• Twelve Patients

  • Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital
  • By: Eric Manheimer
  • Narrated by: Eric Manheimer
  • Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (489 ratings)

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Twelve Patients  By  cover art

Twelve Patients

By: Eric Manheimer
Narrated by: Eric Manheimer
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Publisher's summary

In the spirit of Oliver Sacks Awakenings and the TV series House, Dr. Eric Manheimer's Twelve Patients is a memoir from the medical director of Bellevue Hospital that uses the plights of 12 very different patients - from dignitaries at the nearby UN, to supermax prisoners from Riker's Island, to illegal immigrants, and Wall Street tycoons - to illustrate larger societal issues.

Manheimer is not only the medical director of the country's oldest public hospital, but he is also a patient. As the audiobook unfolds, he is diagnosed with cancer and is forced to wrestle with the end of his own life - even as he struggles to save the lives of others.

©2012 Eric Manheimer (P)2012 Hachette

What listeners say about Twelve Patients

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • 4 Stars
    87
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Book

Eric Manheimer did an awesome job of not only writing the book but also narrating it. I have been involved in Hospital healthcare for over 30 years and understand his joys and his frustrations.

Eric was able to tell his story and the story of his patients in such a way that it made you feel like you were right there at the bedside with him. When describing patient's conditions and procedures, he did it in a way that the lay person could understand exactly what he was talking about, yet he didn't "dumb it down" so much that the professional was bored. Each patient was a story by itself, which kept the book interesting. Also, by describing his life at Bellevue, he was able to show the decline in Healthcare in the US over the past 30 years without being preachy about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading non-fiction true life medical stories.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Nice Listen

Where does Twelve Patients rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is very different to the rest of the ancient historic books that I normally read, but this was very interesting and eye opening to the daily reality of managing a Hospital

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The knowledge and attention to detail

What does Eric Manheimer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice changes when needed, in some other chapters it seem still painful for him to re-live the past.

If you could give Twelve Patients a new subtitle, what would it be?

Life at Bellevue

Any additional comments?

Great to listen, a sad reflection of our society

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rings so true

Would you listen to Twelve Patients again? Why?

Yes. I am a nurse who deals with patients and events very similar to the ones Manheimer describes. He very effectively captures the difficulties, anguish and satisfaction of being in the medical profession. He also weaves in the societal ills that lead to physical illness.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Manheimer's story is one of the most affecting.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

How did you get to this place.

Any additional comments?

Moving, meaningful and realistic. I am a nurse manager and I plan to buy a copy for each of my 30 nurses.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

touching stories.

While the stories were insightful, giving you the feeling of actually sensing the characters turmoil, the doctor should have let someone else read the book to us. He sounds flat and for lack of other words, like he is reading out loud in class.
I think I would have enjoyed reading this book instead of listening to it.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Allowed me to brush up on my Spanish

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I bought this audible book because of the high reviews. I expected to learn something about medicine/bellevue.Those subjects were somewhat discussed (unbelievably in English) but the rest of the book might as well have been in Spanish because that's all I heard as the author speaks back and forth to his paitents - in my foreign tongue. Nice - but for some reason it drove me CRAZY or LOCA depending on how you look at it. He also explains his and other's Latino culture - IN DETAIL.....until I went completly LOCA and - ELIMINADA DEL LIBRO!!!!!! (for our English readers) means DELETED THE BOOK!!!! This book might be fine and a very good listen for others. It just hit me the wrong way. Sorry

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Eric Manheimer?

i dont know - eric manheimer was dry but did have some care in his voice

Any additional comments?

must have latino background to understand

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Riveting tour of Bellevue from trusted insider

Where does Twelve Patients rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 25%

What was one of the most memorable moments of Twelve Patients?

When Dr. Manheimer learned that he had cancer and was now also a patient.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Overall yes, seem to drag a few times but still riveting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Stirred my emotions, compassion, fear of being sick, voyeurism, sense of getting real life, privileged information/life stories although names and identities are hidden.

Any additional comments?

Good opportunity to better understand a section of New York Cities daily life, covering all economic and cultural levels. Felt like I was there at Dr. Manheimer's side. I really enjoyed this audio book.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Couldn't follow this

The narrative is convoluted and I could not follow it. Some of the author's self-revelatory anecdotes were interesting but many of them sounded like a scree from a benzedrine storyteller. I tried to listen all the way through, but had to switch it off for lack of interest.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrated in near monotone.

Potentially interesting material delivered in near monotone and reported without the insight or reflective thinking that engages a reader in a meaningful way.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Who let this man read!

Compelling story. Rich insights. Droning voice that imperiled my life as I tried to stay awake behind the wheel.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The WORST Narration Possible

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It needs a professional reader.

What was most disappointing about Eric Manheimer’s story?

That what could have been interesting stories were made dull and almost incomprehensible by the author's narration.

Would you be willing to try another one of Eric Manheimer’s performances?

No, never!

Did Twelve Patients inspire you to do anything?

Not listen to it again.

Any additional comments?

Please, Audible (and other audiobook producers), convince authors they are not usually the best person to read their own work.

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2 people found this helpful