Didn't Get Frazzled: Humorous Medical Fiction

By: David Z Hirsch

Narrated by: David Gilmore

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

• International Book Award Bronze Medal Winner Readers' Favorite (Fiction - Humor/Comedy)
• INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist (Humor)

Medical student Seth Levine faces escalating stress and gallows humor as he struggles with the collapse of his romantic relationships and all preconceived notions of what it means to be a doctor. It doesn’t take long before he realizes not getting frazzled is the least of his problems.

Seth encounters a med student so arrogant he boasts that he’ll eat any cadaver part he can’t name, an instructor so dedicated she tests the student’s ability to perform a gynecological exam on herself, and a woman so captivating that Seth will do whatever it takes to make her laugh, including regale her with a story about a diagnostic squabble over an erection.

Didn’t Get Frazzled captures with distressing accuracy the gauntlet idealistic medical students must face to secure an MD and, against the odds, come out of it a better human being.

• Read by David Gilmore, an award-winning voice actor specializing in audiobook narration with over 15,000 units sold. His 35-year experience as a human anatomy and physiology instructor has enhanced this seamless and engaging performance.

This comedy-drama is an exciting addition to the grand tradition of medical novels by Samuel Shem, Lisa Genova, and Noah Gordon.

©2016 David Z Hirsch (P)2019 David Z Hirsch

Critic Reviews

"Echoing the comedic tone of the 1989 comedy Gross Anatomy, the novel's affection for this uniquely strange experience makes it the best fictional portrayal of med school since ER. Readers will savor the experience." (BlueInk Review, starred review)

"Entertaining, educative, and unflaggingly funny, this debut novel will particularly appeal to real-life med students searching for a fast-moving, relatable respite between classes." (Kirkus Reviews) 

"Reminiscent of a cross between the television sitcom Scrubs and a medical version of One L by Scott Turow, Didn't Get Frazzled is by turns sardonic, touching, raucous, sexy, and sometimes downright gross. It's also hugely entertaining." (Foreword Clarion Reviews)

Unexpectedly good

I thought this book was just going to talk about medicine and hints the reason a book should not be judge by its cover. Everyone should read this book it explain the dreadfulness of being a medical student they way I see it. The book had a lot of laugh out loud moments and you really get to see the behind the scene of the medical personnel. I like Seth for not allowing the people he was under rub the negativity they felt on him he kept tru to himself. If this was a series I would have read all of them. Amazing book.

Everything you wanted to know about medical school

Didn't Get Frazzled: Humorous Medical Fiction
: David Z Hirsch (pseudonym)

Everything you wanted to know about medical school, but were afraid to ask.

This fictionalized accounting of a young med students travels through med school and his personal life. The author shows good and bad bed side manners. (Most of us have unfortunately seen both sides.) Life and death during the different rotations. His group of fellow students add their own spin. I've gone searching for more from this author.



The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by David Gilmore.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Excellent Trip Into Medical School

Didn't Get Frazzled reminds me of One L, Scott Turow's first year law school book that really gives someone wanting to go into the profession a genuine look into the realities of it, through fiction. It's amazing the clarity that the author provides inside and outside the school of medicine, as medical school, while a bubble on its own, always made it difficult for outsiders, anyone not in the immediate medical school class, to enter the social circles. I love that the medical education, which is in many ways an endurance and persistence test, moves different students in different ways. There are a number of those caricatures in the book, the student who knows everything, the one that can't stand to be wrong, the one who tries to have a girlfriend for better or worse, all while trying to survive an onslaught of responsibilities.

The writing is engaging, not only moving the story forward, but the descriptions are spot on, I'm not sure how to say this without sounding mean, but it doesn't read like a doctor wrote a book, it reads like a writer put together a doctor book. I expect somewhere in the author's medical school career or residency, he found solace in writing and bringing scenes to life. Nonetheless, this is really well written.

When I first heard the narration, I thought of Marc Bramhall narrating Lev Grossman's Magicians. In many ways, I heard the same introspection of Quentin Coldwater in Seth Levine, an ability to humanize a person who is losing his humanity. Nonetheless, I think you'll find it an engaging listen if you're on your way to medical school, but more so, if you have a desire for the nostalgia of professional school. It will take you right back.

