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Off the Top of My Head: Stories from the Operating Room That Will Make You Laugh
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
19 days and 08:21:06
10 copies available
U.S. only
Inside every skull is a story of heart, humanity—and the occasional hairball.
You might think brain surgery is all cool precision and high-stakes drama. Sometimes it is. But more often, it's a gritty, smelly, surprisingly absurd job—one that involves titanium screws, tumors the size of grapefruits, and moments so human they'll break your heart or make you snort with laughter behind your surgical mask. In Off the Top of My Head, Dr. Barbara Lazio peels back the sterile curtain of the operating room and shares the unexpected stories that come with a life spent elbows-deep in the human brain.
With warmth, wit, and a scalpel-sharp eye for detail, Dr. Lazio invites readers into her world—where mortality is never far away, but neither is meaning, connection, or the occasional gallows-humored joke.
Inside, you'll
Gripping behind-the-scenes moments from the OR—equal parts miraculous and messyMemorable patients facing the unimaginable with courage, humor, and graceA rare glimpse into the emotional life of a neurosurgeonUnexpected levity in the face of death, grief, and the unknownWhether she's rebuilding a shattered skull or laughing through tears with a family on the edge of loss, Dr. Lazio reminds us that behind every dramatic headline or surgical success is something deeply, beautifully human.
Off the Top of My Head is a book for anyone who wonders what really happens when the brain—and life—hangs in the balance.
You might think brain surgery is all cool precision and high-stakes drama. Sometimes it is. But more often, it's a gritty, smelly, surprisingly absurd job—one that involves titanium screws, tumors the size of grapefruits, and moments so human they'll break your heart or make you snort with laughter behind your surgical mask. In Off the Top of My Head, Dr. Barbara Lazio peels back the sterile curtain of the operating room and shares the unexpected stories that come with a life spent elbows-deep in the human brain.
With warmth, wit, and a scalpel-sharp eye for detail, Dr. Lazio invites readers into her world—where mortality is never far away, but neither is meaning, connection, or the occasional gallows-humored joke.
Inside, you'll
Gripping behind-the-scenes moments from the OR—equal parts miraculous and messyMemorable patients facing the unimaginable with courage, humor, and graceA rare glimpse into the emotional life of a neurosurgeonUnexpected levity in the face of death, grief, and the unknownWhether she's rebuilding a shattered skull or laughing through tears with a family on the edge of loss, Dr. Lazio reminds us that behind every dramatic headline or surgical success is something deeply, beautifully human.
Off the Top of My Head is a book for anyone who wonders what really happens when the brain—and life—hangs in the balance.
- GenresNonfictionHumorMemoir
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Want to Read
July 24, 2026Thank you so much to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a DigitalARC of this often funny and quite intriguing autobiographical collection of short essays.
Obviously a neurosurgeon's life isn't all brain surgery - there's a lot of spinal surgery also. Which often brings a tremendous amount of relief from pain. There's quite a bit of cancer and tumors both benign and malignant. And we learn about her supportive husband and lovely daughters.
She sprinkles quite a bit of humor throughout. It's interesting - I recently read 99 Ways to Die and How to Avoid Them by Ashley Alker, MD and I get the feeling that if you are a woman and make it through all the rigors of medical training to become a respected, top-tier surgeon or doctor - you are going to need quite a bit of humor and a healthy dose of snark. Alker is an ER doctor who also sees a fair share of trauma involving the brain and spine.
All in all - a great reminder to NOT climb those teetering ladders in the fall no matter how often your significant other begs you to get out the decorations. Find somewhere to store them that does not involve climbing. Plus - your brain shrinks as you get older so bleeding from a traumatic brain injury that might have killed you earlier now has a little bit of leeway. But if you fall and hit your head, please go to the doctor. Also - drugs and alcohol do bad things to your brain and body. And don't give up hope.
Obviously a neurosurgeon's life isn't all brain surgery - there's a lot of spinal surgery also. Which often brings a tremendous amount of relief from pain. There's quite a bit of cancer and tumors both benign and malignant. And we learn about her supportive husband and lovely daughters.
She sprinkles quite a bit of humor throughout. It's interesting - I recently read 99 Ways to Die and How to Avoid Them by Ashley Alker, MD and I get the feeling that if you are a woman and make it through all the rigors of medical training to become a respected, top-tier surgeon or doctor - you are going to need quite a bit of humor and a healthy dose of snark. Alker is an ER doctor who also sees a fair share of trauma involving the brain and spine.
All in all - a great reminder to NOT climb those teetering ladders in the fall no matter how often your significant other begs you to get out the decorations. Find somewhere to store them that does not involve climbing. Plus - your brain shrinks as you get older so bleeding from a traumatic brain injury that might have killed you earlier now has a little bit of leeway. But if you fall and hit your head, please go to the doctor. Also - drugs and alcohol do bad things to your brain and body. And don't give up hope.
August 23, 2026
Off the Top of My Head is an interesting and humorous look inside the operating room, offering a fascinating glimpse into neurosurgery while never losing sight of the humanity behind the medicine. I enjoyed the stories, the humor, and the reminder that even in such a serious setting, there is so much heart and humanity.
#OfftheTopofMyHead #NetGalley
#OfftheTopofMyHead #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
4/5.
I like the cover. I went in to this knowing it was a collection of stories from Dr Barbara's life and it was interesting. I just wish there were more details provided. I know she couldn't share information about the patients because of patient confidentiality reasons but I think it would've been nice to get stories about the other medical professionals she worked with as well. Maybe more details about surgeries or the ORs themselves (idk I might be over thinking this).
