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Life in His Hands: The True Story of a Neurosurgeon and a Pianist
Charlie Teo is one of Australia's most celebrated yet controversial neurosurgeons. His pioneering "keyhole" techniques have earned him praise around the world, but in his home country he is regarded by some in the profession as reckless and even dangerous. His stock in trade is "inoperable" brain tumours – those malignant cancers that others don't dare treat – and by any estimation he is incredibly successful. In over 5000 operations, he has never lost a patient on the table.
He has treated the young and the old, the rich and the poor. His more famous cases have included talkback radio shock jock, Stan Zemanek, the wives of cricketers Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath, the cancer specialist Dr Chris O'Brien, and the young classical pianist, Aaron McMillan. In 2001, at the age of 24, McMillan was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour. He underwent 12 hours of surgery. Two days later he was back playing the piano, preparing to record and perform.
Life In His Hands is the remarkable true story of a medical maverick and one of his most high-profile and tragic cases. It is a book full of heartache and hope and scientific marvels. Ultimately, it is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
He has treated the young and the old, the rich and the poor. His more famous cases have included talkback radio shock jock, Stan Zemanek, the wives of cricketers Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath, the cancer specialist Dr Chris O'Brien, and the young classical pianist, Aaron McMillan. In 2001, at the age of 24, McMillan was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour. He underwent 12 hours of surgery. Two days later he was back playing the piano, preparing to record and perform.
Life In His Hands is the remarkable true story of a medical maverick and one of his most high-profile and tragic cases. It is a book full of heartache and hope and scientific marvels. Ultimately, it is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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317 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 9, 2025
4 Stars = It definitely held my interest.
Aaron McMillan was a very talented concert pianist. At the age of 24 he was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumour, and was told he had 6 weeks to live. Enter Dr Charlie Teo, whose speciality is inoperable brain tumours. The book expertly covers what these two brilliant men accomplished together.
Aaron McMillan was a very talented concert pianist. At the age of 24 he was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumour, and was told he had 6 weeks to live. Enter Dr Charlie Teo, whose speciality is inoperable brain tumours. The book expertly covers what these two brilliant men accomplished together.
October 9, 2009
In 2001 the brilliant young concert pianist Aaron McMillan was diagnosed with a rare type of brain tumour and given six weeks to live. He was just 24 years old.
He underwent 12 hours of emergency surgery; days later he was back at the piano, preparing to perform. Years later, he was still performing.
His doctor was Charlie Teo, one of Australia’s most celebrated and controversial neurosurgeons. Charlie’s specialty is inoperable brain tumours and his radical techniques have earned him praise around the world. But in his own country he is regarded by some as reckless and even dangerous.
Aaron McMillan presented Charlie with his most challenging case yet. In return, Charlie Teo gave Aaron hope.
Life In His Hands is the remarkable true story of a medical maverick and an artist who refused to be daunted by death. It is a book full of heartache and joy and scientific marvels, written by a journalist who found that with some stories, staying on the sidelines is the hardest thing to do.
He underwent 12 hours of emergency surgery; days later he was back at the piano, preparing to perform. Years later, he was still performing.
His doctor was Charlie Teo, one of Australia’s most celebrated and controversial neurosurgeons. Charlie’s specialty is inoperable brain tumours and his radical techniques have earned him praise around the world. But in his own country he is regarded by some as reckless and even dangerous.
Aaron McMillan presented Charlie with his most challenging case yet. In return, Charlie Teo gave Aaron hope.
Life In His Hands is the remarkable true story of a medical maverick and an artist who refused to be daunted by death. It is a book full of heartache and joy and scientific marvels, written by a journalist who found that with some stories, staying on the sidelines is the hardest thing to do.
October 5, 2017
I think Charlie Teo is incredible. This quote from the book is a great summary:
"No matter how established and successful Charlie becomes, and how often his techniques are vindicated, it seems he will always face hostility. After five years’ watching him work, interviewing him and many other doctors, I understand why he infuriates some, but I have neither seen nor heard evidence of any actions that reduce my respect and affection for him. Like Aaron, he generates joyful energy, and his charisma radiates out through ever-growing circles of patients, students, neurosurgeons and other supporters."
A fantastic read.
