Books › Gifted hands
Gifted hands
First published 1990 · 232 pages
An earnest, faith-filled testament to the power of a mother's belief and the miracles of modern medicine.
What it feels like
Reading this memoir feels like sitting down with a wise, deeply grounded mentor who wants to prove that no obstacle is insurmountable. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, carrying you from the gritty frustrations of an impoverished childhood into the high-stakes, sterile quiet of the operating room. It is steeped in an uplifting, reverent mood, anchored by a profound sense of faith and the quiet power of a mother's relentless belief. The prose is straightforward and unadorned, stepping out of the way to let the sheer magnitude of the medical miracles and personal triumphs shine. It will deeply satisfy readers looking for an earnest, hope-soaked story about transforming anger into purpose and defying every expectation.
- Mood
- uplifting
- hopeful
- reverent
- Tone
- earnest
- inspiring
- reflective
- didactic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- overcoming adversity · maternal influence · faith and perseverance · medical miracles · the power of education
- The writing
- Straightforward, accessible, and conversational, prioritizing clear storytelling over literary flourish.
- The arc
- Moves from the frustration and anger of a disadvantaged youth to a place of profound purpose, faith, and professional triumph.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking deeply inspirational, faith-inflected memoirs about beating impossible odds through hard work and divine guidance.
Content notes
- medical procedures
- childhood poverty
- racism
- brief childhood violence
About the book
In 1987, Dr. Benjamin Carson gained worldwide recognition for his part in the first successful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head. The extremely complex and delicate operation, five months in the planning and twenty-two hours in the execution, involved a surgical plan that Carson helped initiate. Carson pioneered again in a rare procedure known as hemispherectomy, giving children without hope a second chance at life through a daring operation in which he literally removed one half of their brain. But such breakthroughs aren't unusual for Ben Carson. He's been beating the odds since he was a child. Raised in inner-city Detroit by a mother with a third grade education, Ben lacked motivation. He had terrible grades. And a pathological temper threatened to put him in jail. But Sonya Carson convinced her son that he could make something of his life, even though everything around him said otherwise. Trust in God, a relentless belief in his own capabilities, and sheer determination catapulted Ben from failing grades to the top of his class --- and beyond to a Yale scholarship... the University of Michigan Medical School... and finally, at age 33, the directorship of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, Dr. Ben Carson holds twenty honorary doctorates and is the possessor of a long string of honors and awards, including the Horatio Alger Award, induction into the 'Great Blacks in Wax' Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, and an invitation as Keynote Speaker at the 1997 President's National Prayer Breakfast. Gifted Hands is the riveting story of one man's secret for success, tested against daunting odds and driven by an incredible mindset that dares to take risks. This inspiring autobiography takes 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. Through it all shines a humility, quick wit, and down-to-earth style that make this book one you won't easily forget.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Gifted hands
See why they match
Think bigBen Carson and Mr. Cecil MurpheyAn earnest, faith-fueled roadmap for turning early disadvantages into extraordinary achievements through discipline and belief.
Do No HarmMarsh, HenryA brutally honest, high-stakes meditation on the fragility of human life and the heavy burden of holding it in your hands.
Into the magic shopJames R. DotyA neurosurgeon's vulnerable exploration of how taming the mind and opening the heart can fundamentally rewire our lives.
Fearfully and wonderfully madePhilip YanceyA reverent journey through the microscopic miracles of human anatomy that illuminates the spiritual interconnectedness of humanity.
Strength in What RemainsTracy KidderAn inspiring, deeply human portrait of survival, memory, and the transformative power of second chances.
Mountains Beyond MountainsTracy KidderAn awe-inspiring, deeply challenging portrait of radical empathy in action that will make you question your own moral compass.