Looking Within: Understanding Ourselves through Human Imaging

by Cullen Ruff

What would it be like to have x-ray vision?Beyond diagnosing illness or injury, can images of ourselves tell us more about life?What if you could see that an accident victim will never walk again; that a young mother has breast cancer; or that a teenager is brain-dead and will be removed from life support? Can imaging help us better appreciate the complexity of existence, our strengths and vulnerabilities? Does looking into the body give insight into what it means to be human? Would it allow you, at least indirectly, to glimpse evidence of the human soul?Looking Within is the first mainstream collection of dramatic non-fiction narratives about discoveries in patients found by medical imaging. Ruff highlights the wonder and mystery of the human body, literally and metaphorically looking inside of others. Each story describes a patient in whom a life-changing discovery is tumors, stroke, domestic violence, substance abuse, sterility, unexpected pregnancy, infection, surgical complications, evidence of criminal activity, mental illness, even impending death. Dr. Ruff’s words, images, and insights help us see ourselves like never before.

Genres: Science, Medical, Nonfiction

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2020

Reviews

[Judy Cloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a radiologist who is also an outstanding storyteller! Each of these case "stories" was a good read. One of the later chapters which told of his med school days in gross anatomy and dissecting a cadaver was especially one I enjoyed reading. The author's honesty about his feelings is one thing that makes the reader connect to the stories. I am glad a friend recommended this book to me. It only took me so long to read because I read it between other books.

[Wallene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and humerous

This is a very entertaining read, even in the discussion of very difficult topics. The conversational tone brings the complexities of Medical Imaging in line with the delightful heart felt character analysis.

[Nancy Wakeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating!

I loved the insight that the author gave us into the world of radiology-he shares the clinical findings in terms easily understood and the human side of each encounter with compassion, insight and humor. The book is fascinating and each story is a teachable moment!

[Sandra Frans · Rating 3 out of 5]

The review is in Bahasa Indonesia

Buku Looking Within ini adalah catatan dari seorang dokter radiologi mengenai pasien-pasien yang dia baca lewat gambaran radiologi mereka. Menarik. Biasanya serial kedokteran kayak GA atau House MD, atau good doctors kebanyakan menceritakan tentang dokter bedah, atau internis ya karena langsung action. Ada kasus, tegakkan diagnosa, eksekusi, pasien sembuh/tidak. Input, Proses, Output, Outcome jelas. Sedangkan radiologi adalah bagian yang masuk ke dalam proses penegakkan diagnosa. Dokter radiologi tidak harus selalu bertemu pasien untuk membaca gambaran foto, usg, mri dan sebagainya untuk memahami permasalahan pasien.

Namun ternyata, banyak cerita menarik yang bisa Dr. Ruff temukan. Saya kagum dengan bagaimana beliau mendeskripsikan pasien-pasiennya sehingga walau yang terlihat adalah gambaran foto thorax atau usg abdomen dll di buku ini kita bsa berempati pada tokoh di sini.

Di awal buku Dr Ruff mengatakan bahwa: “images themselves show no indication of someone’s ethnicity, language, education, religion attractions, wealth, or personality”. Gambaran radiologi tidak menghakimi. Mengingatkan kembali bahwa dari semua gambaran luar, status sosial dll dsb, manusia adalah manusia.

[Joe Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the authors' interaction with clients and emotional value and time spent through his years of service. Everyone has to take the good with the bad, I hope to aspire to coping as well as he has.