Trauma: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon

If you're looking for a great collection of non-fiction medical stories, you just found it!The author is direct, concise, and the script of this play of blood and bone is as entertaining and enlightening as it is well edited.

Dr. Cole is an excellent writer and provided details that made it easy to visualize the surgeries he describes throughout this book (which totally fascinates me). I thought I already had a decent appreciation for those who endure medical school but WOW! does surgical residency sound exhausting!!I also appreciated the accounts of military service and interactions with law-enforment that demonstrated the nobility and honor of such self-sacrifical occupations.Many thanks to Dr. Cole and his family for their endurance and perseverance through it all! And thank you Dr. Cole for sharing your incredible experiences with the rest of us!

This is a s the best physician memoir I have ever read (and I have read a lot)! Not being a physician, I can only guess that being a trauma surgeon, especially in the military, is about as exciting as medicine gets.

As an avid reader of books written by those in the medical profession and former military veterans, the author provided a seamless mix of both civilian and military experiences. Interesting, at times riveting, and an overall good read!

This book was a challenge to read at times. At times I considered putting it down but instead, chose to look at the things I found disturbing. I'm so glad I stayed with it. Dr. Cole is a superb writer whose no nonsense approach to his profession demonstrates a surgeon with a heart that sometimes had to be quieted to face the horrors of the things he had to face in serving both his patients and his country. His courage and commitment are exemplary and inspirational for any budding healthcare professional to embrace. If I or a family member were ever placed in an emergent traumatic situation, he's the doctor I'd want. Without doing the usual sometimes plastic cheerleading of the nursing profession I'm a member of, the appreciation and respect given struck just the right tone. Those of us who know nothing of war have a lot to learn from his words and I'd like to thank him for rendering such extraordinary care to those who give their all. He certainly enriched my understanding of all things trauma related and I hope all those whose lives he's touched will understand they've been blessed by one extraordinary human being. Thank you, Dr. Cole.

Dr. Cole takes you right inside the operating room with him as he describes in detail the cases he has worked on. He shows the inhumane ways that man uses to hurt one another and how he tries to alleviate their suffering when they are brought to him. I definitely recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading about Dr. Cole's life and especially his training as an Emergency Surgeon as I was in the military myself and in my first enlistment was trained as a medical service specialist. An MSS is trained up to the level of a civilian Licensed Practical Nurse and I was specifically trained to administer treatments, medications, and also assist doctors in procedures, to take care of my fellow airmen and Air Force Officers. It was Dr. Cole's experiences as a Naval Surgeon and training in the Army Medical Corps to serve as a fully trained Rangers' physician and also a Navy Seal that was especially interesting to me. I had a lot of empathy for his wife and family, being separated from each other so much, and also having to move all over the U.S.A. with the military. I've been there and done that! I think this book would really suit or interest someone who's"into" medical stories and also has some background in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Came undamaged and in great condition!

This surgeon is clearly on a big, action packed, non-egotistical operative binge. It is easily written, read, understood and is his own view point. The chapter on cardiothoracic surgery, and his horrendous experiences ring alarm bells to those of us coming up after him: it was grim reading that chapter. One serious drawback to the book, is his almost naive, overly patriotic, hero worshipping attitude of US special forces personnel: this almost ignorant aspect of US foreign policy, his branding of almost any US armed forces personnel as a "warrior", and an air of sincerity that each time a US boot sets foot on foreign soul it is in a greater good, world good, holier than though, and never to do harm, good acts as an enormous contradiction to his fierce surgical aptitude, powerful intellect and deeply human values. This can antagonise the reader, detracting from some serious aspects of surgical training he vividly relieves. But, overall this book is brilliant

A very dry recounting of facts in an almost list like fashion, the writing leaves a lot to be desired and lacks the human element that would have drawn the reader in. Very disappointed as Dr Cole undoubtedlly has many interesting experiences to share but it tends to read more like a text book than a memoir in description of the surgical procedures and his writing style was totally lacking any storytelling skill. If you want something of this genre that is well written and engaging, try Atul Gawande or Henry Marsh.

I find it difficult to believe such a person exists - but I think he does. The photos seem to indicate this glutton for punishment went where he said he did, and did excel in all his endeavors, I can't imagine someone so dedicated to a goal (to be a surgeon) that he took all that time to go through some of the most rigorous and mentally/physically challenging military training he relates to us readers, and the the fortituden to pass through the sort of residency assignments he ha, and accomplish his goal.This man has to be built of bronze.I honestly have to wonder if his wife dealt as well with his absences as he tells us, her story gets glossed over with her being the 'silent trooper' in supporting rolr, always there to come home to, raisin' the kids and holdin' down the fort on her own. A few words from her side would not be misplaced to round out this very one-sided life, and convince me not to pity her. Was she strong to partner such an individual, or weak to pit up with it?Telling us about his brief experience of PTSD gives him a bit more humanity with *some* feelings and emotions, I was almost doubting he was able to feel as mortals do.According to his words, he definitely earned every skill he had. I don't know if they make men like him anymore, or if they should, or if he's part smoke.

This is a very interesting and detailed book if you can get past his arrogance and self-aggrandisement (I know surgeons are supposed to be arrogant but I'm afraid I just could not warm to him). I had to stop and start several times as he does get very mind-numbingly tedious at times. Dr Cole is clearly an excellent trauma surgeon but his skills as a writer leave much to be desired...

Not a bad book. A little dry at the start but picks up after you get into it.