A humorous but realistic look at med school

I loved this book! At one time I wanted to be a doctor but decided to go to pharmacy school instead and I enjoy hearing about what I missed. This book isn't about the grueling classes of medical school but about the rotations during the last 2 years. As they view the various specialties and decide on their futures, these young doctors have to balance studies and work with love while navigating the system and hopefully retaining some semblance of sanity. This story, as told by Seth Levine, deals with the struggles of a group of friends at New York University with humor and compassion. Written by a doctor, there is medical jargon and discussions of illness so be warned if you have a weak stomach! I loved the characters. They all seemed like my friends by the end of the book and I was sorry to have it end. David Gilmore, the narrator, did an excellent job as Seth. He balanced the proper amount of seriousness with narration that in places reminded me of Ralphie in Christmas Story. One of the best med school fiction books I have read!

Funny and informative

What an unusual and often hilarious way to understand the trials of becoming a doctor. You learn things about trying to have a relationship and also medical information you might not know.

funny - just funny

I really loved this read - I know it has a lot of medical terminology that I didn't get but I still found myself in tears laughing over some of these stories. I loved Seth - his character is the best. He is patient and caring - sometimes too much so in the case with April. I at times found his relationship or lack there of with her distracting but I really like how Seth was able to find resolution in all the aspects of his life. Narration was perfect - I loved the tone Gilmore gave Seth - perfection! Great read, loved both the humor and emotions this book evoked!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Didn’t Get Frazzled!

A humorous look at the life and times of being a med student. (Ok, there are some serious moments too, but it was the humor that really got me.) I have a whole new appreciation for what medical students go through on the road to becoming a doctor!

Well written and a great performance. A truly enjoyable listen!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

The Joys of Med School

I LOVED this story.
Although it's billed as fiction, I'm betting there's a good deal of real life experience in this laugh out loud look at the life of a young med school student doing his hospital rotations. It's told with a self-depreciating humor and accurately portrays the exhaustion young med students feel, the struggles to maintain any kind of rewarding social or romantic life and the daily comedies and tragedies of life in a busy hospital. Written in simple language and with explanations for the technical bits, you don't need to be a medical professional to enjoy the ride as our hero makes his way through 4 years of medical studies.
Well worth your time if you're looking for something a little different from your normal hospital thriller or medical romance.

Laughed out loud

Well written and hilarious, with realistic characters and great dialogue. The performance, however, put it over the top. His delivery is spot on.

Love Love Love This Book

I wasn't sure what to expect when I listened to this book but I LOVED it!!! I didn't want it to end...I laughed so hard and then there were spots that I wanted to cry...Seth (the main character) draws you in like you are there..I could picture the entire book while listening to it..I can't recommend this book enough!!!!!!!

Witty Medical School Caper

A fictional account of med school student Seth Levine that follows his hilarious journey as he trains to be a doctor.

An interesting tale that leaps between hospital anecdotes and Seth's love life that is written in a witty style that entertains and educates in equal measure. It reminds me of the Richard Gordon novels about Simon Sparrow that were made into various films and TV series years ago.

Really really funny!

Seth is stressed out about his exams his crazy instructors his love life or rather the love life he wants and that’s all a good day. This is dark humor but it’s humor with an IQ an old man is it funny I love this book and I’m so glad I brought it. I can only hope there will be a second book with Seth so Jay and Jan and all the other crazy characters. I highly recommend this to those who love the laugh and are good with dark humor because it is an LOL fest! I also thought the narrator did a superb job kudos to you.

Entertaining and informative

Highly entertaining and interesting journey of a medical student.
The narrator does an exceptional job of bringing this story to life, He has a very clear voice which is pleasing to listen too.
I received this audiobook for free and wanted to give an honest review

Perfect blend of humour, pathos, and medical yuck!

Following medical student Seth as he negotiates the ups and downs of life as a medical student and trainee doctor, this audio book really made my daily commute something to look forward to! Perfectly mixing humour and pathos, Seth learns how to cope with strange situations, oddball fellow students, obstructive supervisors and impenetrable bureaucracy, making a difference where he can, despite the impact on his personal life, and all while maintaining a facade as being the man who “doesn’t get frazzled.”

Switching between stomach-churningly gross, laugh out loud funny, and downright romantic, one moment we’re with Seth on a date and the next we’re following him into an internal medicine chapter entitled “brown splatters” or hearing him recount the tale of a student who is so convinced a patient has priapism that she can’t stop physically examining his erection. The resulting mix could be a mess, but David Z Hirsch instead creates a perfect blend that puts me through the wringer but left me uplifted and grateful for the sort of doctor that Seth looks like becoming.