"No matter how established and successful Charlie becomes, and how often his techniques are vindicated, it seems he will always face hostility. After five years’ watching him work, interviewing him and many other doctors, I understand why he infuriates some, but I have neither seen nor heard evidence of any actions that reduce my respect and affection for him. Like Aaron, he generates joyful energy, and his charisma radiates out through ever-growing circles of patients, students, neurosurgeons and other supporters."
A fantastic read.
January 27, 2011
This book, recommended to me by a good friend, was impossible to put down. Most nights I would fall asleep while reading it. The story itself is very well told.
The relationship between Dr Teo and many of his patients is amazing. With this patient it was phenomenal.
I don't want to go giving things away for anyone who may read it, but let's just say, there were times where this story gave me laughter and of course tears.
I am glad that I read it and feel honored to have been invited as a reader to share in the lives of these two men.
The relationship between Dr Teo and many of his patients is amazing. With this patient it was phenomenal.
I don't want to go giving things away for anyone who may read it, but let's just say, there were times where this story gave me laughter and of course tears.
I am glad that I read it and feel honored to have been invited as a reader to share in the lives of these two men.
June 2, 2013
Read in 2010/2011,vague memory of time.
One of my favourite non-fiction books, because I could empathise with the pianist and his joy in music yet be astounded by his genius. And I really liked the medical side of things. And when I got the double meaning of the title.... /o\ ahhhh love love
One of my favourite non-fiction books, because I could empathise with the pianist and his joy in music yet be astounded by his genius. And I really liked the medical side of things. And when I got the double meaning of the title.... /o\ ahhhh love love
September 20, 2016
This is in my view a book of great quality and depth such that I regularly reread it. The audio version is also very beautifully read.
August 30, 2019
An inspiring and sad story.
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August 5, 2019This is quite an inspiring story. Glad he is able to help so many people in such a fragile time in their lives.
He has quite the reputation here in the US. Heard quite a few stories about him but they were always about his personal life. A LOT of stories. Not sure if they are true, but if they are ... at what point do you separate a person’s personal and private life? Do stories like this make up for extremely poor judgment and behavior in one’s private life?
He has quite the reputation here in the US. Heard quite a few stories about him but they were always about his personal life. A LOT of stories. Not sure if they are true, but if they are ... at what point do you separate a person’s personal and private life? Do stories like this make up for extremely poor judgment and behavior in one’s private life?
November 28, 2025
I just couldn't get into this book. I found it boring.
December 20, 2016
I have read this book before...some years ago and felt the urge to re-read because Aaron MacMillan was a brilliant young pianist/composer whose raison d'etre was music - a similar theme to my book Catch the Moon, Mary. Susan Wyndham is first and foremost a journalist and it shows in her style. She is also a realist and careful not to read too much into Aaron's extraordinary time and dimensional travels as his lethal brain tumor swells and presses on parts of his brain that may or may not be creating the illusion of connectedness with ALL there is. But Ms Wyndham none-the-less lets it slip that Aaron may possibly be connecting with a numinous presence beyond our ordinary mortal experience and rather than dismiss it as symptomatic of his illness she drops Aaron pearls of wisdom into the mix and oh, how they shine! The talented Ms Wyndham sympathetically follows the stories of surgeon Charlie Teo and patient Aaron MacMillan as they fight for Aaron's young life. The pair learn much about each other over the course of several years but as Aaron begins to lose his battle his life purpose crystallizes and with Charlie's help he does whatever he can to secure a musical legacy. This book gave me goosebumps when I read that Aaron absolutely believed that music could save the world...again a sentiment expressed in Catch the Moon, Mary and as the world grows steadily madder and more uncertain I am more than ever convinced that music may just be the calming agent needed for a re-aligning and re-programming of values that are polluting us in every sense of the word. I watched a concert on You-Tube of Beethoven's Ode to Joy last night and as the camera panned out into the audience I saw people so transported by the music their faces shone and there was for that brief interlude a sense of harmonious accord in the auditorium. As Shakespeare said "music doth soothe the savage beast". Life in His Hands by Susan Wyndham comes with the highest recommendation from me - an inspiring read. It left me with questions about mortality and death and life and I would love to know what Aaron MacMillan is up to now!
July 21, 2020
A remarkable true story of two brilliant men, Australia’s pioneering neurosurgeon Professor Charlie Teo, and his patient, the talented Aaron McMillan, a 24yo concert pianist.
Following the shock diagnosis of a rare brain tumour and the subsequent news he had only 6weeks to live, Aaron met with Charlie Teo. Charlie performed radical 12hr brain surgery to remove the tumour, days later Aaron was back at his piano, years later he was still performing.
This book offers a deeply personal look into the hearts, minds and friendship of two men, both leaders in their chosen professions, and the challenges they face, the triumphs, the sadness, the joy, and a relationship that goes deeper than just a doctor and his patient. These two men share the same characteristics of facing life head-on, with passion,determination, intense focus, confidence and strength. Two men who have gifted the world with their work.
Beautifully authored by Susan Wyndham, a moving and inspiring story, and a gripping read.
Highly recommended.
Following the shock diagnosis of a rare brain tumour and the subsequent news he had only 6weeks to live, Aaron met with Charlie Teo. Charlie performed radical 12hr brain surgery to remove the tumour, days later Aaron was back at his piano, years later he was still performing.
This book offers a deeply personal look into the hearts, minds and friendship of two men, both leaders in their chosen professions, and the challenges they face, the triumphs, the sadness, the joy, and a relationship that goes deeper than just a doctor and his patient. These two men share the same characteristics of facing life head-on, with passion,determination, intense focus, confidence and strength. Two men who have gifted the world with their work.
Beautifully authored by Susan Wyndham, a moving and inspiring story, and a gripping read.
Highly recommended.
Read
September 2, 2016Charlie Teo is one of Australia's most celebrated yet controversial neurosurgeons. His pioneering 'keyhole' techniques have earned him praise around the world, but in his home country he is regarded by some in the profession as reckless and even dangerous. His stock in trade is 'inoperable' brain tumours - those malignant cancers that others don't dare treat - and by any estimation he is incredibly successful. In over 5000 operations, he has never lost a patient on the table. His more famous cases have included talkback radio shock jock Stan Zemanek, the wives of cricketers Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath, the cancer specialist Dr Chris O'Brien, and the young classical pianist, Aaron McMillan. Life in His Hands is the remarkable true story of a medical maverick and one of his most high-profile and tragic cases. It is a book full of heartache and hope and scientific marvels.
May 13, 2012
This is a book i have wanted to read for a while. All i can say is why did i take so long to get to it. A wonderful insight to albeit a controversial doctor in his chosen field... Charlie Teo is what the establishment needs. Aaron... what a fighter... we could all take a leaf out of his book...Susan's style of storytelling is a joy to read, fresh, intimate and above all a credit to her compassion towards these two amazing men and their families. A must read...
July 25, 2020
My mum passed this book on to me to read as they have met Charlie Teo (friends of theirs are good friends with him) so this made me more curious to read the book. It was well written and the medical aspects of it are very interesting. I will admit this book had me in tears many times as of course, reading about someone suffering from cancer is not exactly uplifting, but I would definitely recommend this book. Just make sure you have tissues.
August 10, 2008
I was hoping to find a lot more of a medical slant in this book, but its absence isn't necessarily a deficiency in any way. It's an interesting read and in many ways very sad, both in regards to the condition of brain cancer, and how medical "mavericks" are targeted by their colleagues for the risks they take.
June 2, 2010
This was just ok - not a riveting read, and not particularly well written, unfortunately. There are structural problems within the book, and the continuity is sometimes lacking and clumsy. It's a true story, about two men who are interesting, but perhaps not more than most people really are. This is not to diminish from their lives, or the feelings of those who know, or knew, and love them.
March 3, 2015
Ki found this a sensitive and absorbing read about two fascinating and special people. A story that ultimately ends in Aaron's death from cancer, but Charlie Teo's radical surgery on his brain gave him five extra years. Great story.
November 18, 2010
Amazing story...I laughed, I cried, I loved it
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February 27, 2011Inspiring
July 29, 2015
You will cry....such an inspiring but sad story.
September 21, 2015
An amazing story about two very inspirational people.
December 24, 2012
Was good in parts, but other parts skim read because it was just boring facts about someone's life!
February 14, 2016
interesting
January 14, 2018
Review A roller-coaster ride. A truly remarkable story about truly remarkable people. Told well.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews