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Title: King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery by G. Wayne Miller, G. Wayne Miller ISBN: 0-609-80724-2 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.81 (26 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Heart of a Writer
Comment: "King of Hearts" is an engaging adventure into the world of heart repair 50 years ago. Mr. Miller tells the story of Walt Lilihei, one of the pioneers of open-heart surgery, with spirit, accuracy and compassion. He is ever sensitive to both the goals that Dr. Lilihei had and the lives that were lost in the process. Instead of viewing these lives as just statistics, we see how they were people, loved and valued by their families, who had no alternative but to try surgery. Their deaths are respected and honored, as they went before the world knew what it knows now about open-heart surgery. But they were instrumental, as was Dr. Lilihei in teaching the world what it knows now about repairing the heart.
Although some stay away from biographies, "King of Hearts" stands alone. It is a fast-paced, exciting exploration of one man's search to radically alter the surgical options for heart disease. Once one picks up this book, it is difficult to put down. I confess to reading it straight through the moment I received it. The reader wants so very much for Dr. Lilihei to triumph, to find a way to save his patients. And Mr. Miller's style of writing is enough to keep any reader engaged. He writes with energy and with a no-nonsense portrayal of this great man. He skillfully avoids the overtly technical and instead writes for the layman reader, though I have no doubt that those in the medical field will also enjoy reading the story behind the facts they learned about Walt Lilihei.
I am reminded of Grisham and Turow in the reading of this text, yet Miller stands quite by himself as well, marking out an aggressive and fast-paced style of writing which tells both the facts and the emotions but never dips into pathos or excessive sentimentality.
As Mr. Miller points out, Lilihei was essentially as human as any of us. His faults and virtues are both explored in this excellent text. He is in essence the quintessential hero, and his story could easily be taken from the great Greek tragedies. As portrayed by Mr. Miller, Dr. Lilihei is man against nature, sometimes trapped by his own failings, and sometimes triumphant in his earnest attempt to better the human race.
And the fact that Dr. Lilihei succeeded in his efforts makes this book both triumphant and glorious. As with the modern day film "Rocky," one gets to cheer the accomplishments of someone who fought against the odds, while at the same time recognizing that these accomplishments were sometimes overshadowed by a questionable personal life.
"King of Hearts" stands as a contribution to the wonderful texts which tell of the indomitable human spirit, of the need for man to reach out and better man. It is as much a study of human nature as it is a retelling of the field of cardiology in the early days and the frustrations which doctors encountered when they had to let their patients die because no surgical options existed. This book surpasses a mere retelling or biography and instead becomes an example by which other biographies should be judged. In other hands, this subject might be dry and overly technical, but in Miller's telling it comes alive and teaches us all a little bit about ourselves and the human condition. Bravo to G. Wayne Miller for his extraordinary talent and for this extraordinary book!
Rating: 5
Summary: Real Medical History, Real Interesting!
Comment: Being an adult patient with a congenital heart defect, I was looking for some kind of hope that surgery would be promising for me. After reading "King of Hearts" not only was I amazed at how far surgery had came and how much safer it is now than then. I could not put the book down for wanting to know more about the peoples lives that went through the surgeries and the young Dr.s that performed them. Looking at the faces of the people in the photo's in the book made me feel even more like a part of that history. But what astounded me most was the determination of Dr. Lillihei to continue with reasearch after all his set backs. I can honestly say that G. Wayne Miller has made what some would consider to be an educational history book so interesting that I wasn't able to put it down.
Rating: 4
Summary: Better than Best
Comment: When I read the first paragraph of this book, I was engrossed! I started to read it for a report. It gave plenty of information, and was extremely interesting. You feel like you are in the operating room. I affects your emotion. I highly recommend this book!
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Title: Walk on Water: Inside an Elite Pediatric Surgical Unit by Michael Ruhlman ISBN: 0670032018 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 14 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work With Alfred Blalock by Vivien T. Thomas ISBN: 0812216342 Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Pub. Date: February, 1998 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande ISBN: 0312421702 Publisher: Picador USA Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope With Them by Shari Maurer, Gerri Freid Kramer ISBN: 0609807757 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 20 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Saving the Heart: The Battle to Conquer Coronary Disease by Stephen Klaidman ISBN: 0195112792 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: 15 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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