House Unauthorized: Vasculitis, Clinic Duty, and Bad Bedside Manner (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

by Leah Wilson (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As quirky and outrageous as the main character of the popular television show, this collection of essays investigates the underlying issues on Fox’s series House. Growing in popularity thanks to its eccentric combination of CSI science, the medicine of ER, and an acerbic, pain-pill addict with a cane, House draws more than 12 million loyal viewers every week. This anthology explores issues including what makes House tick; why he really hired Foreman, Cameron, and Chase—and why is it so easy to believe he’s actually subjecting them to some sort of bizarre psychological testing—what House would be like as a heating and plumbing repairman; and why Wilson just won’t stop talking to him.

 

Includes contributions by:

• Nick Mamatas
• Craig Derksen
• Lois Winston
• Karen Traviss
• Glenn McDonald
• Donna Andrews
• Jill Winters
• Joyce Millman
• Shanna Swendson
• Robert T. Jeschonek
• Geoff Klock
• Jillian Hancock
• Steven Rubio
• Brad Sinor
• Virgina Baker
• Susan Engel and Sam Levin
• James Gilmer
• Mikhail Lyubansky and Elaine Shpungin
• Linda Heath
• Nancy Franklin

About the Author

Leah Wilson is a senior editor at BenBella Books and is the editor of Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America’s Favorite Desperate Housewives and the coeditor of James Bond in the 21st Century: Why We Still Need 007 and Mapping the World of the Sorcerer's Apprentice: An Unauthorized Exploration of the Harry Potter Series Complete Through Book Six. She lives in Dallas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Benbella Books (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933771232
• ISBN-13: 978-1933771236
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #282,613 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting analysis of the show and characters., May 17, 2008

By	MaliaLoke (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews

House Unauthorized is broken down into four sections: essays about the show, essays about House as a character, essays about the psychology of House's character, and essays about the other characters. I found the essays in the first two sections a bit weaker than the others, although there were some gems. On the show as a whole, the argument about critical audiences and the rare moments House tries to dumb itself down in "That Was A Ten" is interesting, as was the look at House's character from a British viewer's perspective. The rest of the second section consists largely of essays comparing House to other well-known characters: M*A*S*H's Hawkeye Pierce and Sherlock Holmes.

There are several essays in the latter half of the book that I found particularly interesting. "How House Thinks" is a breakdown of the methodology employed by real-world doctors in diagnosing diseases, and how/why House's techniques are comparable to or illustrative of the typical highly-experienced medical professional. "House Calls" uses cognitive psychological research to discuss why House's theories and diagnoses are so often accurate. "But Can He Teach?" analyzes how House influences and teaches Cameron, Chase, and Foreman throughout the first three seasons of the show. "Does God Limp?" discusses how House's chronic pain affects his psychology and diagnostic skills.

This book is definitely intended for people who enjoy thinking critically. That said, it's not a difficult or boring read by any means.

7 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just so so, February 1, 2008

By	Beatrix Potter (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

I didn't find the book anything to get excited about. I would not buy again.