Customer Reviews

Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery

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There is an innate beauty in the structure of the human body. The mystery of the intricate brain, the poetry of blood rushing through vessels, organs working together to keep the body working in unison. Dr. Richard Selzer's collection of essays Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery, captures the essence of a surgeons life from the most intimate of perspectives. Mortal Lessons is a thoughtful, introspective recollection of Selzer's own experiences as a surgeon. Commonly thought of as distant, unfeeling practitioners, Selzer humanizes the entire profession as he recounts patients, cases, fellow doctors, and the human body through years of practical experience. Selzer's gifted, conversational style of writing eases the horror of exploring the liver, 'belly', skin, and various elements of the human body through the eyes of the surgeon. But it is outside the operating theater that Selzer truly shines in this collection of essays. Perhaps the most touching episode of Mortal Lessons is the brief postoperative discussion which transpires between Selzer and a young couple, the wife of whom he has just left scarred for life. Selzer, traumatized by being forced to cut a nerve in the woman's cheek to remove a tumor, answers the couple's questions. 'Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks. "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks? "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut." She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. "I like it," he says. "It is kind of cute." All at once I know who he is. I and understand, and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth, and I so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works. I remember that the gods appeared in ancient Greece as mortals, and I hold my breath and let the wonder in.' Selzer, page 46 The impact of Selzer's work is diminished as he reaches for the words and phrases in the section of the book titled "The Body". The essays become more clinical in their orientation and demeanor. Although it is intriguing to learn the structure of the liver, the storytelling loses the humanistic value that Selzer exhibits in other sections of the book, such as in the essay titled "Abortion." Straight forward but personal, Selzer recounts witnessing a late-term abortion. It is a procedure that Selzer has never contemplated previously and holds no apparent opinions about. But as we are taken into the operating suite, introduced to the patient, and walked through the process of the abortion, a picture develops in the readers eye that is difficult to dismiss. Sympathizing with Selzer, it is easy to believe that a murder has taken place between the sterile confines of the hospital walls. Mortal Lessons is an intelligent, well written book that appeals even to those outside the medical profession. And for those men and women just entering the medical profession, it is a must read guide on how to treat patients.

As a fellow surgeon with a love for literature and the marvels of the human body, I found Dr. Selzer's book tickled both my fancy and my funnybone. He is enthusiastic for sharing his reverence at the amazing complexity and function of our bodies (as well as its grievous shortcomings), yet he is still able to regale the reader with mischievous humor and steady doses of comic relief. I found this one of the funniest books I had read in several years. Many of the chapters in the last half of the book are not, as the subtitle would suggest, 'notes on the art of surgery'. They deal with things as different as bird watching, abortion, smoking, car sickness, and childhood memories from the classroom. Although they do not supplement the first half of the book with further descriptions about the art of surgery, they do add spice to an already meaty book about ourselves.

Richard Selzer is a surgeon with a poet's ear for language. Even when writing about the liver or amputation of a diabetic foot, Selzer can make the reader see the beauty and the wonder of the body. When I was hospitalized last month, I showed it to my doctor and he too marvelled at the grasp Selzer has of medical facts and good writing.

I found this book to be awe inspiring. If all doctors realized the complexities of the human body and the LIFE contained therein and recognized the sanctity of human existence there probably would be fewer mistakes in surgery. It must be an awesome experience to be inside a human life...not just operating on a body.

I literally fell into Dr Selzer's writing style. I bought this book ...blind, so to speak. I didn't know what to expect. I'm glad I was compelled to take a chance on it. I wish he were MY doctor.

