I thought I knew something about transwoman since my sister's ex-husband became a transwoman in his 50's. They stayed friends so I heard a lot about aI thought I knew something about transwoman since my sister's ex-husband became a transwoman in his 50's. They stayed friends so I heard a lot about all the things he/she did in an effort to pass as a woman. (Castration, breast implants, buttock implants, hair removal, and hormones are what I know about. ) At 6'2", I doubt if he/she ever could really pass, but a real effort was made.
I had no idea that men could just declare themselves women and transfer into woman's prisons, compete as a woman in sports and use women's changing rooms, all without surgery and sometimes without female hormones.
I also didn't know that the standard of care for children with gender dysphoria recommended puberty blockers with the idea that the child could decide later if they wanted to transition. As it turns out, puberty blockers have a lot of serious side effects including loss of fertility, damaged bone health and making it harder to surgically create a pseudo vagina. They are not just a "pause" so a 10 year old can decide what he or she wants at 16.
There is more to this book than what I mention above so well worth reading even if you know a lot more about the issue than I did. ...more
I was looking for another book at my library when I saw this one with the same Dewey decimal number. The parts the title describes were what I was looI was looking for another book at my library when I saw this one with the same Dewey decimal number. The parts the title describes were what I was looking for, the memoir of her personal life, not so much. I was a little put off with the amount of time she spent complaining about one of her supervisors. ...more
This is both a memoir and an introduction to hospice. The parts about the hospice patients were really moving. The memoir part was not what I was lookThis is both a memoir and an introduction to hospice. The parts about the hospice patients were really moving. The memoir part was not what I was looking or. My sister recently died in hospice and was not able to have an experience like Hadley Vlahos describes. Her final pain was only controllable with a constant intravenous drip that left her unconscious. The was done at a hospice facility. I am glad that was available to her but wish she had been able to pass at home and been conscious to the end. ...more
Both my parents had dementia in the years before they died. Sandeep Jauhar gives the reader a close look at how dementia progresses. I must say that aBoth my parents had dementia in the years before they died. Sandeep Jauhar gives the reader a close look at how dementia progresses. I must say that all through this book I was over and over on the side of his brother in both how to treat their father as he become less connected to reality and what to do as he approached death. ...more
I enjoy medical memoirs. This is a particularly good one. It centers around the death of one relatively young woman but also really brings the reader I enjoy medical memoirs. This is a particularly good one. It centers around the death of one relatively young woman but also really brings the reader into the Emergency Room with descriptions of the early months of Covid in New York City, a little about the lives of some of the alcoholic street people who are regulars in the ER, and some the issues of working in emergency medicine (privacy, translations, paperwork, etc.) ...more
Most chapters cover one of the many types of injury or illness that neurosurgeons deal with. Dr Wellons give clear explanations of brain structures. MMost chapters cover one of the many types of injury or illness that neurosurgeons deal with. Dr Wellons give clear explanations of brain structures. Mixed in with stories about surgeries that (mostly) save the lives of children is a memoir about the influence Jay Wellons's father had on him and his last years of life. ...more
This was pretty dense in parts so I had not finished it when the library wanted it back. Other people are waiting to read it. I really liked The EmperThis was pretty dense in parts so I had not finished it when the library wanted it back. Other people are waiting to read it. I really liked The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer but this one did not pull me in like that book. There is a lot of great information about the history of learning what cells do. This book is accessible to an educated person but deep enough that you can't just race through it. ...more
From my bookshelves you can see that this book touches on a lot of topics. The main takeaway is that just about everyone has beliefs that are almost hFrom my bookshelves you can see that this book touches on a lot of topics. The main takeaway is that just about everyone has beliefs that are almost hardwired in. He makes it all sound kind of hopeless to try to convince people to make changes to improve their own lives or the lives of those around them. Nearly everyone Storr features in the book is older. I think a majority were over 70 and just about everyone was over 50. Maybe we are "set in our ways" by then so if you care about an issue and want to change public opinion, aim your pitch at younger people....more
