Better

A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

By: Atul Gawande

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

National best seller

The New York Times best-selling 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

"Surgeon and MacArthur fellow Gawande applies his gift for dulcet prose to medical and ethical dilemmas in this collection." (Publishers Weekly)

"Better 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 Blink and The Tipping Point)

I need a script for my addiction to Dr. Gawande

What made the experience of listening to Better the most enjoyable?

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.

Any additional comments?

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

My New Favorite Author

I just recently became aware of Dr. Gawande when a co-worker recommended that I read “Being Mortal.” I couldn’t put that book down, it was so engaging. I actually wanted it to have a book 2. I then went back to look for others and decided on “Better.” Except for the part on hand washing in hospitals by doctors/nurses and the rate of infections caused by those who don’t, most of the topics are those I had never given any thought to. I love that Dr. Gawande lays out some historical background on each topic and compares situations to how it is now. The section that I will ponder a long time is what it’s like to be a doctor in the poorer villages of India. Although he was truthful in what he saw, his writing had a way of focusing on how those doctors made do with what they had, and tried to do their best work.
I will continue to read Dr. Gawande’s books. As much as they give us his medical insights, his books are as much about the human condition.

awesome read !

Loved it . Easy to follow and went perfectly with my online public health class. Very relatable material

Important food for thought

This was a great listen. I found it to be a great stimulant for thought as I enter the medical profession. More importantly though it's good for anyone on any walk of life to consider what we are doing to be better at whatever pursuit we've chosen. This book is well thought out and well presented. I highly recommend it.

Entertaining stories with an intresting message.

Dr. Gawande applies a vivid storytelling style to his medical accounts. A fun, edifying read. Highly recommended.

A Must Read for Anyone Interested in Excellence

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.

Inspiring

As a pre-med student, this was a treasure. Even for the general public, this text has some truly remarkable messages and information.

Some sections are a little number-heavy, but the core is well worth it.

Excellent!

Loved this book! I highly recommend this book to anyone especially if you are in the Healthcare industry. Be a positive deviant! ♡

excellent read. fascinating perspectives!

While it took a little while to get going, Gawande's points about the science of performance really hit home with me. As a premed student, I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in medicine or simply how to improve or quantify performance in any field.

It's light on science and tech talk, but also engaging and thorough. I'll be looking for other works by this author next month.

Excellent Look Inside Medicine & Insight Out

Unique view into Gawande's journey as well as the world of medicine. And there is insight to be had for anyone who is serious about doing better and doing good.