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The Source of All Things: A Heart Surgeon's Quest to Understand Our Most Mysterious Organ
In the tradition of Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm , Reinhard Friedl's The Source of All Things is a heart surgeon’s personal investigation of the human heart, moving from his riveting clinical experiences to a more poetic understanding of its workings.
The heart is our most important organ. Yet despite that it has not changed since the appearance of Homo sapiens 300,000 years ago, it is also our most mysterious. In most human cultures, it is seen as the source of love, sympathy, joy, courage, strength and wisdom.
What if the heart could answer questions neurosciences can’t begin to? Having witnessed the extraordinary complexity and unpredictability of human hearts in the operating theatre―each one individual, like a fingerprint―heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl looked again at this “primitive pump” to reconcile it with his experiences from thousands of heart operations.
In this book, he presents findings from various scientific disciplines, such as secret connections of the heart and brain and their influence on emotions and consciousness. He reveals the miracle that is the heart that we speak about so often yet is strangely foreign to many human beings.
Full of compelling patient stories, The Source of All Things ends with a that we recognize the heart’s wisdom and adopt a more heart-centered way of living, leading to greater health and more joy.
The heart is our most important organ. Yet despite that it has not changed since the appearance of Homo sapiens 300,000 years ago, it is also our most mysterious. In most human cultures, it is seen as the source of love, sympathy, joy, courage, strength and wisdom.
What if the heart could answer questions neurosciences can’t begin to? Having witnessed the extraordinary complexity and unpredictability of human hearts in the operating theatre―each one individual, like a fingerprint―heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl looked again at this “primitive pump” to reconcile it with his experiences from thousands of heart operations.
In this book, he presents findings from various scientific disciplines, such as secret connections of the heart and brain and their influence on emotions and consciousness. He reveals the miracle that is the heart that we speak about so often yet is strangely foreign to many human beings.
Full of compelling patient stories, The Source of All Things ends with a that we recognize the heart’s wisdom and adopt a more heart-centered way of living, leading to greater health and more joy.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 24, 2021
21 people are currently reading
2010 people want to read
About the author
Reinhard Friedl
8 books9 followersDR. REINHARD FRIEDL is an eminent surgeon who has held thousands of hearts in his hands. He has operated on premature babies and repaired the heart valves of patients well advanced in years. He has implanted artificial heart turbines and stitched knife wounds to the heart. He lives in Germany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 19, 2021
Giveaway Win!
The Source of All Things is an exploration of heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl's quest to better understand how the heart works.
This book was fine. It just really isn't for me. It's a little too new age-y for my liking. If you believe in the power of positive thinking to heal you than I think you'll enjoy this book. If you're like me and you think whatever is supposed to happen will happen than I don't think you'll get much out of reading this book.
No rec. It's not a bad book it's just not for me but I will be passing it on to someone who will love it.
The Source of All Things is an exploration of heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl's quest to better understand how the heart works.
This book was fine. It just really isn't for me. It's a little too new age-y for my liking. If you believe in the power of positive thinking to heal you than I think you'll enjoy this book. If you're like me and you think whatever is supposed to happen will happen than I don't think you'll get much out of reading this book.
No rec. It's not a bad book it's just not for me but I will be passing it on to someone who will love it.
Want to read
June 18, 2021Quite good. The medical field has known about the heart/brain connection for a while, but like most things, we're gaining a deeper understanding over time. This is a interesting perspective on the topic with examples and stories, and a more. Recommended for the curious and knowledge seekers. Not sure if medical professionals will this or not.
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
August 18, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Source of All Things is a layman accessible look at the interplay between the heart and the mind and emotions from the perspective of a cardiac surgeon. Originally published in German in 2019, this English language translation is due out 24th Aug 2021 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint. It's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I am a medical professional in a histopathology lab. My day job is to prepare cancer biopsies and other patient samples into finished slides to be diagnosed by pathologists. Objectivity is paramount for both quality control and for maintaining enough emotional distance to protect the mental health of the person interacting with the samples. In the same way, the objectivity of a surgeon allows him/her to literally hold an organ in their hands and make the necessary adjustments to allow the patient to heal, if possible. Precisely the same objectivity, erected intentionally as defense, can also build a wall between us and feeling too deeply or completely.
