine after all of that -- I have SO much respect for the author for everything she endured and the difficult decisions she made. but, a few things stood out to me that I feel like warranted a little more reflection. lots of casual mentions of coping using alcohol, and only a brief mention of sobriety toward the end. a few scattered mentions of being pressured by her parents to choose medicine. the biggest thing was the fact that she stuck it out for five years when she was seemingly verbally abused at work every day. i wish she offered readers more insight on why she stayed as long as she did. it is only after she passes her boards that she gives herself permission to leave medicine vs practice for a decade then leave as she'd originally planned. a quote that she includes toward the end is "better to admit that you walked through the wrong door than spend your whole life in the wrong room." -- 100% agree, but I wish she gave readers more insight on her timeline and why she chose to endure her residency program for all 5 years. because I feel like the lesson to be had here is that there IS an escape route. we're taught that we have to just put our head down and keep going and that we're *so lucky* to be where we are, but we CAN leave if our career isn't serving us. I don't feel like toughing it out for 3-7 years is the right choice for everyone if they end up in a residency that is truly not serving them. I don't think the author is encouraging to others to do that at all, but again, I just wish we got more of her insights on why and how she returned to work every day when it was clearly a TERRIBLE environment.
2) there were a handful random grammatical/syntax errors that threw me off a bit. made the book feel a little undone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surgeon on the Edge needs to be required reading for anyone in medical school or even thinking about going to medical school.
What makes this book remarkable is Dr. Hardin's unflinching self-examination and willingness to expose the psychological bargains that high achievers are often forced to make. She doesn't simply recount the brutality of medical training or showcase a series of interesting patient interactions - she explores what it takes to adapt in an unforgiving environment and the cost to one's self and identity. I particularly loved the structure - moving through a series of hypnosis sessions and returning to moments that she could not fully inhabit at the time, allowing the reader to relive and discover new meaning to these interactions at the same time as the author.
Dr. Hardin writes with the discipline of a surgeon, but the voice on the page is unmistakably that of a novelist. It's witty, incisive, intelligent, and completely unique. This is not a surgeon looking down from the mountaintop calmly reflecting on all of their heroics. It's a deeply unsettling glance into the life of a brilliant, competent young physician who simply powered through until there was nothing left.
Although grounded in her medical training, this is not only for doctors. Anyone who has outrun their own limits, stayed too long in an identity that once brought prestige or safety, or wondered who they might be without the work that defined them, will recognize themselves in these pages.
Clear-eyed, at times haunting, but incredibly human, it is obvious Dr. Hardin is not looking for admiration. She just wants her, and everyone like her, to be understood.
What makes this book remarkable is Dr. Hardin's unflinching self-examination and willingness to expose the psychological bargains that high achievers are often forced to make. She doesn't simply recount the brutality of medical training or showcase a series of interesting patient interactions - she explores what it takes to adapt in an unforgiving environment and the cost to one's self and identity. I particularly loved the structure - moving through a series of hypnosis sessions and returning to moments that she could not fully inhabit at the time, allowing the reader to relive and discover new meaning to these interactions at the same time as the author.
Dr. Hardin writes with the discipline of a surgeon, but the voice on the page is unmistakably that of a novelist. It's witty, incisive, intelligent, and completely unique. This is not a surgeon looking down from the mountaintop calmly reflecting on all of their heroics. It's a deeply unsettling glance into the life of a brilliant, competent young physician who simply powered through until there was nothing left.
Although grounded in her medical training, this is not only for doctors. Anyone who has outrun their own limits, stayed too long in an identity that once brought prestige or safety, or wondered who they might be without the work that defined them, will recognize themselves in these pages.
Clear-eyed, at times haunting, but incredibly human, it is obvious Dr. Hardin is not looking for admiration. She just wants her, and everyone like her, to be understood.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Exceptional insight into the burnishing of, and extrication from, a surgical career.
Memoirs run the gamut. They can be the rote biography that broadly outlines the subject’s life from early memories to modern adulthood. They can be a soft-soaped examination of the subject’s personal growth and overcoming of mild challenges. In the case of medical memoirs, the formula often includes some version of the patient being the one who teaches the doctor. Pseudo-humble platitudes ensue.
“Surgeon on the Edge” is none of those things. Frances Mei Hardin represents an entirely new authorial voice in the genre of the medical memoir. One part stream of consciousness of Mrs. Dalloway, one part biting, hard-nosed narration of Ray Liotta from Goodfellas, Hardin explores the torturous pathos necessary to survive ENT surgery training, and how that pathos becomes the author’s undoing. Bounding between the author’s astoundingly unique upbringing (with shades of Vera from Shteyngart’s “Vera, or Faith” echoing constantly) to her exploration of hypnosis to understand that she must leave the field to save her life, Hardin pulls absolutely zero punches. The reader becomes instantly invested; when the author’s medical team stops a patient from bleeding to death from a hole in her neck, or when one of the author’s colleagues is berated in a tiny elevator, the stakes are equally high.
Funny, trenchant, exhilarating and heartbreaking, “Surgeon on the Edge” makes no apologies for its raw and compelling observations, and instead invites the reader to pull up a seat as close as possible.
Memoirs run the gamut. They can be the rote biography that broadly outlines the subject’s life from early memories to modern adulthood. They can be a soft-soaped examination of the subject’s personal growth and overcoming of mild challenges. In the case of medical memoirs, the formula often includes some version of the patient being the one who teaches the doctor. Pseudo-humble platitudes ensue.
“Surgeon on the Edge” is none of those things. Frances Mei Hardin represents an entirely new authorial voice in the genre of the medical memoir. One part stream of consciousness of Mrs. Dalloway, one part biting, hard-nosed narration of Ray Liotta from Goodfellas, Hardin explores the torturous pathos necessary to survive ENT surgery training, and how that pathos becomes the author’s undoing. Bounding between the author’s astoundingly unique upbringing (with shades of Vera from Shteyngart’s “Vera, or Faith” echoing constantly) to her exploration of hypnosis to understand that she must leave the field to save her life, Hardin pulls absolutely zero punches. The reader becomes instantly invested; when the author’s medical team stops a patient from bleeding to death from a hole in her neck, or when one of the author’s colleagues is berated in a tiny elevator, the stakes are equally high.
Funny, trenchant, exhilarating and heartbreaking, “Surgeon on the Edge” makes no apologies for its raw and compelling observations, and instead invites the reader to pull up a seat as close as possible.
March 25, 2026
3rd year med student here. I absolutely devoured this book. There was something so raw about this book in showcasing how deeply set the trauma associated with medical training is. The trauma doesn’t necessarily begin during the training. For some of us, it begins way, way before we ever stepped foot into a hospital. I was considering surgery and constantly worried that I would hate my life if I chose this one thing I liked. The first night that I started reading this book, I had a dream. I was on a 24hr call, 6 hours in, pager beeping incessantly. My senior asked me if I was okay and I replied with what my replies typically look like in the hospital. A bright chirpy, “I’m okay.” No cry for help was made. No help was offered. As soon as my senior turned away, I slumped in my seat holding back tears. Tired. I was utterly tired even in my dream.
Med school has done a number on me. For a field that I love so dearly, it has still made me question my very existence and every choice I’ve ever made. I persevere, though I struggle to see the promised light at the end of the tunnel. I related to Dr. Hardin’s story. It’s one that I wouldn’t want to live through. Unsure if that’s because I want to nip this in the bud by not choosing surgery, or because I am a coward and I won’t be able to walk away if need be, or because I don’t have a Colin to come home to.
Kudos to Dr. Hardin. Your story broke me, inspired me, healed me, and made me feel seen and heard for the first time. Thank you for this phenomenal work.
Med school has done a number on me. For a field that I love so dearly, it has still made me question my very existence and every choice I’ve ever made. I persevere, though I struggle to see the promised light at the end of the tunnel. I related to Dr. Hardin’s story. It’s one that I wouldn’t want to live through. Unsure if that’s because I want to nip this in the bud by not choosing surgery, or because I am a coward and I won’t be able to walk away if need be, or because I don’t have a Colin to come home to.
Kudos to Dr. Hardin. Your story broke me, inspired me, healed me, and made me feel seen and heard for the first time. Thank you for this phenomenal work.
May 1, 2026
I dnfed it bas got thru most of it.
It was a very candid view not only her surgical journey, but also her life.
I think a lot of physicians/surgeons who quit (many on tiktok/youtube) have a hard time hating on the path bc like thats all they did their whole life, so they cant swallow the pill of like 'i regret this.'
Instead, they cope by being like 'but it shaped me, but it got me to where I am.' which I never believe, and i think sometimes they can push ppl into medicine by their inability to see thru their emotions.
The author does the opposite, she describes her life candidly and every chapter is basically a hatepost. like its like built like a joke, but he punchline is always "f u guys.' and shes right like every time.
I think if i ever regret anything i'd act and think EXACTLY like her. like i would be filled with so much rage for the ppl who treated me this way etc. though thats my interpretation of the book she might've not felt exactly like it.
