Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab

July 15, 2010 | By In Health Tips |

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5 Comments so far

  1. Audrey Lavaggi on July 15th, 2010

    I found this book to be wonderfully insightful. It gave me a a different perspective on the actual physical body while tying it all together in emotionally relevant bow.
    Rating: 4 / 5

  2. Barbara Lyons on July 15th, 2010

    I read a review of this book in the Sunday paper. I’m not sure what made me order this book. It was interesting-a bit slow but OK
    Rating: 4 / 5

  3. Nyghtewynd on July 16th, 2010

    It’s certainly an interesting concept for a book–observe the process of first-year anatomy lab at a medical school and watch the fur fly. There are a lot of good details here from Montross on both what the process means in historical terms as well as how it affects those who do it. However, Montross’ prose when it comes to her self-observation is too simplistic to carry this book much beyond average. She writes in the tone of an emotional fourteen year-old on an online journal complaining about how someone has wronged her–the descriptions are too emotionally-loaded, too extravagant, too…much to do anything other than get in the way. But if you move quickly through these parts, there’s a lot of good to see here as well. Mildly recommended.
    Rating: 3 / 5

  4. Fugu on July 16th, 2010

    I was swayed by the reviews written here to pick up this book. It looked like an interesting read. However I was only able to read part of this book before I had to give up bored. The contents are in no way disturbing especially if you watch any medical dramas or have read other medical history texts. It is quite like reading the blog of a teenager, very light and little content. The original parts written by the author are dull and could reasonably of been written by someone with a good imagination or maybe by someone who had some imagination. The other filler pieces that make up this drivel appear to be lifted from other texts or possibly Wikipedia. We also get some travelogue padding thrown in with a trip to Italy. I am sure most people who would be attracted to this book know the story of Burke and Hare or the body snatchers of old. Maybe they even already appreciate the work of Galen or Vesalius.

    I feel the text was probably written as some sort of cathartic exercise by the author to expunge the demons of gross anatomy. Maybe a worthy exercise but I doubt it was necessary to publish the scrawl, better it should of remained a private document.

    Unfortunately I cannot give it 0 stars.
    Rating: 1 / 5

  5. Kit Kat on July 16th, 2010

    This book was surprisingly an easy read. Something I didn’t expect because of the subject matter. The author presents her feelings in a companionate and down to earth way, something I wish all doctors would do! All in all, this book deals with a heavy subject, but it’s fascinating and not at all too clinical or over your head. I would recommend it.
    Rating: 4 / 5

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