Each chapter presents a different neurological phenomenon through the experience of one of Dr. Leschziner's patients. Along the way the reader learns Each chapter presents a different neurological phenomenon through the experience of one of Dr. Leschziner's patients. Along the way the reader learns a about how a normal brain and nervous system works and many variations. Some are from birth and some develop through injury or disease. ...more
This is a very engaging book . Dr. O'Sullivan uses the stories of 12 patients to illustrate how how our brains work. Her descriptions of what her patiThis is a very engaging book . Dr. O'Sullivan uses the stories of 12 patients to illustrate how how our brains work. Her descriptions of what her patients faced and how they coped added a lot to my understanding of epilepsy and related conditions. I was surprised that a neurologist can get so much information from observing a seizure. I had assumed diagnosis was from EEGs and MRIs. Yes, these tests are used, but they are just a part of the overall detective work in diagnosing and treating seizures....more
What an odd memoir. It is more like a series of essays that jump around in time. Much of it has nothing to do with Dr Shaw's medical practice as a topWhat an odd memoir. It is more like a series of essays that jump around in time. Much of it has nothing to do with Dr Shaw's medical practice as a top liver transplant surgeon. He writes of the health issues of his children and about the deaths of his parents. He obliquely writes about his own cancer and his serious anxiety. In many of the vignettes a doctor or nurse does something that makes the situation much worse for a patient. Ofttimes Dr. Shaw is able to save the day but not always. Many of the chapters were quite good but somehow it didn't all tie together for me. ...more
This was an entertaining read mostly about placebos including information on them working even when a person knows he or she is getting a placebo. TheThis was an entertaining read mostly about placebos including information on them working even when a person knows he or she is getting a placebo. The book also included information on the creation of false memories. That information was not new to me but is important for everyone to know, especially if ever serve on a jury. ...more
This was not the book I was hoping to read. Maybe I should have picked up on the problem early on when the author said what he really wanted to be wasThis was not the book I was hoping to read. Maybe I should have picked up on the problem early on when the author said what he really wanted to be was a screen writer rather than a doctor but took the practical route by becoming a psychiatrist rather than trying to enter the family profession of surgery. Half the book is about is rather strange secret love life with a woman in the same residency program. I liked the parts about his patients but found the parts about his love life kind of creepy. If this book had only been about his education, I think it could have been 4 stars....more
If you think you have your end of life care set once you have filled out a Do Not Resuscitate form, think again. Dr. Zitter describes situations whereIf you think you have your end of life care set once you have filled out a Do Not Resuscitate form, think again. Dr. Zitter describes situations where patients do not realize they are near the end and they or their relatives opt for treatments that make them miserable and cut them off from their loved ones. Her stories about end of life experience for many patients can help you think ahead about the information you really need to make the best decisions when you or someone you care for is seriously ill....more
It might seem unfair to give 5 stars to a book I marked "did-not-finish" but my library needs it back today to lend to someone else. I skimmed the lasIt might seem unfair to give 5 stars to a book I marked "did-not-finish" but my library needs it back today to lend to someone else. I skimmed the last third which has a lot of information I was already familiar with. What struck me is that the Sackler Family was lying about side effects associated with their drugs from the get go. Arthur Sackler managed to stonewall congress when he testified in the 1950s. The pattern was set early on....more
I have read a lot of memoir type books by doctors. This one was different. Dr. Harper was raised in a an apparently quite well off black family--big hI have read a lot of memoir type books by doctors. This one was different. Dr. Harper was raised in a an apparently quite well off black family--big house in good neighborhood, private school education, a respected professional father, etc. The story was different behind closed doors. So often the memoirs by black authors chosen for publishing are of someone pulling themselves up from poverty. This is not that story. ...more
Dr. Newman makes a strong case for taking a sick or injured child to a pediatric hospital. Children are not just smaller versions of adults. This bookDr. Newman makes a strong case for taking a sick or injured child to a pediatric hospital. Children are not just smaller versions of adults. This book did not pull me in like some other medical memoirs, but it could be a really valuable guide for someone with young children....more