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Angels on Call: Inspiring True Stories from the ER
Robert Lesslie’s story collection Angels in the ER was called “a chronicle of mankind at its best” by actor Richard Thomas. Readers have agreed―the book has sold over 125,000 copies! Now, in Angels on Call , Dr. Lesslie chronicles more incidents and people from his 25 years in the ER. This fast-paced, inspiring, and thought-provoking volume reveals many nurses, doctors, patients, and friends to be “angels” in their own way. Readers will be captivated as they meet… Woven throughout is a Are we “on call”―are we available―to help others? Readers will be inspired to consider this question as they share intimate joys and struggles of people just like them.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
71 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 9, 2023
changed the rating from 4 stars to 5 because my crush came to my house and read it and started laughing so hard.
no man has a right….
(yes I just finished reading it the day before he came and then he read it)
please send help
you can use this as a plot in your next novel just give me a free copy
no man has a right….
(yes I just finished reading it the day before he came and then he read it)
please send help
you can use this as a plot in your next novel just give me a free copy
June 14, 2018
Wow! Just so so good! RTC!
December 8, 2019
The title pretty much says what this book is about. I'm sure anyone working in an ER could write a book about their experiences. Some of these stories are inspiring but some are sad. If everyone lived it wouldn't be very true to life, would it? If you like medical memoirs you will probably like this.
March 27, 2023
I picked this up the other day to browse a bit and ended up re-reading the whole book. It is full of realistic stories of an ER, told very simply. It is not a complicated medical book, but rather a collection of stories, some funny and some serious about things that real people faced. Somewhere I read of Dr Lesslie that he writes about how "his faith and medicine intersect" and I found this inspiring in that light. Knowing he had been murdered since this book is devastating. He seems like he was a very great man.
February 21, 2019
I was dilly dallying between 4 or 5 stars on this book until the last chapter and out came the tissues and 5 stars it is! This book is an easy to read jewel about an emergency room doctor and crew in Rock Hill, SC. Dr. Robert Lesslie's book is highly recommended and I will be looking for his other books.
June 10, 2020
Loved this book!
This book tells the story of everyday hospital persons, the doctors, the nurses and techs that make up the staff and their stories of their clients. The best is the Bible scriptures.
This book tells the story of everyday hospital persons, the doctors, the nurses and techs that make up the staff and their stories of their clients. The best is the Bible scriptures.
February 28, 2021
Robert Lesslie is an ER doctor. He writes from his heart. This is one of four books he's written; all of which are true stories. He quotes the bible at the beginning of the chapter as it pertains to the stories in it. I would absolutely recommend any of his books to anyone of all ages...i
January 27, 2018
A fairly light read, with a few stories that were quite touching. I enjoyed this book.
March 9, 2018
Loved this book of stories! It is well written & easy to read!
October 23, 2020
Great book . Interesting inspiring stories.
May 30, 2021
I did not want this book to end.
Thank-you Dr.Leslie for true stories that make you think about life. Some of these stories stayed in my mind for days. Please keep them coming.
Thank-you Dr.Leslie for true stories that make you think about life. Some of these stories stayed in my mind for days. Please keep them coming.
September 13, 2022
I have enjoyed all the books that Dr. Leslie has written. Always touching and great stories to read
March 28, 2025
Another great telling of stories in the ER. My only dislike of the book was when he mentioned an "elderly 70 year old woman". 70 is not elderly. I will still look forward to Dr. Leslie's next book.
April 18, 2025
I enjoyed this book as much as I did Angels In The ER. Also got a sneak peek at Angels and Heroes, about first responders. I hope I can locate this and other books by Dr. Lesslie.
December 30, 2020
Dr Leslie’s books are so very interesting and are at the top of my medical-type book favorites!
