Koop: The Memoirs of America's Family Doctor [Paperback]

C. Everett Koop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1993

The former Surgeon General discusses his tenure in that job, describing his nonideological approach to health issues, how he tackled the tobacco lobbies, his speaking out about AIDS, and his personal life. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former surgeon general Koop disingenuously portrays himself as a pawn who was "caught in the middle" of the abortion controversy, claiming that he didn't realize he was enlisted to push the Reagan administration's anti-abortion agenda until after he had accepted the job. He defends his stance against "slaughter of the unborn" and argues that pro-choicers should place more emphasis on adoption. As for AIDS, he writes frankly of the Reagan administration's antipathy toward homosexuals, but insists that the government did not "drag its feet" on research. He also discusses his vigorous anti-smoking campaign and defends his involvement in the 1982 Baby Doe case concerning an Indiana couple's refusal of medical treatment for their newborn who had Down's syndrome. This straightforward biography is most affecting when Koop recreates his 1920s Brooklyn boyhood, describes life as a pediatric surgeon or tells how, posing as a medical student at 14, he slipped into a Manhattan hospital and watched live surgery to his heart's content. Photos. Author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Koop is no shrinking violet. His ego permeates his memoir as he recounts his childhood in Brooklyn, his education at Dartmouth and Cornell, and his eminent surgical career at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Koop presents himself as a decent, caring, Christian man--one we might all wish to have as a family doctor. What distinguishes his book from other physician biographies is the second part, which focuses on Koop's appointment as Surgeon General. His reasoned, professional pronouncements on thorny emotional and political national health issues--smoking and tobacco addiction, AIDS, the Baby Doe case and the rights of handicapped children, and abortion and sex education--come from one who may well have earned the right to be called "the health conscience of America." This is for popular biography and medical collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/91.
- James Swanton, Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine, New York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 445 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (Mm) (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061042498
• ISBN-13: 978-0061042492
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,163,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anything but boring, March 16, 1998

By 

David Graham (Shell, Ecuador) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Koop: The Memoirs of America's Family Doctor (Paperback)

C. Everett Koop is a man of strong opinions and firm actions, yet who places high value in attempting to be fair in his judgments. This book of memoirs tells the story of a courageous and admirable man's career, focusing most of the text on his eight years as surgeon general. I found the book very easy to read, not tedious or pedantic, and I give it a rating of 9 instead of a 10 because I wish he would have devoted a little more space to his career in pediatric surgery (which lasted 35 years). It's good reading.

5.0 out of 5 stars Koop, March 14, 2011

By 

George Voigtlander - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Koop: The Memoirs of America's Family Doctor (Paperback)

As enjoyable to read now as when it was first released. This give insights into the most influential and courageous surgeon general in U.S. history. He explains how he reconciles his religious beliefs and scientific knowledge. This is as important now as when Dr Koop was surgeon general.

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, July 11, 2007

By 

Dr. Gelbard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Koop: The Memoirs of America's Family Doctor (Paperback)

For anyone who is a physician, this is a wonderful book with great anecdotes. I gave a copy to my daughter, who's in med school.