Similarly, I would've liked some kind of background story that tied the book together more nicely than just feeling like I'm reading a bunch of disconnected stories that happen in an unknown time/year/month. But that's more of me thing--wanting a clearer timeline. I haven't read anything else from her so I don't know anything about her, so for me, I feel like I'm just dropped into her life and there's a lot of talk about moving houses and gardening but the patients pass by in a blur. It's an interesting set of stories I just would like more details.
Also, sorry, but why the AI?
4/5.
I like the cover. I went in to this knowing it was a collection of stories from Dr Barbara's life and it was interesting. I just wish there were more details provided. I know she couldn't share information about the patients because of patient confidentiality reasons but I think it would've been nice to get stories about the other medical professionals she worked with as well. Maybe more details about surgeries or the ORs themselves (idk I might be over thinking this).
Similarly, I would've liked some kind of background story that tied the book together more nicely than just feeling like I'm reading a bunch of disconnected stories that happen in an unknown time/year/month. But that's more of me thing--wanting a clearer timeline. I haven't read anything else from her so I don't know anything about her, so for me, I feel like I'm just dropped into her life and there's a lot of talk about moving houses and gardening but the patients pass by in a blur. It's an interesting set of stories I just would like more details.
Also, sorry, but why the AI?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Unflinching and vivid, the author brings you into the operating room as she deals with every kind of brain and spinal injury. Sarcastic and blunt, she also keeps the pace hustling along, bouncing back and forth between diagnoses, prognoses, operations and (mostly comic or self-wounding) snippets of her home life.
At times, I felt like I must surely perish. Immediately. Because the delicate mesh of vessels and bone and dura and blood in and around our fragile brains seems designed to fail. Yet most people make it. At least until something else gets them. And as the author soldiers on, from 72-hour on-call periods to sporadic rest to gobbling down whatever food she can find, to delivering the worst news with clinical precision, I find myself along for the ride; gripping the armrests at times, but still there.
This book is a quick trip through a strange and fascinating landscape that most of us will never know on an intimate basis. Thank goodness. And thank goodness there are people like her doing this work. -Eric S.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for our honest review.
At times, I felt like I must surely perish. Immediately. Because the delicate mesh of vessels and bone and dura and blood in and around our fragile brains seems designed to fail. Yet most people make it. At least until something else gets them. And as the author soldiers on, from 72-hour on-call periods to sporadic rest to gobbling down whatever food she can find, to delivering the worst news with clinical precision, I find myself along for the ride; gripping the armrests at times, but still there.
This book is a quick trip through a strange and fascinating landscape that most of us will never know on an intimate basis. Thank goodness. And thank goodness there are people like her doing this work. -Eric S.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for our honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3 1/2 stars
I knew I would like to meet the author when I read that her daughter told her classmates that her mom touches brains every day. This is not a deep dive into the science of Neurosurgery nor is it the inner thoughts of an overworked mom trying to balance her marriage, motherhood and work. It is a frightening and often amusing account of the life of a neurosurgeon who has saved and lost people put in her care. As we know already doctors say an oath to "do no harm" but Dr. Barbara Lazio seems to have thrown in "and act like a human being" to the process. Interesting but I am not sure I would hand it to a patient about to undergo brain surgery. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
I knew I would like to meet the author when I read that her daughter told her classmates that her mom touches brains every day. This is not a deep dive into the science of Neurosurgery nor is it the inner thoughts of an overworked mom trying to balance her marriage, motherhood and work. It is a frightening and often amusing account of the life of a neurosurgeon who has saved and lost people put in her care. As we know already doctors say an oath to "do no harm" but Dr. Barbara Lazio seems to have thrown in "and act like a human being" to the process. Interesting but I am not sure I would hand it to a patient about to undergo brain surgery. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A book of well-written vignettes about a neurosurgeon's life, both personal and about the cases she dealt with. Well done and easy to read, but it could have had more to it. Our book club enjoyed this book and liked her sense of humor. It worked well for a weekly reading since each chapter was a different story, so people would not miss out if they could come for a week. There were sad chapters and funny chapters, and it was the type of book that made you care about people who you've never met. Overall, one of the better book club books we read this year.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, I wasn't sure a book about a neurosurgeon would be a ton of fun to read, but this one was. Of course still sad things happened, but this was a delightful collection of stories illustrating life and medical practice and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This author is a very good writer! I really like the programs that support and encourage doctors to write.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I downloaded this from Edelweiss immediately because I love memoirs from doctors! This is a great one if you have never read one before. Lazio is funny, and the essays are both short and meaningful. It is also a quick read overall. I recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
review upcoming
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.7
A quick read. Well written with humor. I tend to like more detailed or grittier type medical books, so I didn't love this, but it's more of a me thing and not the book thing.
A quick read. Well written with humor. I tend to like more detailed or grittier type medical books, so I didn't love this, but it's more of a me thing and not the book thing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
This was a fascinating read and very well written. What drew me to the book was the opportunity to glimpse the day-to-day life of a neurosurgeon, something most people will (hopefully) never experience firsthand. I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, responsibilities and decisions that come with working in such a high-stakes field.
This was a fascinating read and very well written. What drew me to the book was the opportunity to glimpse the day-to-day life of a neurosurgeon, something most people will (hopefully) never experience firsthand. I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, responsibilities and decisions that come with working in such a high-stakes field.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was not at all what I expected. I was on a roller coaster of emotions and the author left me with so much admiration for working moms and in a very taxing admirable field. I laughed more than I expected and they were parts that left me quite sullen. It will definitely leave people thinking about this world and our place in it. I highly recommend it. #NetGalley Pub Date: Sep 22 2026
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews