By Michael Norris, MD

I have chosen three books, rather than one, which I believe every physician, regardless of specialty, should read.

 In no particular order, I begin with Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande. Written as Dr. Gawande was a General Surgery resident, he looks deeply into his own experiences as well as those of many colleagues. As he states, “This book arises from the intensity of that experience.” Beginning with Chapter 1, The Education of A Knife, and going through “When Doctors Make Mistakes,” he addresses issues we all have experienced. Though medicine is portrayed as an exact science, all too often there are times of doubt and uncertainty. Numerous case stories are featured. A great read.

Next is another book by Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. In the introduction, he notes, “Our textbooks had almost nothing on aging or frailty or dying.” He takes an in-depth look at the issues facing our elderly population, including the sad state of many nursing homes, which all too often address only “medical” problems and not the overall well-being of the residents. He writes of his own patients, with advanced cancer, and decisions made to pursue aggressive treatments, as well as the role of hospice and palliative care. His last chapter is very personal, recounting his father’s death.

My third choice is a powerful book, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Dr. Kalanithi was in the last year of his Neurosurgery residency at Stanford when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. He tells his story, from childhood through schooling, marriage, and training. He exposes his feelings about his own mortality, his experiences with chemotherapy, his ability to return to his residency. He and his wife decide to have a child, and his last written words are addressed to that little girl. A most powerful book, deservedly a Number 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2016.