Better

A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

By: Atul Gawande

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The New York Times bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications examines, in riveting accounts of medical failure and triumph, how success is achieved in a complex and risk-filled profession

The struggle to perform well is universal: each one of us faces fatigue, limited resources, and imperfect abilities in whatever we do. But nowhere is this drive to do better more important than in medicine, where lives are on the line with every decision. In this book, Atul Gawande explores how doctors strive to close the gap between best intentions and best performance in the face of obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable.

Gawande's gripping stories of diligence, ingenuity, and what it means to do right by people take us to battlefield surgical tents in Iraq, to labor and delivery rooms in Boston, to a polio outbreak in India, and to malpractice courtrooms around the country. He discusses the ethical dilemmas of doctors' participation in lethal injections, examines the influence of money on modern medicine, and recounts the astoundingly contentious history of hand washing. And as in all his writing, Gawande gives us an inside look at his own life as a practicing surgeon, offering a searingly honest firsthand account of work in a field where mistakes are both unavoidable and unthinkable.

At once unflinching and compassionate, Better is an exhilarating journey narrated by "arguably the best nonfiction doctor-writer around" (Salon). Gawande's investigation into medical professionals and how they progress from merely good to great provides rare insight into the elements of success, illuminating every area of human endeavor.

©2007 Atul Gawande; (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

<p><i>"Better </i>is a masterpiece, a series of stories set inside the four walls of a hospital that end up telling us something unforgettable about the world outside.” —Malcolm Gladwell, author of <i>Talking to Strangers</i><br><br>“Atul Gawande's insightful book illuminates the challenging choices members of the profession face every day.” —Susan Salter Reynolds,<i> Los Angeles Times</i><br><br>“Remarkably honest and human accounts . . . describing professional moments of fear, guilt, embarrassment, and humor . . . Rich in fascinating detail.” —<i>The Economist</i><br><br>“It's hard to think of a writer working today who makes such good use of man's quest to avoid pain and death. Atul Gawande is not only adding to the small shelf of books by doctors that every layman should read. He's using medicine to help anyone who hopes to do anything better.” —Michael Lewis, author of<i> The Blind Side</i><br><br>“Gawande . . . manages to capture medicine in all of its complex and chaotic glory, and to put it, still squirming with life, down on the page. . . . With this book Gawande inspires all of us, doctor or not, to be better.” —Pauline W. Chen, <i>The New York Times Book Review</i><br><br>“Gawande is unassuming in every way, and yet his prose is infused with steadfast determination and hope. If society is the patient here, I can't think of a better guy to have our back.” —Gail Caldwell,<i> The Boston Globe</i><br><br>“This is a book about failure: how it happens, how we learn from it, how we can do better. Although its focus is medicine, its message is for everybody. . . . It has already been described as a modern masterpiece—and so it is.” —Jeremy Lawrence, <i>The Independent (UK)<br></i><br>“<i>Better</i> is a mesmerizing book with fascinations on every page, told with mastery, insight, compassion, and humility by a surgeon who doesn't flinch from taboo subjects or self-examination. . . . On every page, one meets a candid and thoughtful man, who pays close attention, and who somehow manages to find the right balance between intimacy and respectfulness, in a world that can be inhospitable to both.” —Diane Ackerman, author of <i>An Alchemy of Mind</i> <br><br>“I found I had been gripping the book so hard that my fingers hurt. . . . It calls to mind one of the great classics of medical literature, Mikhail Bulgakov's <i>A Country Doctor's Notebook</i>. Few modern authors could stand that comparison, but Gawande can.” —John Carey,<i> The Sunday Times (UK)</i></p>

Another great book by Atul Gawande

I could listen to this book again and again on repeat. The conclusion drawn from the stories talked about are fascinating. Well written and well read. Definitely worth a listen!

Amazing insight

One of the best books to read as someone who wants to get involved in healthcare as a surgeon. Especially loved the ending

Excellent narration

Details related to obstetrics, death penalty and cystic fibrosis research are amazing. Deep dive into Indian surgeons performance is impressive. Five take homes are great. Loved it. Strongly recommend this to medical students and residents and almost everyone in healthcare should read this book. Kudos once again Atul. This one as good as Being Mortal and checklist manifesto.

Great narrator, compelling stories, inspiring idea

What does John Bedford Lloyd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The presentation of the book was fantastic. John Bedford Lloyd is captivating

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The conclusion is as motivating as it is inspiring. Gawande moves you to action

This book is a amzing!

I learned so much about medicine and how it is applied over all the world and how powerful washing your hands will keep people alive.

Leaves you thinking on improving everything.

My new favorite author. Brilliant observation of the little things that separate us from being better.

Great story and narration

This was my first audiobook. The narration threw me off a bit, but that's just something I need to get used to. Otherwise, the story was fantastic and the narration was solid. Would highly recommend this book and Gawande's other books to anyone interested in learning more about medicine.

(No Matter Who You Are) Read this book

Better is a very thoughtful and thought provoking piece of literature. And it touches on many aspects of betterment: moral as well as practical. It is not your typical self-help book... it is Better.

Uneven but mostly good

This book has several independent chapters, some of which I found more interesting and enlightening than others. The performance was very good.

Very enlightening book

I had a great number of insights and inspirations I came away with after finishing this book. A simple almost boring writing style but very approachable and also packed with interesting stories and insights. Author is very accomplished but no ego comes through in the writing. In fact it’s a very humble account. For anyone trying to do better in whatever their profession might be this is a must read book.