A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: Four Years As A Medical Student [Paperback]

Perri Klass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1994

Surviving Harvard Medical School, Klass offers an unflinchingly honest view of this journey--from the perspective of a woman and mother in a field dominated by men and masculine sensibilities. Like Melvin Konner's Becoming a Doctor: A Not Entirely Benign Procedure, Klass's work has "wit, intelligence, and a great deal of insight" (The New York Times Book Review).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As a Harvard medical student in 1982, Klass became a contributor to the New York Times "Hers" column; this is a collection of the author's diary-like essays describing her medical training, her life as a lover, a woman and a mother. The accounts are informed by the artistry Klass displays in her fiction, Recombinations and I Am Having an Adventure. Writing personally and candidly, she brings the reader into her orbit, into the experiences of a thoughtful person, in situations that are comic, difficult, puzzling and often tragic. There are moving instances of a doctor's mandated objectivity while involved with the dying and with the bereaved. In lighter moments, Klass twits pompous members of the healing profession and offers insights on the status of women doctors; they are frequently mistaken for nursesmen never are.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

You may remember this author's name if you are a reader of the New York Times weekly "Hers" column, where Klass's series of articles on being a mother going through medical school appeared. Here Klass, who also wrote the novel Recombinations , collects and expands upon those columns. This is a chronicle of the medical school experience and of the life and attitude changes that take place both subtly and dramatically. General readers and medical students alike will find this book worth reading. Literary Guild alternate. Linda Morgan Davis, OCLC, Dublin, Ohio
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Plume (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452272580
• ISBN-13: 978-0452272583
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > New England

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Pre-Meds, December 1, 2001

By 

Tiffany M. Dean (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: Four Years As A Medical Student (Paperback)

I am a biology major/ pre-med student at UCLA, though it is through my English class that I found this book. Simply put, this novel made me think. I continuously wondered, "can i handle 'dog dissection'... will I be able to memorize all of the countless facts about all these rare diseases?" An entire section of the book is devoted to bioethical issues, including one essay entitled, "DNR," (do not resuscitate). I began questioning myself, "is it fair to bring someone back just so that they can suffer longer with the same disease?" If you plan on going to medical school, reading this book is a must, and a joy; it is perfect for pre-meds.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scary and Wonderful, August 24, 2005

By 

Bree Huning "Bree02139" (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: Four Years As A Medical Student (Paperback)

I'm thinking about going to medical school, and this book was recommended to me to get a flavor for what life is like as a medical student - particularly a slightly older, female, non-traditional student.

The book is frankly scary if you're considering medicine as a career - the overwhelming stress and forced maturation she describes is daunting. On the other hand, it's probably very realistic for someone going through the process while juggling a family. Her writing is accessible and insightful, and at times I found myself identifying completely with her and her thoughts on the field (though, granted, in some ways the book is outdated). A book I will likely re-read.

The person who said she was run-of-the-mill clearly didn't identify at all with her, which is not a failure of her writing so much as their imagination, especially given that they recommended Melvin Konner's "Becoming a doctor", which is a far less eloquent/evocative book.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book - interesting and informative, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: Four Years As A Medical Student (Paperback)

I want to be a pediatrician, so I read this book to have a better understanding of what it takes to go through Medical School. This book gave me a very good idea of what Medical students are put through. The stories are funny, interesting and truthful. I recommend it to anyone who's thinking about a future in medicine.