This book is one surgeon's story of his own training, the emotional toll of his work, and his personal growth toward empathy. He's witty and well spoken and the book includes many asides along the way into interesting and enlightening physiology of the body and its inner workings which are mostly hidden from the vast majority.
There are numerous case histories scattered throughout, though the book is not primarily concerned with actual treatment and recovery. It's layman accessible (I don't trust my own judgement on the subject since this is more or less my day job, but I asked a family member who isn't in medicine), and it's meticulously annotated throughout. The chapter notes and bibliography will give ample scope for further reading. Most of the links to peer-reviewed papers are in English, but many will require more in-depth knowledge and aren't especially layman accessible.
I found the translation work to be seamlessly done. It didn't feel as though it had been translated and there weren't any abrupt or odd sentence constructions which felt unnatural or artificial.
As popular science writing, it's appealing and engaging to read. The author has a lot to say about the connections between physiology and emotional health. I personally felt whilst reading that he shaded ever so slightly over into a sort of borderland between hard science and philosophy which (for me personally) felt a little "pop-psych-ish".
Four stars. I would recommend this one for fans of popular science. It would also be a good fit for caregivers, medical professionals, and some patients.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Source of All Things is a layman accessible look at the interplay between the heart and the mind and emotions from the perspective of a cardiac surgeon. Originally published in German in 2019, this English language translation is due out 24th Aug 2021 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint. It's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
I am a medical professional in a histopathology lab. My day job is to prepare cancer biopsies and other patient samples into finished slides to be diagnosed by pathologists. Objectivity is paramount for both quality control and for maintaining enough emotional distance to protect the mental health of the person interacting with the samples. In the same way, the objectivity of a surgeon allows him/her to literally hold an organ in their hands and make the necessary adjustments to allow the patient to heal, if possible. Precisely the same objectivity, erected intentionally as defense, can also build a wall between us and feeling too deeply or completely.
This book is one surgeon's story of his own training, the emotional toll of his work, and his personal growth toward empathy. He's witty and well spoken and the book includes many asides along the way into interesting and enlightening physiology of the body and its inner workings which are mostly hidden from the vast majority.
There are numerous case histories scattered throughout, though the book is not primarily concerned with actual treatment and recovery. It's layman accessible (I don't trust my own judgement on the subject since this is more or less my day job, but I asked a family member who isn't in medicine), and it's meticulously annotated throughout. The chapter notes and bibliography will give ample scope for further reading. Most of the links to peer-reviewed papers are in English, but many will require more in-depth knowledge and aren't especially layman accessible.
I found the translation work to be seamlessly done. It didn't feel as though it had been translated and there weren't any abrupt or odd sentence constructions which felt unnatural or artificial.
As popular science writing, it's appealing and engaging to read. The author has a lot to say about the connections between physiology and emotional health. I personally felt whilst reading that he shaded ever so slightly over into a sort of borderland between hard science and philosophy which (for me personally) felt a little "pop-psych-ish".
Four stars. I would recommend this one for fans of popular science. It would also be a good fit for caregivers, medical professionals, and some patients.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 16, 2022
*won this book in a Goodreads' giveaway*
Winning this book back in October felt a little bit like fate. I'd just started a PhD program with the purpose of doing doing cardiovascular research and was filled with imposter syndrome, so receiving this book felt a little like the world's way of telling me " you can do this. "
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Overall, I really liked this book and thought it was the perfect book to start of 2022. I will say the topic is very niche, but if this is a topic you're interested in, I'd highly recommend. It's a beautifully written piece of non-fiction. Friedl's prose is elegant and cleverly crafted. A lot of his writing is very anecdotal, but I especially enjoyed his heart visuals. These are some of my favorites:
"The heart's large muscle strands twist around each other like spirals and form fantastic cave systems connected by valves and separated by septums."
"The geometric shapes of this dance of the heart are as unique as a fingerprint."
Winning this book back in October felt a little bit like fate. I'd just started a PhD program with the purpose of doing doing cardiovascular research and was filled with imposter syndrome, so receiving this book felt a little like the world's way of telling me " you can do this. "
---------------------------------
Overall, I really liked this book and thought it was the perfect book to start of 2022. I will say the topic is very niche, but if this is a topic you're interested in, I'd highly recommend. It's a beautifully written piece of non-fiction. Friedl's prose is elegant and cleverly crafted. A lot of his writing is very anecdotal, but I especially enjoyed his heart visuals. These are some of my favorites:
"The heart's large muscle strands twist around each other like spirals and form fantastic cave systems connected by valves and separated by septums."
"The geometric shapes of this dance of the heart are as unique as a fingerprint."
August 31, 2022
This book is different than most. Reinhard Friedl shares his knowledge not only about the heart but the connection it has with the brain. Since my health involves with both parts, I found this to be incredibly interesting. He said, the “heart and brain are often treated in isolation, while they belong together.” Unfortunately, health professionals will say: it’s not my area if it’s the other part and there lacks a solution of connecting the two pieces together.
There were a lot of sections of the book that got my attention. He talked about how there has been numerous discussions about when life begins. Yet, he notes that just as important is: when life ends. ‘When is dead really dead?” When the brain shuts off, he says it’s possible that the heart can still be beating. In Vienna, physicians have been known in this case to stab the heart to make it clear that the body in its entirety has ended. He also questions if a dead mother can give birth.
He touches on how it’s emotionally draining for physicians to operate on the heart and if a patient ends up dying, they “mourn, feel exhausted, disappointed, empty or furious.” I thought about how interns should read this book to fully understand how important it is to connect to the patient not only with the mechanics of fixing what’s broken but also helping with the emotions of the patients.
I personally found this book to be helpful and interesting. It’s not easy for a physician to write in a language which is simple for everyone to understand. He did it and added a lot of personal thoughts. Since the heart is important to all parts of the body, it’s a book worth reading for everyone.
There were a lot of sections of the book that got my attention. He talked about how there has been numerous discussions about when life begins. Yet, he notes that just as important is: when life ends. ‘When is dead really dead?” When the brain shuts off, he says it’s possible that the heart can still be beating. In Vienna, physicians have been known in this case to stab the heart to make it clear that the body in its entirety has ended. He also questions if a dead mother can give birth.
He touches on how it’s emotionally draining for physicians to operate on the heart and if a patient ends up dying, they “mourn, feel exhausted, disappointed, empty or furious.” I thought about how interns should read this book to fully understand how important it is to connect to the patient not only with the mechanics of fixing what’s broken but also helping with the emotions of the patients.
I personally found this book to be helpful and interesting. It’s not easy for a physician to write in a language which is simple for everyone to understand. He did it and added a lot of personal thoughts. Since the heart is important to all parts of the body, it’s a book worth reading for everyone.
July 25, 2021
A philosophical treatise on the heart, which is basically a cardiac surgeon learning to see things more holistically and how that makes him a better doctor. It's kind of boring honestly; the fact that this guy was not in touch with his emotions and needed to learn about empathy as an adult strikes me as sad, although I guess it was meant to be inspirational. But it's not badly written and the medical stuff is compelling.
I received this book free from the publisher for review.
I received this book free from the publisher for review.
October 25, 2021
Revealing and Thought Provoking
This book challenges the modern understanding that the brain is the seat and source of all knowledge. Friedl details the heart-brain connection and relationship with the precision of a scientist and the passion of an artist. The book raises more questions than it answers and urges the reader to continue the search. My one criticism is that it presents the argument with a bit too much certainty. Overall, a good and worthwhile read.
