Ben Carson was born and raised in a poor part of Detroit. He and his older brother were raised by a single mother. He talks about his troubled childhood but by the time he is twelve years old he already knows he wants to become a doctor. After several years of schooling he comes one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in the country. Filled with fascination case histories, this bestselling book tells the dramatic and intimate story of Ben Carson's struggle to beat the odds---and of the faith and genius that make him one of today's greatest life-givers.
This book describes the life of Ben Carson a famous surgeon at John Hopkins Hospital. We learn about what his childhood was like. His family was poor and his neighborhood was not so great. He dealt with several setbacks but got through them. He loved to read and the library played a central role in his life! He has a lot of lessons to teach to young people about what you can do to achieve your dreams. His dream was not handed to him but it took hard work and determination.
This is a very inspiring story. Light reading but well
worth the time to read.
An inspirational read for anyone.
Back Cover:
Gifted Hands by and about Ben Carson, M.D., is the inspiring story of an inner-city kid with poor grades and little motivation, who, at age thirty-three, became director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Gifted hands will transplace you into the operating room to witness surgeries that made headlines around the world, and into the private mind of a compassionate, God-fearing physician who lives to help others.
In 1987, Dr. Carson gained worldwide recognition for his part in the first successful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head -- an extremely complex and delicate operation that was five months of planning and twenty-two hous of actual surgery, involving a surgical plan that Carson helped initiate.
Gifted Hands reveals a man with humility, decency, compassion, courage, and sensitivity who serves as a role model for young people (and everyone else) in need of encouragement to attempt the seemingly impossible and to excel in whatever they attempt. Dr. Carson also describes the key role that his highly intelligent though relatively uneducated mother played in his metamorphosis from an unmotivated ghetto youngster to one fo the most respected neurosurgeions in the world.
I think this book is wonderful. It goes to show that sometimes what we think is impossible really can be done. And I admire his mom for doing the pushing when he needed it.
I enjoyed this book about Dr. Carson's strive to become a doctor and some of his cases. However, the book seemed disjointed as if he just picked things here and there with the connections seeming forced. There's many mentions of how God and his church (Seventh Day Adventist) provided inspiration - something in which I think Christian readers will find their own inspiration. However, at times I think Dr. Carson comes across as rather arrogant. I personally didn't find this a great book, but I did enjoy the read.