November 13, 2023
Number of pages: 261
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Dr. Lesslie has other similar books (but not technically part of a series): Angels in the ER, Angels in the ER: Volume 2, Miracles in the ER, Angels on the Nightshift, Notes From a Doctor’s Pocket, Angels and Heroes, Angels to the Rescue, and When You Need an Angel. None of these need to be read in any particular order.
Age recommendation: 14/15+; depends on maturity
Summary: Dr. Lesslie’s son Jack is staying with him at the ER during the summer to get a feel for what it would be like to be an ER doctor. Little does he know all the amazing people he will meet, and crazy situations he will encounter.
My thoughts: This is such a great book and yet such a difficult book to read all at the same time. It’s amazing because the stories of love and support and healing really demonstrate Jesus’ character. Some of the ‘angels’ in the book are really just people who display Jesus’ love to others. The difficult parts are all the deaths, all the suffering and (for me who is squeamish) all the blood and needles and medical procedures. I did shut the book a few times because sometimes the suffering described was just too much to process.
Something I really liked is that each chapter is a different story, so you can read the book one chapter at a time because each story is concluded at the end of each chapter. The only continuous plot is that Jack is spending the summer in the ER with his dad, but it’s not really super important except once in a while to tie different stories together.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and its lessons on love, forgiveness, and comfort amidst difficult circumstances.
My personal rating: 4.5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Dr. Lesslie has other similar books (but not technically part of a series): Angels in the ER, Angels in the ER: Volume 2, Miracles in the ER, Angels on the Nightshift, Notes From a Doctor’s Pocket, Angels and Heroes, Angels to the Rescue, and When You Need an Angel. None of these need to be read in any particular order.
Age recommendation: 14/15+; depends on maturity
Summary: Dr. Lesslie’s son Jack is staying with him at the ER during the summer to get a feel for what it would be like to be an ER doctor. Little does he know all the amazing people he will meet, and crazy situations he will encounter.
My thoughts: This is such a great book and yet such a difficult book to read all at the same time. It’s amazing because the stories of love and support and healing really demonstrate Jesus’ character. Some of the ‘angels’ in the book are really just people who display Jesus’ love to others. The difficult parts are all the deaths, all the suffering and (for me who is squeamish) all the blood and needles and medical procedures. I did shut the book a few times because sometimes the suffering described was just too much to process.
Something I really liked is that each chapter is a different story, so you can read the book one chapter at a time because each story is concluded at the end of each chapter. The only continuous plot is that Jack is spending the summer in the ER with his dad, but it’s not really super important except once in a while to tie different stories together.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and its lessons on love, forgiveness, and comfort amidst difficult circumstances.
My personal rating: 4.5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
September 20, 2010
Angels on Call is a collection of stories written by Dr.Robert D. Lesslie, MD, describing some of the experiences and the people he met while working as an E.R. doctor in a busy hospital in Rock Hill, SC.
With each story that you read in this book, you will experience different emotions. Whether Dr. Lesslie is telling us of a man who has just committed double homicide, and then tried to slit his wrists, or telling us of a child who just might have a brain tumor, he describes each of the situations in such a way to make you feel as if you are actually experiencing the drama going on in his ER, his descriptions portray such real emotion and feelings you can't help but be touched by the emotions that he felt. He looks at each of his patients as individuals. It comes across very strongly that he actually cares about his patients, and does everything in his power for them, his compassion and kindness literally jump off the page at you.
Along with the drama of the ER you also get a glimpse of Dr. Lesslie's prankish nature, there are a few stories where we get a glimpse of some of the pranks that he would play on co workers that were really amusing, giving us a further glimpse of his very down to earth personality.
This is a book full of life lessons, the biggest one being how fragile life really is. The Bible verses paired with each story will help you find peace, and remind you that God puts angels where we need them.
