[.ca] William Osler: A Life in Medicine (ISBN 0195329600)

Absolutely delightful!:
Any attempt to describe the life of such an illustrious personage, as one could imagine must be a rather daunting task. However, Michael Bliss's smooth-flowing rendering of Dr. William Osler's life is made not only manageable, but a sheer joy to read. Of course this book will be compared with the innumerable number of other writings about William Osler, most notably of course the Cushing version. And Bliss clearly acknowledges the plethora of carefully collected documentations and personal correspondences that Cushing had accumulated in crafting his tale. However, I think this book stands on its own as a unique rendering of Osler mainly because of one simple fact. Bliss has had the luxury of time on his side to not just document the time and lives and the state of Medicine in the late 19th century, but most importantly, he relates it to the current, modern day state of affairs in those areas as well. He has woven a story that encompasses through the life of the great Osler, the tremendous influences of 19th medicine on modern day medicine. Even if one is not in the health-related professions or the biomedical sciences, one cannot miss the fact that this is a book as much about humanism as it is about medicine. Biography, like history is riddled with biases, especially if it is about people and events that have revolutionazied mankind. This is particularly so in regards to William Osler, whose life and work have been immortalized, and a man who had acheived a legendary status even during his own life time. Bliss's work is as unbiased as it could possibly be given the already intrinsic biases about his subject. In this sense, this book is also unique from the previous biographies of Osler. Overall, this is a most enjoyable read. This is definitely a "page-flipper" that takes you into the life, struggles, and triumps not only of Osler, but in a sense, of the entire human race.

A Wonderful Book!:
I was not an unbiased reader when I picked this up -a graduating medical student about to begin a medical residency. There is a minimum of technical medicine in this biography -it reads more like a novel, filled with Osler's own writing. Bliss poured through his technical papers, his speaches, letters and medical jokes (published under the pseudoname Eagerton Y Davis) and gives us a taste of what an incredible man he must have been. Full of energy, a mind constantly at work, yet a tender-hearted soul who was a pioneer in the art of medicine, of making the doctor-patient relationship warm and empathetic in an era when this was unpopular. Bliss reveals that this is a person we should remember and who's example we all should take to heart: diligent work, a positive attitude, and concern for humanity made manifest each day in one's daily living. Read this book!

Wonderful book!:
Though I've never personally had much of an interest in the history of medicine, I found this book very enjoyable and inspirational. I think all physicians will similarly feel inspired, as Osler was a shining example of what good bedside manner can accomplish in an age where medicine was relatively impotent, and beyond that, he was also a shining example of a brilliant, decent and caring human being. A wonderful book, beautifully written...I couldn't put it down, and I hope you will have the same trouble! Paul Dash MD

Thorough, detailed, inspirational & easy to read:
As a Canadian trained physician now transplanted to the US, I found the story of Osler inspirational and stirring.It may have helped that I had been to many of the locations in the book making it seem much more 'alive'. The style of writing was easy to follow, yet there was an obvious scholarly detail and depth. It has encouraged me to read more on the history of medicine. Quite engrossing.

AT THE HEART OF MEDICINE:
One of the most engaging and delightful biographies I have ever read - and whose subject is an absolutely fascinating human being. The interest is everywhere and of every kind: characterological, institutional, international, scientific, medical, historical, social, philosophical, economic, pedagogic, literary, ethical, humorous, tragic, heroic, inspirational. The effect of the book is uplifting, challenging, instructive, buoying, rivetting; it is almost impossible to put it down, and when one does one's mood is deep, absent reflection. There is a profound lesson in "William Osler: A Life in Medicine" for our own era and its bizarre and pitiful oblivion of all that really lies at the heart of medicine: suffering, character, judgment, courage, conscience, compassion, ignorance, and you and I. Not process control, impersonal abstraction, colossalism, profiteering, niggardliness, or cosmetic morality. - Patrick Gunkel