i was given his book by a friend who studied at Vanderbuilt this fabulous author with whom I have only begun to familiarize myself with. We were studying for the medical school entrance exam together and she introduced him through the above statement concerning women. Selzer has a way of detailing events whether tragic, humorous, delightful, and magical that keeps in mind the trails of man in the flesh as well as the soul. the chapter about abortion still lingers in my mind considering I am a male and was undecided where to stand. the picture he painted of the child's outstretched arms, macabre and powerful,but in all it's drama very real and this does not escape me. His description of woman as "yolky, ovoid, rich" is one of the most sensous lines ever to describe women biologically. The chapter "Jacob street" chapter which details his beginnings demonstrates the makings of an early romantic. The type of romantic not just in love but in life. His love, not only for the art of medecine but for humans in general, is very much the foudation this book is set upon. I know so many doctors that began this road of warrior, poet, and humanist only to have their souls turn to cinder with greed and arrogance. Selzer recaptures what idealistic young doctors strive to be and hopefully one day i will become,

Selzer's writing is eloquent and graphically realistic at the same time. A true masterpiece, it incorporates vignettes and facts to give the reader a sense of what a surgeons job really is. Selzer uses elevated language and florid diction to give the reader somewhat of a mental workout. This book is so hard to put down because his stories of oddities and disorders are so intriguing. Selzer uses many metaphors to convey his message about the inner workings of the human body. He shows the reader that the inside is beautiful as well. Mortal Lessons is an extremely fascinating book that deserves a thumbs up and four stars! I disagree with Selzer's view of smoking which he says is a beautiful and addicting thing. I think he should have written about what smoking does to the body instead of condoning its use. In the chapter Abortion, Selzer evoked many emotions in me for the lost fetuses. It was very interesting to know the procedure of an abortion. Also the procedure for an autopsy, embalm

I was really impressed with the first half of this book, which puts the field of surgery and medicine in general into a poetic realm. As a medical student, this approach intrigued me and left me quoting the finer portions of the book to my friends and colleagues. However, in the second half Selzer begins talking of general topics which do not live up to the former portion. I will admit that his commentary on abortion and being bald were interesting, and his admittance of being a perpetually carsick child opened a window to his life that awoke imagery of my own childhood, but these points do not save the worth of the final 100 pages. All in all I would definitely suggest reading this novel if you are in the medical field or are trying to get in, but you'll probably find yourself hurrying towards the end and skipping paragraphs as I did.

Richard Selzer's book "Mortal Lessons" is only one of the masterpieces that has come from this brilliant writer over the decades. One does not read this book, one experiences life through the book. Richard writes of loves, longing, pain, endurance, and surprise. He allows us entry into the most private experiences he has shared. His writing flows like water in a brook. He is erudite, wise, and introspective. His writing is poetry. His essays are often hilarious as he takes it upon himself to put the human condition into words. All of Richard Selzer's books are works of art, painstakingly well written and perfect in their prose.

I loved this book. Selzer writes about medicine as an art. He can express in words how amazing medicine and the human body truly is. He combines his love for writing with his love for surgery. I wouldn't be surprised if it was his essays alone that got him into medical school!!! I recommend this to anybody fascinated by medicine.

Selzer's collection of essays was first brought to my attention when I came across a few excerpts in a book that I use to teach my AP Language and Composition class. The passage about the young woman with the post-operative, wry smile was absolutely beautiful and sad and touching. I was instantly captivated by the power of the language. Such simple words strung together in such an impactful way. That is exactly my goal with my composition students so I went out and bought this book. Every single essay in the book is outstanding and chock full of teachable material. The same care and precision Selzer used with his scalpel he uses with his pen, and the results are poignant, honest essays on life, death, and the human soul.
First and foremost, students need to be exposed to more non-fiction. This novel meets that criteria. The students also need to be exposed to rich language. Selzer's essays are all so rich in metaphors, allusions, and imagery that a reader can gain more from each new reading. I use part of his essay "The Knife" in class when I am focusing on imagery. The pictures he paints are so vivid that every student can visualize it. Some of the girls were a bit squeamish about the subject of surgery, but everyone agreed that Selzer's work is an outstanding example of a mature writer with complete control of his craft that is purposefully creating meaning with his use of specific, concrete details and imagery.
Along with imagery and details, one could easily use Selzer's works to teach allusion. Selzer's use of a wide range of allusions enriches his texts. I have never read a single one of his works that didn't include myriad allusions. These allusions add to the meaning of the texts, and they also serve to build ethos in the reader by revealing an erudite writer.