First Do No Harm: Reflections on Becoming a Neurosurgeon

by J. Kenyon Rainer

The author traces his development as a neurosurgeon--from his days at medical school, to the drudgery of internship, the slavery of residency, and finally into private practice--and provides a personal perspective of his craft

Genres: Medicine, Nonfiction, Memoir

299 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 1987

Reviews

[Kymberlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and spine-chilling auto-biography of a new neuro-surgeon. The details are not for the faint of heart. Be prapared for actual medical documentation.

[Olivia O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could talk about this book for so long!! I don't read a lot of autobiographies, so I'm always impressed when people are able to document so much of their life in detail and bring it together in a single book. I loved how he wrote about his experiences in a way that was both objective and deeply personal. The raw honesty in this book was so refreshing and very intriguing from the lens of someone wanting to become a doctor someday; throughout reading about his experiences, I gained a deeper understanding of the commitment such a path requires, and specifically, what a surgeon's work-life balance can look like (even though I thought this was a little extreme haha! Maybe it's not). Watching his progression of navigating the hardest medical specialty was such a highlight--it felt like I was rooting for a fictional protagonist in a way. I loved getting to see how he made difficult choices under pressure, such as admitting to malpractice and switching residency programs. Incredible last chapter and ending!

[Phyllis Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an excerpt from this book in an old Reader's Digest, and knew I was going to have to locate (and read) the whole thing. Since this was published in 1987, I didn't hold out much hope, but my local library came through for me via interlibrary loan. (shoutout to libraries everywhere!! They don't get near the credit they deserve!!)
I was totally engrossed in this story and would have finished it all in one day if I hadn't had to stop for things like eating or sleeping.
I liked that he didn't try to make himself the All Knowing can Do No Wrong physician. He mentioned the good (catching that a patient diagnosed with ALS really had a severely pinched disc in his neck) to the bad (discounting a man's symptoms because he wrote him off as an alcoholic looking for drugs.)
If you like accounts of doctors or nurses' real-life experiences on the front lines, you will enjoy this book.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Rachel]

Read in 1996; my review from then: His experiences in hospital neurology and neurological surgery from senior medical student to full partner in a group. Well written and educational.

[Azeem · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Worthy Read!

[OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me that there’s a lot more to a speciality than the science and novelty of the procedures. Are achievements truly worth it if you’re left with no one to celebrate them with?

[Jon Evan Smelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best memoir that I have ever read and maybe even the best book i have ever read! Plus I love that it takes place in Alabama, Dr. Rainer and I are practically county neighbors!