Brain [Paperback]

Robin Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 1982

Two doctors place their lives in jeopardy to find out why a young woman died on the operating table-and had her brain secretly removed.

"Absorbing...provocative." (Houston Chronicle)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fast-paced, gripping thriller." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"Unnervingly plausible, deeply frightening...The medical milieu is rendered with exquisite accuracy." -- Los Angeles Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (January 4, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451157974
• ISBN-13: 978-0451112606
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Doctor and author Robin Cook is widely credited with introducing the word 'medical' to the thriller genre, and over twenty years after the publication of his breakthrough novel, Coma, he continues to dominate the category he created. Cook has successfully combined medical fact with fantasy to produce a over twenty-seven international bestsellers, including Outbreak (1987), Terminal (1993), Contagion (1996), Chromosome 6 (1997) and Foreign Body (2008).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Like many of his other books, needs a better ending..., August 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Brain (Paperback)

Like many of his other books, "Brain" starts out with a rather good story that can hold readers' attention until the end. The core message is human experimentation, and in this case the brain's functions as an example. The beginning of the story fills with mysterious deaths that slowly draw our good doctors into a trap. Cook has the talent to explain medical technicality in simple terms, to discuss medical and ethical issues that are relevant to the society, and to display the day-to-day life of the medical professionals. Unfortunately, most of his novels suffer from abrupt and bizzare endings that read more like a sci-fi movie script: In "Brain", the human brain and spinal cord can be kept alive and functioning in a jar of liquid (remember RoboCop 2?). In "Chromosome 6", a jungle turns into "Planet Apes". In "Toxin", the final investigation of the meat factory reads like a James Bond movie. So, despite the wonderful starts and the real messages carried by the stories, there is always somewhat a letdown in the end. I have been hoping to find a good ending in Cook's novel. If the readers are interested in human experimentation, I highly recommend the book "The Plutonium Files", which are real stories about the nuclear research and experimentation conducted by the US military during and after WWII.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average But Not His Best, July 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Brain (Paperback)

From the back of the book "Martin Philips and Denise Sanger were Doctors, Lovers-and desperately afraid. Both of them suspected that something was wrong - terribly wrong - in the great medical research center where they worked." What is causing so many patients to die on the operating table? Why is it only females? Read this book to find out. However; don't be disappointed, as this is not one of the better works by Robin Cook.

Being an avid fan of Robin Cook, this book was definitely not his best work. Though enjoyable, I didn't find it as gripping as some of his other works and can only give this an average rating. Normally once I start a Cook novel I have a hard time putting it down but I didn't have that problem with this one. Not boring, but not as gripping and fast paced as some of his other works. In his usual manner, Mr. Cook is successful in describing the characters and setting the scenes with minimal words and doesn't drag it out as many authors do.

I found this book to be plausible yet was able to see through the plot from the very beginning. However, like most of his novels, this book will have you thinking hard about some of the goings on in the medical world today. When I hear or see something on the news regarding a medical breakthrough, I immediately begin thinking about the many Cook novels I have read.

For all of you Cook fans, like his many other novels, keep the dictionary handy for looking up those various medical terms. If you are new to Mr. Cook, I recommend starting with one of his other novels; but the same holds true for you as well about the dictionary. If I had to list one thing about the works of Robin Cook that drive me crazy, it would be that he has a tendency to forget that many of us are only lay people who are not familiar with much of the medical jargon he uses. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his novels greatly.

My favorite novels and I have read many by Mr. Cook and the ones I would recommend for new comers to his works are:

Outbreak
Blind Sight
Contagion
Harmful Intent

The one I don't recommend for those new to Mr. Cook is:

Godplayer

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best ever by Cook!, June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brain (Paperback)

I know some people have found it too technical but for me it was the best ever. For someone on the medical field who understands the terminology, the book is great. I was very surprised at the end since I had no idea who was behind all that was happening. I have read several of Cook's books as well as other medical thrillers but I think this was one of the best that I had ever read!