A wonderful book that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next, with stories and people you wont soon forget. If you have lost your faith in God and mankind read this book and you will realize that there are still kind, caring people in this world.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
With each story that you read in this book, you will experience different emotions. Whether Dr. Lesslie is telling us of a man who has just committed double homicide, and then tried to slit his wrists, or telling us of a child who just might have a brain tumor, he describes each of the situations in such a way to make you feel as if you are actually experiencing the drama going on in his ER, his descriptions portray such real emotion and feelings you can't help but be touched by the emotions that he felt. He looks at each of his patients as individuals. It comes across very strongly that he actually cares about his patients, and does everything in his power for them, his compassion and kindness literally jump off the page at you.
Along with the drama of the ER you also get a glimpse of Dr. Lesslie's prankish nature, there are a few stories where we get a glimpse of some of the pranks that he would play on co workers that were really amusing, giving us a further glimpse of his very down to earth personality.
This is a book full of life lessons, the biggest one being how fragile life really is. The Bible verses paired with each story will help you find peace, and remind you that God puts angels where we need them.
A wonderful book that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next, with stories and people you wont soon forget. If you have lost your faith in God and mankind read this book and you will realize that there are still kind, caring people in this world.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
December 23, 2010
I read Lesslie's first book about his work in the ER and was thrilled to find this sequel in stores. Lesslie takes his experiences in the ER and breaks them down into chapters with an ultimate message and pieces of scripture to open and close each, but it's not a 'preachy' book at all as the messages are universal. The book hits emotional highs and lows, laughs and tears, and sadly ends too quickly. That's the only downside of the book, that I wanted more, but I can certainly hope for a third installment.
While not stated as in other medical books I read, I suspect names were changed in Lesslie's tales, because one chapter involves his treating of a patient who murdered 2 well-loved members of the community and is ultimately executed for the crimes. Lesslie adequately describes the persona of this man, but I tried a search to see if the image he painted in my mind matched the real thing, but I couldn't find any news articles with the names given.
Also, the chapters are structured by message instead of chronology. He opens the book with his college-age son shadowing him for a day in the ER and it was not difficult to picture the whole book happening at this stage of Lesslie's life, though he does use flashback for stories that are obviously from his earlier days in practice.
All in all, a wonderful book, and as I said, I look forward to a 3rd installment.
While not stated as in other medical books I read, I suspect names were changed in Lesslie's tales, because one chapter involves his treating of a patient who murdered 2 well-loved members of the community and is ultimately executed for the crimes. Lesslie adequately describes the persona of this man, but I tried a search to see if the image he painted in my mind matched the real thing, but I couldn't find any news articles with the names given.
Also, the chapters are structured by message instead of chronology. He opens the book with his college-age son shadowing him for a day in the ER and it was not difficult to picture the whole book happening at this stage of Lesslie's life, though he does use flashback for stories that are obviously from his earlier days in practice.
All in all, a wonderful book, and as I said, I look forward to a 3rd installment.
April 21, 2025
Enjoyed hearing his true felt work with his friends and staff. Plan to read more. It’s inspiring and hopeful , etc. etc.
January 11, 2011
Touching human stories.
November 14, 2010
These types of books I enjoy; easy to read, interesting stories.
December 11, 2010
Good read fast reading great quotes.
July 2, 2011
You must read it for yourself, good
April 5, 2012
A great collection of ER stories.
my only complaint was his prctically jokes which seemed mean and not very funny
my only complaint was his prctically jokes which seemed mean and not very funny
May 23, 2012
As a student in nursing, I absolutely loved this collection of ER stories. They all touched a special place in my heart.
March 4, 2014
An ER doctor describes his experiences in the emergency room. This one is often funny but also tragic. I am always interested in a peek into the medical profession.
December 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book simply because of my own experience working in the ER. I expected it to be more uplifting than it was -- some stories were simply tragic, which is reality, of course.
January 31, 2016
Same as first book. As an ER nurse I can relate on all levels. Well written and interesting, although I have no clue how Dr. Lesslie kept track of dates and times so well.
May 25, 2024
Inspirational.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews