A Way of Life [Hardcover]

William Osler (Author), Osler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0061418609 | ISBN-13: 978-0061418600 | Publication Date: January 1937

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sir William Osler (1849-1919) was a Canadian physician. He has been called one of the greatest icons of modern medicine. Osler was a pathologist, educator, bibliophile, historian, author, and renowned practical joker. Perhaps Osler's greatest contribution to medicine was to insist that students learned from seeing and talking to patients and the establishment of the medical residency. This latter idea spread across the English-speaking world and remains in place today in most teaching hospitals. Through this system, doctors in training make up much of a hospital's medical staff. Osler was a prolific author and public speaker and his public speaking and writing were both done in a clear, lucid style. His most famous work, 'The Principles and Practice of Medicine' quickly became a key text to students and clinicians alike. It continued to be published in many editions until 2001 and was translated into many languages. Osler's essays were important guides to physicians. The title of his most famous essay, Aequanimitas, espousing the importance of imperturbability, is the motto on the Osler family crest and is used on the Osler housestaff tie and scarf at Hopkins. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (January 1937)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061418609
• ISBN-13: 978-0061418600
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,023,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One day at a time., December 12, 2000

By 

Bill S. (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Way of Life (Hardcover)

The book is the text of an address that Sir William Osler gave at Yale University in 1913. He recommends approaching life as a series of "day-tight compartments," which he likens to the water-tight compartments that keep a ship afloat. (Interesting analogy just a year after the Titanic sank.)

His point is that worrying about either the past or the future is a burden that does nothing but reduce your effectiveness. If you focus your attention on what you have to do today, then over time, a string of successful days will make for a successful life. He quotes Thomas Carlyle: "Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand."

Osler primarily attributes his own success not to talent or intelligence, but to good habits, consistently practiced, day after day after day. This is a small book filled with simple, eloquent wisdom that is every bit as applicable today as it was in 1913.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life in day-tight compartments., September 23, 2001

By 

neurotome "neurotome" (San Luis Obispo, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Way of Life (Hardcover)

Dale Carnegie and Stephen Covey, to name two self-help authors, were quite impressed with Dr. Osler's plan for a happy, successful life, which is summed up by the maxim: "Live in day-tight compartments." Full of flowery classical references, Dr. Osler's speech to the Yale graduating class of 1913 remains pleasant and inspirational, and if you'd like to know just a little bit more about Osler than his physical sign of endocarditis, it makes a fun read.

It's a "charming little book," practically new-polished with the rough pumice stone (reading Ivy League commencement addresses makes me quote Catullus. So sue me) - and it's pretty, bound in tan vinyl. I really would take exception to the type face, though, a too-cute number called Goudy Mediæval. It looks like something an old lady fond of antimacassars would call 'elegant.'

Would make a super gift for a college - or med school - grad!

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money!, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Way of Life (Hardcover)

This tiny book is way overpriced. If you want to get the whole idea of the speech, buy Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living", which is much cheaper and much more valuable.