This book challenges the modern understanding that the brain is the seat and source of all knowledge. Friedl details the heart-brain connection and relationship with the precision of a scientist and the passion of an artist. The book raises more questions than it answers and urges the reader to continue the search. My one criticism is that it presents the argument with a bit too much certainty. Overall, a good and worthwhile read.
August 30, 2021
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and Goodreads for this Advance Reader Copy giveaway! In The Source of All Things, heart surgeon Reinhard Friedl walks us through his quest to understand our most mysterious organ: the heart!
The first thing I will say is that I found the title misleading. When I read "quest" I expected to find tangible findings/conclusions but this book was solely about Friedl's professional journey and epiphanies that lead to a new career path and manner of practicing cardiology. Although I whole-heartedly approve of his new "specialist with a dash of holistic and therapeutic" approach, and found the book in itself very interesting, it left me slightly unfulfilled. It was bordering on memoir within a medical tome.
The books starts off very philosophical with a lot of hypotheses eluding to the fact that the heart might have a bigger role in consciousness and emotions than previously believed. I expected to find the answers to those later in the novel but alas I was left without them for the most part. I understand that that is how you achieve progress in any science field but I wanted all the answers! In lieu of some answers I found some far-fetched metaphors, some learned behaviors and emotions attributed to the heart and even poetry.
That being said, I do not have a medical background so take my opinions with a grain of salt! I did learn A LOT of information about my heart and how it is mechanically works, how it is physically affected by certain emotions, the importance of relaxation/meditation, the proven effects of chanting "om" and of course the importance of a healthy diet and exercise... but everyone knows that last part! Many facts surprised me and I loved Friedl's detailed retelling of operations. However, I would've appreciated a detailed diagram of the heart as I found myself "Googling" the location of valves often.
This book takes you through quite a journey and it is worth the read! If anything you will learn a wealth of knowledge and learn to listen to your heart and take better care of yourself. I wish more medical professional took Reinhard Friedl's approach in treating the person as a whole (emotions and all) rather than the mechanical organs alone.
The first thing I will say is that I found the title misleading. When I read "quest" I expected to find tangible findings/conclusions but this book was solely about Friedl's professional journey and epiphanies that lead to a new career path and manner of practicing cardiology. Although I whole-heartedly approve of his new "specialist with a dash of holistic and therapeutic" approach, and found the book in itself very interesting, it left me slightly unfulfilled. It was bordering on memoir within a medical tome.
The books starts off very philosophical with a lot of hypotheses eluding to the fact that the heart might have a bigger role in consciousness and emotions than previously believed. I expected to find the answers to those later in the novel but alas I was left without them for the most part. I understand that that is how you achieve progress in any science field but I wanted all the answers! In lieu of some answers I found some far-fetched metaphors, some learned behaviors and emotions attributed to the heart and even poetry.
That being said, I do not have a medical background so take my opinions with a grain of salt! I did learn A LOT of information about my heart and how it is mechanically works, how it is physically affected by certain emotions, the importance of relaxation/meditation, the proven effects of chanting "om" and of course the importance of a healthy diet and exercise... but everyone knows that last part! Many facts surprised me and I loved Friedl's detailed retelling of operations. However, I would've appreciated a detailed diagram of the heart as I found myself "Googling" the location of valves often.
This book takes you through quite a journey and it is worth the read! If anything you will learn a wealth of knowledge and learn to listen to your heart and take better care of yourself. I wish more medical professional took Reinhard Friedl's approach in treating the person as a whole (emotions and all) rather than the mechanical organs alone.
August 10, 2021
Reinhard Friedl begins his book, The Source of All Things: A Heart Surgeon’s Quest to Understand Our Most Mysterious Organ, from the vantage point of his life as a heart surgeon in Germany. I read an advance reading copy of this book furnished by Net Galley that will go on sale on August 24 and is available for pre-order. He writes in language accessible for the lay reader although he looks with the surgeon’s eye at the wonder of the physical heart throughout the book. Some of his observations take in his expertise as a professional but without the jargon that is above the heads of those without medical training.
