Customer Reviews

The Physician

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This engrossing book traces the life of 11th century Englishman, Robert Cole. Cole begins as a normal child, is quickly orphaned, and is then apprenticed to a barber-surgeon. As he travels throughout England with his master, the reader is introduced to all aspects of English peasant life. Family life, morality, religion, sexuality, medicine, xenophobia and history are all presented in an interesting, subtle, and easily read writing style. When Cole grows up and decides to be a physician, he comes in contact with Jewish doctors who explain to him that the best universities are in Moslem-ruled Persia, where no Christian may go. Determined to learn, Cole overcomes this obstacle by pretending to be a Jew. As he travels and studies in Persia, the same questions of lifestyle are addressed, only this time within the Jewish and Moslem communities. This is a great read for anyone who likes adventurous stories about growing up, or who is interested in sociology, religion, medicine, or history.

I read this book 13 years ago and it still ranks with me as one of the best books I have ever read. You will feel as if you are in the locals as this book travels across continents. I found myself reading this book when ever I could find time. This would make a great motion picture.
Enjoy!! You will not be disappointed.

Kudos to Mr. Gordon. He takes the reader back and shows us all the Y1K problems faced as urban sprawl meant something different than SUV's and the erosion of the ozone layer. Gordon paints a vivid picture of life in England at the turn of the last millenium. He than transports us to the mytic cities of the Near East and shows us medicine in its infancy. As a physician, I was spellbound by a history too often not taught. The lessons in religious tolerance and intolerance thrown in along the way were a bonus. A solid read for any history buff. Something all physicians can learn from. High marks for volume I of the Rob J trilogy.

I simply had to add my own "thumbs up" to the many other readers who thoroughly enjoyed this book. I confess to having been a bit daunted at the outset by the sheer size of the volume, but it started off quickly and kept up the pace throughout. Granted, some of the episodes strain credulity, but the writing is so captivating that I had no problem suspending disbelief in order to ride the waves of excitement and action. This is truly a tale of the fantastical Persia of old - who cares if every historical detail is not precise. It is the tone and flavor of the characters, the travels and the early medical lore that kept me reading long past eyestrain. I was particularly interested in the juxtaposition of three major religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam - and the parallels between each one's belief system (each with its own codification of "divine laws"), their mutual intolerance, and their strict adherence to their own doctrines with resultant rejection and vilification of all others. I appreciated Rob's comment that it is not the "word of God" to which he objects, but the human interpretation of that word in the mouths and minds of men which leads to the persecution, suspicion and hatred he witnesses and experiences. That, to my mind, is a very current and topical message - true in the 1000's as well as in the 2000's. A great message without pedantry. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, cried some, but couldn't put this one down.

READ THIS BOOK - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

As an American living in Germany, I learned of this unbelievable American author about 5 years ago. It was at this time that his book THE PHYSICAN was recommended to me as the best book these people had ever read. I heard this so many times in various different cities from people of different ages and backgrounds. Of course they had all read it in German and were all shocked that I had never heard of Noah Gordon.

Over the course of the next year I searched for the book each time I was in the US and when I finally received my copy I devoured it. My mother joined me in Germany and I recommended it - she finished all 1200 or so pages in a week and loved it too!

Since it's been so long since I read THE PHYSICIAN I hesitate to comment directly on the book (also because I'm a lousy writer and would never do it justice) but I will say I have since read every other Noah Gordon book I could get. I was never disappointed - THE SHAMAN was just as magical as THE PHYSICIAN.

I'm writing now because the Germans have just given me the tip that Mr. Gordon has yet another winner, I think it's called THE LAST JEW?, in any case I'll be ordering the hardback immediately. My library wouldn't be complete without it.

Ok, I read this book like 2 times---with 2 years between each read. I like it better each time. It's great. You can totally feel his loneliness...maybe that is the motivation that drives him to be the physician that he's destined to be. I think that if you like adventures of different places set in times of old..then this book will be very enjoyable. Also, I like how multicultural the book is..it talks and revels in all kinds of culture, touching on gaelic with emphasis on jewish and arabic cultures...it's certainly an interesting, insightful read.

I read this book when I was in high school and was captivated by the characters, the setting, and the drive of Rob, the main character, to heal and to help and to learn. I was amazed at how much he was able to travel and learn despite the difficulties inherent in his times. I rather suspect that the breadth of his journeys was unrealistic, but I was too caught up in the book to notice.

I can't tell you how many times I've reread this book, but it is a large number. Some of the feelings elicited by this book stayed with me as I went through medical school and residency. This book has helped me define the kind of doctor I want to be, and what I love about medicine.

If you like medicine, adventure, or historical fiction, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.

If you like big, bold, broad and brash sagas, you'll love this book. Keep FIRMLY in mind that this is a work of fiction, not a history book, and that will permit you to travel with wonder and curiousity with Rob J. Cole and his horses and his friends across the continents and the decades.

The book is full of interesting adventures and interesting characters. It will transport you to a different time and place and will even give you some things to think about in these modern times of strife between and among 3 of the world's largest religions.

Not everything in it may be historically accurate... who cares? It's a great read.

I agree with most of the other readers that this book makes very unique and interesting reading. Like the others, I couldn't put it down until my eyes were tired - night after night.

However, it is a shame that despite so much research on Judaism and 11th century Christianity, Gordon seems to have done so little of the same on Islam and Persian history. This inspite of a major part of the story being set in Persia. Simple facts such as execution methods and other Islamic commandments have been either exaggerated or described falsely. And some of the historic events of the day have been stated incorrectly. For example, it was the Afghan King Mahmood, who invaded Isfahan, not his son Masood. Also, it would be impossible - in any period of history - for a King to have access to other people's wife (or wives for that matter) at will in a Muslim country. Yet Gordon claims precisely that.

These are probably factors recognised better today than in the 1970's when the book was written. Which means that another revision may soon be due - with a few factual corrections.

I try not to give too many books I review 5 stars but I couldn't pass up on this one. Gordon does an excellent job of describing to the reader what life was like in the 1500's. He tells the story of a boy and his travels through early Europe to become a Physician. It was interesting to learn how people lived and traveled to accomplish their goals. How little people actually knew about medicine back then is interesting.

Don't be discouraged by the size of the book, this is a fast read that you can't put down. One of those books that you can't stop thinking about when you're not reading it. There are true lessons of history that can be learned from reading this book. How people lived in this time period is amazing compared to how prosperous the majority of us live now.