Stick with it longer than a chapter

Begins in an overly dramatic way, but settles into a thoughtful narrative about the relationship between doctors and patients, and the surgical stereotype of psychopathy. A few laughs and tears inbetween. Enjoyed the narration.

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Fascinating insight into stressful profession

I loved this book, especially the description of the medical psychopaths who work in this field. It truly takes nerves of steel and a fair amount of intuitive risk taking to be a neurosurgeon.

A VERY, VERY annoying mistake in the book was the constant mispronunciation of the words paraplegic and quadriplegic. The reader said para-PAL-egic and quadri-PAL-egic.

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Absolutely!

I loved this book so much. It's just the right amount of descriptive without the listener getting lost in medical jargon. It's funny and deep and kept me on the edge of my seat.

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Insightful

An excellent book giving great insight into the other side of the equation. If you are wondering what your Neuro Surgeon is actually thinking, this may give you a clue.

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Fascinating content horrible narrator

Who could not NOT be drawn in by an autobiography of neurosurgeon? The narrator was great with accents but that was about all...It took me half the book to get used to his robotic monotone

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Absolutely loved it

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I laughed and cried along with the reader, it was so emotional. I would recommend this book to everyone. I’m a nurse and I love this sort of story but it was also so personal.

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Excellent stories behind the scenes

great stories start to finish. brings opens up the world of neuroscience. would recommend

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A compelling view into the neurosurgeon's world.

Would you consider the audio edition of When the Air Hits Your Brain to be better than the print version?

I haven not read the printed edition.

What was one of the most memorable moments of When the Air Hits Your Brain?

To get a glimpse into the moral, ethical and emotional struggles the author faces in his moments of failure gives one an insight into what attributes a really good practitioner must possess. It’s not his dexterity of hand, his brilliance in diagnosis or his recall of medical learning or case lore, but rather, his contrapuntal ability to care without caring too much.

What does Kirby Heyborne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I have not read the printed edition. However, Mr Heyborne reads the book with sensitivity and an obvious understanding of the underlying material (not the technical stuff - I mean the author's feelings). I only have one slight reservation about the reading - the attempt at performing various accents. I think if one cannot nail a New York or posh English accent, it’s probably better to leave it to the hearer’s imagination (as it is when one reads a book).

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

In the instances where the outcome is unfavourable, the stories evoke a visceral response which flows in two tributaries from each case narrative: one is the empathy one feels for the doctor with his internal struggles, and the other for the suffering and heartache the patients and their loved ones must endure. Where the outcome is positive, especially when it’s unexpectedly so, it’s hard not to feel a kind on vicarious triumph in the doctor’s achievements.

Any additional comments?

The story is really well paced and has a careful balance between the details of each case and the doctor's travails in learning. I really enjoyed his ontological musings and hearing of the agony one in his profession that surely cannot be avoided.

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Interesting

Good book, very different and sometimes tough to get through but overall I enjoyed it.

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Great stories and insights into neurosurgery

Colourfully written stories and insights from his younger surgical resident days, relatable and emotional content that really puts life into perspective.

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