The Tennis Partner

A Doctor's Story of Friendship and Loss

By: Abraham Verghese

Narrated by: Neil Shah

An unforgettable, illuminating story of how men live and how they survive, from Abraham Verghese, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water, an Oprah's Book Club Pick.

“Heartbreaking. . . . Indelible and haunting, [The Tennis Partner] is an elegy to friendship found, and an ode to a good friend lost.”—The Boston Globe

When Abraham Verghese, a physician whose marriage is unraveling, relocates to El Paso, Texas, he hopes to make a fresh start as a staff member at the county hospital. There he meets David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the two men begin a tennis ritual that allows them to shed their inhibitions and find security in the sport they love and with each other. This friendship between doctor and intern grows increasingly rich and complex, more intimate than two men usually allow. Just when it seems nothing can go wrong, the dark beast from David’s past emerges once again—and almost everything Verghese has come to trust and believe in is threatened as David spirals out of control.

©2024 Abraham Verghese (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

an honest telling of the horror of addiction

it is a finely detailed account of deep friendship and its inability to overcome the slide to self destruction.

Beautiful story about love and compassion

So well written about how you make friends but in the end you are always alone .

Great writer, tough story.

Very interesting read but probably most interesting to physicians.
Have not read one of Verghese’s books that was not a great story. This is hard content to read.

Engaging story

Engaging story with very interesting insights into medicine, tennis, addiction and life. The reader, while an effective in voices and drama varies in volume to the point of unlistenable if driving in a car—only listenable if sitting quietly with headphones.

Such exquisite language

This compassionate story about the human condition under stress and the flaws we are all experiencing is very fascinating and thought provoking

Heart Gripping

Abraham, you did it again another wonderful story. I could feel the main characters pain at the end. Loved it.

Autobiographical

I love Verghese’s other books. I love how he winds his medical knowledge throughout his stories. This one was personal. About a friend.

Characters

This is a deep dive into the overlapping cultures of medical education, tennis, southwest Texas, intravenous drugs, and AIDS. Difficult, sad, respectful and humble. It is beautifully and written and read.

Honesty

wonderful
sad
heartbreaking
sobering
empathetic
honest
Must read for all those in the medical profession

Author’s perspective

Loved the audio version. Great reader. Sounded experienced in the world of medicine and tennis.