He also looks at the emotional heart both from things we know and things we wonder about from the standpoint of its ability to trigger emotions, empathy, and feelings toward others. Then he makes connections between the emotional heart and the physical heart with stories of people who have had experiences that led to some form of interchange between the two hearts as each affected the other. And that’s not all. He adds the brain and wonder about how it connects to both views of the heart. Layers and people’s stories add examples and interest to his points of observation.
He brings together various scientific views, religious insights, and personal experiences to present a more comprehensive view of the heart than just the pump that works all day every day without our thinking much about it until it gives us trouble. The thought-provoking book left me in disagreement here and there, but it also left me in wonder at the relationship of the emotional and physical heart and brain and with a renewed understanding of the importance of living toward both kinds of heart health. It is a book for those who don’t mind looking at things in a new light.
He also looks at the emotional heart both from things we know and things we wonder about from the standpoint of its ability to trigger emotions, empathy, and feelings toward others. Then he makes connections between the emotional heart and the physical heart with stories of people who have had experiences that led to some form of interchange between the two hearts as each affected the other. And that’s not all. He adds the brain and wonder about how it connects to both views of the heart. Layers and people’s stories add examples and interest to his points of observation.
He brings together various scientific views, religious insights, and personal experiences to present a more comprehensive view of the heart than just the pump that works all day every day without our thinking much about it until it gives us trouble. The thought-provoking book left me in disagreement here and there, but it also left me in wonder at the relationship of the emotional and physical heart and brain and with a renewed understanding of the importance of living toward both kinds of heart health. It is a book for those who don’t mind looking at things in a new light.
July 24, 2022
Although it took me a long time to finish, this book isn't at all difficult to read. Even with all the scientific explanations, they are straightforward. As someone who took biology in high school and college, this was simple reading compared to taking those courses.
This book has an easyoing flow to it. It gently persuades you to look at your life and how that might be affecting not only your physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. It leads you to question whether you are doing things you truly enjoy, or if you are simply going through the motions and doing things because they are expected of you. And it makes you want to reconsider if what you are doing is right for you.
I would say that this is somewhat philosophical, and spiritual, but not in an overly preachy sort of way, so it would appeal to a wide audence.
There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from reading this, very thought provoking.
*Please note I won a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways
This book has an easyoing flow to it. It gently persuades you to look at your life and how that might be affecting not only your physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. It leads you to question whether you are doing things you truly enjoy, or if you are simply going through the motions and doing things because they are expected of you. And it makes you want to reconsider if what you are doing is right for you.
I would say that this is somewhat philosophical, and spiritual, but not in an overly preachy sort of way, so it would appeal to a wide audence.
There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from reading this, very thought provoking.
*Please note I won a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways
August 1, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Keep Sharp offered a brain surgeon’s insight into mysteries of brain health, and now Dr. Reinhard Friedl’s Source of All Things gives us a heart surgeon’s view of the wondrous mysteries of the heart. Dr. Friedl describes the physical functioning of the heart and offers vivid descriptions of the miracles of modern cardiac surgery. He describes his very personal journey of search for a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of the human heart. He explores the connections between the heart and the brain, and the sometimes physical and sometimes more philosophical relationships between the heart and the soul, love and consciousness. Compelling patient stories add texture and insight. Finally, he offers some guidance toward living a more heart-centered and heart-healthy life.
October 6, 2021
A heart surgeon starts of writing about heart surgery and some individual cases but then goes on a mystical journey into thoughts and feelings that sound good but aren't concrete. I can see that the heart probably has more effect on the brain and who you are than I previously thought but the latter half of the book didn't do much for me. The successful operations could have been balanced unsuccessful ones which weren't described. Though that may be due to malpractice concerns.
