Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

This book is meant to address the science of human performance in medicine. It is, instead, an unfocused collection of anecdotes seasoned with facts drawn from the history of medicine (Semelweiss & Lister). I think the intent was to use each case to illustrate larger principles or themes, but this simply didn't happen. The stories seem randomly selected; they neither standout singlely for the wisdom they contain, nor do they build one upon the other. It would be like a research paper that's all methodology, but no results, no discussion, no conclusion.

The sections on efforts to eradicate polio and good CF programs vs great CF programs are especially long on exposition, and short on synthesis. Battlefield medicine is tough & expensive; we've had to work harder, spend more and try new things to get better survival results.
General surgeons in India don't have all the same resources as in North America, but they're willing to improvise.

The book ends(it doesn't conclude)with the authors tips on how to get better - "become a positive deviant." These don't appear to be based on the previous 7.5hours. More like, 'everything I need to know about improving my health care organization I learned in kindergarten.'
-talk to people
-listen to them
-write things down
-don't whine
-do things differently

This book was excellent and the reader did a very fine job. I enjoyed it all; writer Atul Gawande provides an incredible store of data, and that, coupled with his wide knowledge and experience as a surgeon, made this book a wonderful experience. However, I may buy the hard copy now--just to to be able to go over all the information at leisure. I am a relative newcomer to audiobooks, but even so, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I can't praise Gawande enough. I read the paperback edition of his book Complications and would recommend that highly to readers too.

I am baffled how people are rating this so high. It is a rambling, discontinuous stream of conscious kind of work. I have purchased approximately 40 books on Audible and this is the first one that simply did not warrant finishing. At 2/3rds of the way, I surrendered---no more. I, too, am in a medical field and so was particularly attracted to this about getting better in practice and teaching. Nothing in this collection of anecdotes provides a basis for self-study insights toward improvement. The narrator is fine. In fact, he has my admiration for doing his job on this one.

I enjoyed the wide birth of topics pertinent to physicians discussed. From the business side of medicine no one ever discusses in medical school, to moral dilemas only doctors face; he gives variety in topics too little discussed and the information is more than useful.

I'd recommend this book to both aspiring doctors, as well as established physicians. Those considering the field can get a view of what comes along with that MD besides hefty loans and patients, and practicing Doctors should ever be on the quest to be

Though the narrative is slightly disjointed (the separate sections were not related to each other), I found each section fascinating on its own. The actor reading the book clearly didn't know a few of the words but in general did a good job with pronunciation of medical and science terms.

A very well written book, as good if not better than the first book. Great narration as well. I think this book would interest anyone in health care profession obviously. But, I am sure it would interest non health care professional reades as much.

A liked how he ended the book with some great but simple suggestions for his readers to be become what he call a positive deviant : Ask, Do not complain, Count, Write and Change.

This is the best Organizational Change book I've ever come across - I plan to share it with several colleagues. I am not in the medical profession but I found his lessons to be ones that made you think. I look at everything through a different lense now.

This was a wonderful book that touched controversial as well as mundane problems in healthcare. All beautifully narrated into a great story. I found myself driving more so that I could keep listening.

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Checklist Manifesto

I think if I heard him speak again, I would think he's Atul Gawande

Atul Gawande rocks the medical world.

I love the way he thinks, and challenges those in health care.

This book definitely has a strong concept to a very simplistic thought "Better". Very empowering book but I felt the author took a long medical approach on displaying the principles. This took away the simplicity necessary to grasp the concept. The concept applies to everyone regardless of profession and that could have been better exhibited.