Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital

The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital
The House of God The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital
Author: Samuel Shem
ISBN-13: 9780440133681
ISBN-10: 0440133688
Publication Date: 1/1/1981
Pages: 432
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 37

3.9 stars, based on 37 ratings
Publisher: Dell
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

17 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 42 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great read for medical professionals
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 83 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Not what I'd call hilarious. But nearly required reading for anyone who works in a hospital. From my own observations, hower, there's WAAAY more sex going on in this book than there is in real life. I found this book more depressing than funny but poignant and ringing true to life in many instances.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 2 more book reviews
Hair raising account of a young physicians residency training in the 60s
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 191 more book reviews
This is one book that I could not get into. I read about 100 pages and then had to give up. I didn't understand it and it was difficult reading. Maybe being as old as I am, I just wasen't able to get into it. Did not like it as all.
Chocoholic avatar reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 291 more book reviews
It is the first of July, and Roy Basch, an intern at the House of God hospital is scared. It's his, and his colleagues' (The Runt, Potts, Chuck, and Hooper) first day of work as doctors. The book follows all of these doctors, and the nurses, patients, and assorted other characters that they come into contact with for the next year. Author Samuel Shem writes in the afterword that the book is vaguely autobiographical, and I don't doubt it. I liked this book and found it interesting, although I think there were too many characters and it was sometimes hard to keep them all straight. When I first started reading this, I actually thought it was non-fiction, but it is actually fiction and an enjoyable read.
justreadingabook avatar reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 1726 more book reviews
Good fun read, makes you wonder about your own doctor! Gives a insight into the lives and what it is like to become a real doctor.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 5 more book reviews
Gomers go to ground.....
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on
Interesting but repetitive, often trite and superficial reading.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 55 more book reviews
This is THE MUST READ book for any med student/resident/doctor/nurse. Yes, it's dated, yes medicine has changed a lot and women are all empowered and all that stuff, but it had done more to help shape the culture of medicine than any other pop culture influence. More than ER, more than Grey's Anatomy. If nothing else, you need to read it to know The Laws of the House of God. Last but not least, it's funny as hell and a great read.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 301 more book reviews
I much preferred Hot Lights, Cold Steel. House of God is more like an episode of Scrubs.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 12 more book reviews
About a year in the life of interns, in a large hospital setting. Part satire, part true-to-life. As a retired RN, I can tell you, some of the ER situations are so true!
I guess you have to have lived through it, to understand the story!
But it is worth the read!
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on
Kind of cynical, kind of graphic sex scenes, but overall a lovely read and insightful to anyone who's had experience with end of life care. Great character development.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on
A story about life in a hospital. This book has an incredible amout of graphic sexual situations.
SusanReads avatar reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 15 more book reviews
A must read for every Emergency Department nurse and doctor. You'll learn where some of our often used acronyms come from.
RomanceLVR avatar reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 5 more book reviews
Great book for any medical student or anyone in the medical field.
Threewheeler avatar reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 29 more book reviews
It's good. I didn't want to make a review, but it wouldnt go away. Sorry.
reviewed The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital on + 114 more book reviews
"a good cynical read for anyone who has worked in Medicine."