Anyway bc of the rage that was in literally every word i felt like it was so real and so honest and i would trust her opinion. fa 7sait this is like an insider view that i would trust and i really enjoyed it.
did lowk send me into a spiral esp cuz i read it during midterms where we had an exam basically every day and 8-5 labs and lectures. wanted to kms and i had to stop reading. we survive tho shoutout
It was a very candid view not only her surgical journey, but also her life.
I think a lot of physicians/surgeons who quit (many on tiktok/youtube) have a hard time hating on the path bc like thats all they did their whole life, so they cant swallow the pill of like 'i regret this.'
Instead, they cope by being like 'but it shaped me, but it got me to where I am.' which I never believe, and i think sometimes they can push ppl into medicine by their inability to see thru their emotions.
The author does the opposite, she describes her life candidly and every chapter is basically a hatepost. like its like built like a joke, but he punchline is always "f u guys.' and shes right like every time.
I think if i ever regret anything i'd act and think EXACTLY like her. like i would be filled with so much rage for the ppl who treated me this way etc. though thats my interpretation of the book she might've not felt exactly like it.
Anyway bc of the rage that was in literally every word i felt like it was so real and so honest and i would trust her opinion. fa 7sait this is like an insider view that i would trust and i really enjoyed it.
did lowk send me into a spiral esp cuz i read it during midterms where we had an exam basically every day and 8-5 labs and lectures. wanted to kms and i had to stop reading. we survive tho shoutout
May 17, 2026
Surgeon on The Edge by Dr Frances Mei Hardin is an absolute treat! Medical memoir that is actually easy and thrilling to read!
Dr. Hardin has written a memoir about her surgical residency in otolaryngology (ENT) with riveting details about life and death cases, fascinating procedures, and interpersonal conflicts. Her stories are rendered with courageous authenticity. This book is a quick, engrossing read, a book you won’t want to put down.
Within these pages is a sad revelation about how dysfunctional a residency environment can be, especially disappointing when attending physicians are counted on to teach, mentor, and set an example for the medical students, interns and residents who look to them for guidance. It’s disillusioning to realize that senior physicians can be so petty and moody, and can so often fail their patients and their residents. But these are the kind of truths that we as patients deserve to know!
So huge thanks to Frances Mei Hardin for sharing her life and soul, for baring her vulnerabilities with with unflinching honesty. Surgeon On The Edge is Five Stars all the way home!!!
Dr. Hardin has written a memoir about her surgical residency in otolaryngology (ENT) with riveting details about life and death cases, fascinating procedures, and interpersonal conflicts. Her stories are rendered with courageous authenticity. This book is a quick, engrossing read, a book you won’t want to put down.
Within these pages is a sad revelation about how dysfunctional a residency environment can be, especially disappointing when attending physicians are counted on to teach, mentor, and set an example for the medical students, interns and residents who look to them for guidance. It’s disillusioning to realize that senior physicians can be so petty and moody, and can so often fail their patients and their residents. But these are the kind of truths that we as patients deserve to know!
So huge thanks to Frances Mei Hardin for sharing her life and soul, for baring her vulnerabilities with with unflinching honesty. Surgeon On The Edge is Five Stars all the way home!!!
May 2, 2026
I couldn’t put this book down. I am so grateful to the writer for exposing the hidden world of medical training, and hope that future (and current) doctors benefit from her words. I admittedly have a similar story to Dr.Hardin - I experienced the verbal and emotional abuse of residency (in emergency medicine), practiced as an attending just long enough to pay off my student loans, then retired from clinical medicine before it killed me. I am now also a writer, and praise this memoir both in its bravery and in its craft. I am still recovering from the dehumanizing environment in which young doctors are trained and raised. And for those who are considering medicine, they deserve to know her experience is not an exception. I highly recommend this to anyone curious about the reality of the residency experience.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surgeon on the Edge is the kind of book that makes you pause and whisper, “Yes. This.”
Dr. Frances Mei Hardin takes us behind the polished white coat and scrubs and into the very real, very human experience of striving, unraveling, and redefining success. It’s honest without being bitter. Vulnerable without being self-pitying. And deeply courageous.
This is a bold journey about reclaiming identity, confronting shame, and building a life that feels aligned. Every high achiever who has ever wondered, “At what cost?” will see themselves in these pages. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Dr. Frances Mei Hardin takes us behind the polished white coat and scrubs and into the very real, very human experience of striving, unraveling, and redefining success. It’s honest without being bitter. Vulnerable without being self-pitying. And deeply courageous.
