Cutting Remarks: Insights and Recollections of a Surgeon

by Sidney M. Schwab MD

"A surgeon can kill you...and you'll sleep right through it."

The most dramatic—and seemingly glamorous—of medical fields, surgery captivates the public's imagination. Written for inquisitive laymen as well as anyone in the medical profession, this fascinating first-person account documents the career of one of America's top surgeons. Readers accompany Sidney Schwab through medical school at Case Western Reserve University; an internship; junior and senior residencies (with a detour to Vietnam, where he won a Purple Heart); and finally his chief residency years in San Francisco. With humor and poignancy—and sometimes graphic detail—Schwab recalls memorable surgeries, surgeons, and patients. He takes care to explain, in understandable and interesting fashion, a variety of diseases, medical issues, and surgical techniques. More than just a memoir, Cutting Remarks offers a compelling look at how trauma and surgery are handled at a major hospital, and provides valuable insight into a surgeon's relationship with both peers and patients.

Genres: Medical, Nonfiction, Medicine, Memoir

248 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2006

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have observed that both physicians and writers aspire to defeat death, and only writers--very few, but still, a few--manage to do it. So it is natural that many physicians want to write, and do. Few turn out to be a Lewis Thomas, or a Rabelais. But some turn out to have their own voice, unique experience in surgical training that no longer exists, and wartime work at Da Nang, Viet Nam. Sid Schwab fits this prescription, and he adds an unusual combination of sentimental recall of specific patients, and in addition, wit. This book reads well, informs and amuses.
Oh, and Dr Schwab writes with such clarity that I, though a bit squeamish about blood, came away confident in my ability to do simple operations--a fishook through a finger, a paronychia, a small cyst in the side, perhaps the occasional loose tooth or impacted molar. Watch out for clear writing; it can lead to overconfidence.

[Ashley Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be starting a General Surgery residency next year, so I finally read this book, which has been sitting on my shelf since starting medical school. It was a fun, quick, read, and I found myself thinking often "That's EXACTLY how I feel about that!" This book energized me and encouraged me. I am excited to enter surgery as a medical specialty, eager for all of the personal and interpersonal experiences it will bring, despite knowing that the hours will be long and I will be tested in more ways than I can even begin to imagine. But seeing his transformation from "intern", who knows little and feels utterly inadequate, to "chief resident" with the confidence that only comes with experience, gives me strength and hope. We all start out in the same mindset, but we will eventually make it through and help others do the same.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Schwab is a well-known blogger who has written a book reflecting on his medical career. I checked out his book after I read someplace that he lives in Western Washington - which is a dumb reason to pick up a book, but I really enjoyed it, so I'm glad that the reason presented itself. There is a stereotype that all surgeons think they're God and are assholes to the nurses, the med students, etc... but either Dr. Schwab is an exception to the rule, or he's in deep denial. He writes about events in his career with a sense of wonder and humility. And he's had a lot of events, including a stint overseas during the Vietnam War. Best of all, the man is FUNNY.

[Amy Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled on this book at a book sale, not knowing what to expect. I'm so glad I did. This book is a lighthearted, and often funny, account of one surgeon's experience in training. It's not graphic (unless you Google image search "fistula") yet you still learn a thing or two about surgery, and how things have changed since the 1970s. As an added bonus, I visited his surgeon's blog, which is more of the same stories as in the book, and his non-medical blog, which I also enjoy. Overall a very enjoyable read.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this memoir not only because of the author's wit, but also because of the insights into the life of a surgeon. I do wish Schwab had had a better editor because I did think the book could have been both tightened up and expanded and some of the punctuation errors could have been addressed.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surgeon's memoirs of his medical training. Very anecdotal with stories funny and poignant. He explains everything in non-medical terms, so it is accessible to all readers. He evidently wrote it largely himself--and it sounds like a surgeon wrote it.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Atul Gawande, but still really neat to read, and a different type of surgeon writing. I'm a sucker for surgeon stories!