There are many things we don't understand and just because you can't measure something or don't know how something could be linked doesn't mean it isn't real. But homeopathy seems like utter BS and needs to provide better evidence of its efficacy even if the means of it aren't understood.
There are many things we don't understand and just because you can't measure something or don't know how something could be linked doesn't mean it isn't real. But homeopathy seems like utter BS and needs to provide better evidence of its efficacy even if the means of it aren't understood.
September 12, 2021
As a mother of an amazing heart warrior, I’ve found myself devouring every book about the heart I could find over the years. So when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it and I’m so glad I did. I loved how this combined textbook education about the heart, along with interesting case studies and then mashed it together with his own personal growth as a surgeon. For me, you often see the heart surgeon who saved your loved ones life as somewhat of a god. Reading this book however gives you insight on how emotional that journey to become a surgeon is and how deeply it can effect you, both positive and negatively.
Overall, it was a very interesting book to read.
Overall, it was a very interesting book to read.
September 1, 2021
Reinhard Friedl is a heart surgeon who takes us on a journey to understand the heart. He presents findings on the connection between the heart and the brain as well as patient stories.
I really enjoyed hearing his patient stories, but I do wish the book was organized better. It would've been cool to read about more patient stories in detail as they were short and sweet (I know some people enjoy that style though). There were scientific studies mixed in that I found very interesting, but again I wish it was better organized. It could've worked better as alternating chapters as it was very messy at times.
I'm really intrigued by medicine, and I did learn a lot of new facts that I didn't know before! Overall, it was a really quick read and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy!
I really enjoyed hearing his patient stories, but I do wish the book was organized better. It would've been cool to read about more patient stories in detail as they were short and sweet (I know some people enjoy that style though). There were scientific studies mixed in that I found very interesting, but again I wish it was better organized. It could've worked better as alternating chapters as it was very messy at times.
I'm really intrigued by medicine, and I did learn a lot of new facts that I didn't know before! Overall, it was a really quick read and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy!
December 10, 2021
Loved loved this book with all my heart! Given my heart surgery, I was interested in learning about the anatomy covered in the first sections. But the second half was the best part — understanding the heart/brain connection, our consciousness is a whole body experience, and what hurts our soul and heart can and does manifest physically. So many of us are conditioned to seek a prescription in America by our healthcare system. The healing comes from feeling, and learning to be with what is and arises from our hearts.
April 7, 2022
"The Source of All Things" is good in the first 3/4 and disappointing in the last 1/4. A cardiologist surgeon tells his tales in the hospital and explains the mechanisms of the heart, the miracle behind it, and its connections with the brain, exploring the possibility of the heart as the house of emotions.
I learned many things, including how to take good care of the hearth. However, by the end, the doctor confesses he is no longer doing surgeries and shifted to holistic medicine. I understand that meditation and homeopathy may have an important role in the psychological treatment of a disease, but in some cases surgery is necessary. Giving up surgery all together was disappointing for me because this kind of skill is very hard to develop.
I learned many things, including how to take good care of the hearth. However, by the end, the doctor confesses he is no longer doing surgeries and shifted to holistic medicine. I understand that meditation and homeopathy may have an important role in the psychological treatment of a disease, but in some cases surgery is necessary. Giving up surgery all together was disappointing for me because this kind of skill is very hard to develop.
August 23, 2021
This look at our most written about organ is accessible and informative. Blending case studies and science with the emotional views of the heart, it takes the reader on an informative journey. There are plenty of notes and references for those who wish to delve deeper. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Interesting read.
August 25, 2021
*This was an ARC goodreads giveaway*
An interesting combination between science and philosophy. I liked reading behind the scenes of a heart surgeon and learning more about how the heart works. It was also interesting to think about how our emotions affect our heart's health, and the holistic approach to taking care of it.
An interesting combination between science and philosophy. I liked reading behind the scenes of a heart surgeon and learning more about how the heart works. It was also interesting to think about how our emotions affect our heart's health, and the holistic approach to taking care of it.
September 17, 2021
Dr. Friedl gives his first hand narrative on his most interesting cases as a heart surgeon. He also provides background on heart science and medical background. The author provides a glimpse into the mystery and magnificence of the heart organ. This book is a lot more fun to read than a medical textbook on the heart
July 22, 2021
I'll be honest...I found that most of "The Source of All Things A Heart Sureion's Quest to Understand Our Most Mysterious Organ" went over my layman's head. However, Dr.Reinhard Friedl obviously did extensive research on this subject and the book is well written. I most enjoy the patient stories.
March 20, 2025
I won this book from goodreads.
The patient stories were very interesting, but a lot of the book was too much medical lingo for me. Would be better for someone in the medical field that would understand it. I did learn some things about the heart that I didn't know before.
The patient stories were very interesting, but a lot of the book was too much medical lingo for me. Would be better for someone in the medical field that would understand it. I did learn some things about the heart that I didn't know before.
July 25, 2021
Received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a personal book, more a memoir of a man developing a holistic view of the heart than a scientific work.
This is a personal book, more a memoir of a man developing a holistic view of the heart than a scientific work.
March 22, 2024
Quite interesting read. It starts off great with some very witty dialogue and then it gets very technical and then it becomes bizarre.
June 15, 2025
Very interesting view into how the heart may possibly be the center of our universe as it begins working as our “pump” before our brain is even formed and never rests until we are gone.
January 6, 2022
Interesting view and information regarding the workings of the heart.
February 13, 2022
A collection of bite-size stories about the heart.
Take-home message: any minor infection might compromise cardiovascular health.
Take-home message: any minor infection might compromise cardiovascular health.
January 4, 2022
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An exploration of the complex relationship between the heart, brain, and the human spirit
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“You hold in your hands the result of my journey into the secrets of the heart…
In the following pages, I reveal the miracle that is the heart. I explain how I arrived at my findings and how they may change our lives for the better…
Today I believe medicine should acknowledge that the heart is not merely a pump but a source of life and consciousness and also plays a role in many disturbances and illnesses.
This conviction [alone] would grant us deeper understanding of the body’s logistics and lead to healthier and more joyful lives. “
The above quote (in italics) is from this interesting, well-written, and accessible book by Reinhard Friedl, M.D. He has been a cardiologist (heart surgeon) and emergency doctor for twenty years.
Is the heart just a pump? Many human cultures don’t think so but see the heart as the source of love, sympathy, joy, courage, and strength. Why is this so?
Having witnessed the complexity and unpredictability of human hearts in the OR, Friedl went on a search for answers.
He examines closely the latest scientific finding in neurocardiology and psychocardiology. In this book, he shares his discoveries.
Friedl uses actual patient cases to illustrate the complex relationship between the heart & the brain and this relationship’s influence on emotions and consciousness.
At one point in the book Friedl tells the reader the following:
“I watched my colleagues in heart surgery. Did they have such heretical thoughts [about the heart] too? Was I still one of them, or had I diverted from the pure faith [of the heart as a] pump?”
At the end of the book, the author asks these important questions:
(1) The heart never has a break for relaxation. How is this possible?
(2) How is the heart capable of pumping for a lifetime?
After you have read this book, you’ll know the answer to these questions.
Finally, I only had one problem with this book. There is not one picture or diagram of the heart. I think a few pictures or even diagrams would have added immeasurably to the total experience of this book. This was a major oversight.
In conclusion, this book effectively tells the story of a heart surgeon who rediscovered his missing heart!!
And the beat goes on…
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(2019 German, 2021 English translation; 21 chapters; main narrative 275 pages; acknowledgements; notes; index)
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An exploration of the complex relationship between the heart, brain, and the human spirit
XXXXX
“You hold in your hands the result of my journey into the secrets of the heart…
In the following pages, I reveal the miracle that is the heart. I explain how I arrived at my findings and how they may change our lives for the better…
Today I believe medicine should acknowledge that the heart is not merely a pump but a source of life and consciousness and also plays a role in many disturbances and illnesses.
This conviction [alone] would grant us deeper understanding of the body’s logistics and lead to healthier and more joyful lives. “
The above quote (in italics) is from this interesting, well-written, and accessible book by Reinhard Friedl, M.D. He has been a cardiologist (heart surgeon) and emergency doctor for twenty years.
Is the heart just a pump? Many human cultures don’t think so but see the heart as the source of love, sympathy, joy, courage, and strength. Why is this so?
Having witnessed the complexity and unpredictability of human hearts in the OR, Friedl went on a search for answers.
He examines closely the latest scientific finding in neurocardiology and psychocardiology. In this book, he shares his discoveries.
Friedl uses actual patient cases to illustrate the complex relationship between the heart & the brain and this relationship’s influence on emotions and consciousness.
At one point in the book Friedl tells the reader the following:
“I watched my colleagues in heart surgery. Did they have such heretical thoughts [about the heart] too? Was I still one of them, or had I diverted from the pure faith [of the heart as a] pump?”
At the end of the book, the author asks these important questions:
(1) The heart never has a break for relaxation. How is this possible?
(2) How is the heart capable of pumping for a lifetime?
After you have read this book, you’ll know the answer to these questions.
Finally, I only had one problem with this book. There is not one picture or diagram of the heart. I think a few pictures or even diagrams would have added immeasurably to the total experience of this book. This was a major oversight.
In conclusion, this book effectively tells the story of a heart surgeon who rediscovered his missing heart!!
And the beat goes on…
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(2019 German, 2021 English translation; 21 chapters; main narrative 275 pages; acknowledgements; notes; index)
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November 1, 2021
I must admit that thefirst couple chapters are very long. However, it picks up and is very interesting.
The author, a heart surgeon, start with musings about different heart expressions such as 'being heart broken' and then explains heart surgery procedures and how surgeons need to train at being concentrated and objective when operating. It is very interesting up to now on the thoughts of surgeons and procedures of heart surgery. The musings are distracting but makes it more human.
Then the author explains the relationship between the heart and thebrain, but also all its unknows.
I love the perspective of when the author writes if one has ever thought about when our own individual hearts beat for the first time, seven weeks after procreation.I loved the stories of baby Jakob and Maria. Such precious lives!
It was very interesting to read the uncertainties of organ donors when a human brain dies but the heart and organs are still living.
The author decided at the end to follow his heart and change career, this way he could help patients more by not only operating on the heart, but help with healing of emotions, heart, brain and nature.
This is an amazing book and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and be able to reflect on it.
Thank you Reinhard Friedl
The author, a heart surgeon, start with musings about different heart expressions such as 'being heart broken' and then explains heart surgery procedures and how surgeons need to train at being concentrated and objective when operating. It is very interesting up to now on the thoughts of surgeons and procedures of heart surgery. The musings are distracting but makes it more human.
Then the author explains the relationship between the heart and thebrain, but also all its unknows.
I love the perspective of when the author writes if one has ever thought about when our own individual hearts beat for the first time, seven weeks after procreation.I loved the stories of baby Jakob and Maria. Such precious lives!
It was very interesting to read the uncertainties of organ donors when a human brain dies but the heart and organs are still living.
The author decided at the end to follow his heart and change career, this way he could help patients more by not only operating on the heart, but help with healing of emotions, heart, brain and nature.
This is an amazing book and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and be able to reflect on it.
Thank you Reinhard Friedl
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2021
I was prepared to like this book a lot as I've worked in the medical field and love to read medical articles and studies online. Things started out well and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book centered around patient cases. I assumed (wrongly) that the book would be mainly about case studies. Instead the author spent a good deal of time on the interaction between the brain and the heart. I found little new information, and what was new was only touched upon briefly. The book is well-written and thought-provoking on the spiritual level of how the heart functions in concert with the brain.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
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