Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School [Paperback]

Melvin Konner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1988

Dr. Konner takes readers through his third year at medical school, where he wonders why teachers instill in their students a sense of power, but no sense of concern. Controversial, insightful, well-written, and deeply moving.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"In an arresting and candid commentary on the medical profession," wrote PW, Konner, who went to medical school when he was already an established anthropologist, passionately criticizes the way that doctors are trained.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The author started medical school in his mid-30s, having already established himself as a researcher and professor of anthropology. He focuses on the third year of medical school, for that is when the aspiring physician gets his or her first extensive exposure to patients. Highly critical of medical education and practice, particularly the fostering of detachment toward patients, he admits that current suggestions for improvement stand little hope of adoption. Perhaps most telling is his decision not to go into a residency but rather to return to anthropology. Konner's evident maturity and broad experience enable him to present a wider-angled look at medical education than most such reports; thus his criticism is particularly convincing. Recommended. Anne Twitchell, EPA Headquarters Lib., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (July 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140111166
• ISBN-13: 978-0140111163
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Becoming a Doctor..., January 5, 2004

By 

2nd year student (Duluth, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School (Paperback)

By the time I had read about 1/2 of this book, I realized that the same thought kept occurring to me over and over....'Konner is writing about everything that I despise in medicine and medical education'. Everything he said and every story he told simply reinforced the old stereotypes of big hospitals, residents, and medical students.

Thankfully, my experience with medical education thus far is not representative of what Konner is writing about, which is what enabled me to take the things he said with a grain of salt and remember that I was only reading his opinion. He writes well and I found his stories entertaining and engaging, even if they were a bit discouraging at times. I appreciated his comments regarding being upset that patient care did not always seem to be a top priority of those he was working with, and that this bothered him. It is true that this book may be eye-opening and a little taste of reality for anyone anticipating a career in medicine, however, it is important to remember that his is experience is not necessarily universal.

I was also turned off by the arrogant, self-promoting approach that Konner took to presenting this information. He certainly took advantage of this public forum to promote himself and remind all of his readers of his accomplishments and how he smart he is (as though I cared that he applied to 18 medical schools including Columbia, Cornell, Yale, Harvard, etc.).

In the end, I actually think that reading this book was a valuable experience. Although I have written about disagreeing with Konner, and not appreciating some of the things he has to say, there are things to be gained from having read his stories. It is valuable to be reminded that in spite of my idealism, the embodiment of the negative stereotypes still exist and I will most likely run into them and have to deal with them in the not-so-distant future. It is also important for me to be reminded that I can be thankful for a positive experience in my medical education to date, and to be able to explain to others that not all of medicine is as Konner reports it to be. I will do everything in my power, both now and in the future, to be a catalyst of positive change regarding issues in medicine that continue to frustrate students and professionals in this field.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do you want to become a doctor?, January 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School (Paperback)

Konner does a good job balancing the intricate details of his third year in medical school with the broader meaning of medicine from his well-learned sociological and anthropological perspective in "Becoming a Doctor". He lets you in on the medical "culture" that arises from the intensive year of training--the language used by doctors and students (see the Glossary of House Officer Slang), the sleepless nights in the hospitals, the life and death decisions/actions that take place. I highly recommend this book to someone who is looking into a career in medicine. It provides insight into the different areas of medicine, including Emergency, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neurology, Surgery. But more importantly it probably provides a realistic peek into western medicine so that prospective students do not necessarily enter medical school bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, November 30, 2001

By 

chingy98 "chingy98" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School (Paperback)

I will fall into the camp of reviewers who found this book to be insightful and valuable. People who see Konner as arrogant, pompous, and overly critical of the medical field are missing the point. It is Konner's prior experience as an anthropologist that allows him to analyze the social and cultural dynamics of medical workers. I don't know where Konner's arrogance is being perceived. Konner certainly judges actions and deeds according to his own values, but those values are neither elitism or pomposity, but empathy and humanism.

The premise of the book is such: at Harvard Medical School, the "best" in the country, one should receive the finest medical education and be exposed to medicine at its best. Read the book and find out what it's really like.