This is a bold journey about reclaiming identity, confronting shame, and building a life that feels aligned. Every high achiever who has ever wondered, “At what cost?” will see themselves in these pages. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
February 27, 2026
Honest look at the underlying realities of training as a surgeon, with Dr. Hardin's unique humor and sharp insight. Dr. Hardin describes her experiences during her surgical training that were similar to what I think everyone goes through but is able to process them in a way that is very human. For everyone, and people interested in the field, it is a great look at what goes into training to be a surgeon. For me, and people in the field, it is an analysis of what we could improve in the surgical culture. Highly recommended for all readers, I think this will be a classic book.
March 27, 2026
Great writing
I’m particularly impressed at how good a writer and storyteller Frances has become given how focused her previous 33 years were on the science and practice of medicine. It’s a completely different skill set and the transition is hard.
The problem she describes in medical education remains. Every year a new cohort starts hellish training, and the cohort that finishes theirs is so keen to move on that no one can change the hellish training. But dedicated professionals still come out of the training and patient care continues.
I’m particularly impressed at how good a writer and storyteller Frances has become given how focused her previous 33 years were on the science and practice of medicine. It’s a completely different skill set and the transition is hard.
The problem she describes in medical education remains. Every year a new cohort starts hellish training, and the cohort that finishes theirs is so keen to move on that no one can change the hellish training. But dedicated professionals still come out of the training and patient care continues.
May 7, 2026
Throughout the early book, I had many thoughts about how she was an insufferable medical student “gunner” and possibly an alcoholic during much of her residency.
Upon finishing, while her personality may not be great, I think it is more reflective of the suffering she was going through. She was raised to be a surgeon but never really wanted to be, and it manifested as so many problems while she was forcing herself to adhere to this lifestyle.
Upon finishing, while her personality may not be great, I think it is more reflective of the suffering she was going through. She was raised to be a surgeon but never really wanted to be, and it manifested as so many problems while she was forcing herself to adhere to this lifestyle.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Surgeon on the Edge is a Must read! While we can't all relate to being a surgeon we can all relate to being trapped by inherited expectations, and we can all admire someone who had the self knowledge and courage to forge a different path.
It is a moving beautifully told story of human self discovery and one of my favorite novels!
It is a moving beautifully told story of human self discovery and one of my favorite novels!
March 29, 2026
A very compelling narrative with excellent storytelling. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Dr. Hardin’s bravery in stepping away from medicine. The book provides a raw and unfiltered view of the inside of the medical profession. I will definitely recommend this read to friends who have struggled through surgical residency or are considering a life in medicine.
March 30, 2026
This book was a blunt and honest look into the challenges of residency coupled by their own life experiences. The author does an amazing job showing the deeply human side of becoming a doctor; combating intense pressure, long hours and the emotional toll in of life in and out of the operating-room.
May 3, 2026
As a former ENT resident, this was a not so great trip down memory lane. Frustrating and very sad to read at times. There are differences between Canadian and American medical culture but still felt this was an important discussion and light on many hardships of surgical training. Happy to say teaching, cooperation and respect are values that can be found in ENT training programs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced copy of the book. While I don’t work in medicine, the themes are universal- especially to those of us who have worked in toxic environments. I found a lot of parallels working in hospitality.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Excellent book that adeptly spotlights the harsh reality of residency training specifically in the surgical specialties. Worth the read for anyone interested in medicine, anyone with a loved one in medicine, or anyone with a morbid curiosity for what resident physicians can and do experience.
March 25, 2026
amazing
Raw, inspiring, and absolutely enraging. Made me so angry I wanted to scream and so happy I wanted to cry. Proud of you for following your dreams and surviving that hell. You did not deserve that. Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless.
Raw, inspiring, and absolutely enraging. Made me so angry I wanted to scream and so happy I wanted to cry. Proud of you for following your dreams and surviving that hell. You did not deserve that. Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless.
April 7, 2026
As a general surgeon who has been practicing 25 years, I commend you for being brave! I wish I would have been brave enough to leave this career I have been trapped in! It truly has ruined my life! Good for you and I wish you the best!
April 16, 2026
Great tone and writing from the author that conveyed her personal story and sense of humor. I chuckled, I felt the rage, I teared up a little, all in the short time that I couldn't put this book down for. The medical literature and book space needs more honest and raw memoirs like these.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hands down, the best surgical memoir out there. A must read for any medical student or resident.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an advance copy of the book. A terrific read, highly recommended !
March 7, 2026
A unique insight into the emotional childhood that plagues surgical training.
March 9, 2026
Really enjoyed this read! Thank you Dr. Hardin for your vulnerability and sharing your experiences throughout medical training.
March 28, 2026
An engrossing, honest book which is a cut above (ha) the usual medical memoir. Once I started this I couldn't stop.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews