The DO Book Club, November 2023:
‘The Peter Principle,’
‘How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection,’
‘Aging Optimally’ and ‘This to Me’
Doctoring is a tough business, regardless of which specialty you practice. I chose these books because they might make caring for patients easier or at least more understandable.
The Peter Principle
Welcome back to The DO Book Club! For November, I am reviewing “The Peter Principle,” “How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection,” “Aging Optimally” and “This to Me.”
Doctoring is a tough business, regardless of which specialty you practice. I chose these books because they might make caring for patients easier or at least more understandable. This is especially true as control over how we practice slips further out of reach.
“The Peter Principle,” Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull. Bantam Books (1972), 170 pp.
WARNING: Do not read this book on the ‘quiet car’ of a commuter train lest you risk being kicked out by your fellow travelers.
You will find yourself laughing out loud, yes, but also exclaiming “Yes!” throughout most of its chapters. Laurence Peter did the research and Raymond Hull wrote the text. If you work, as a statistical majority of physicians now do, in or for a corporate hospital system, this small, 54-year-old book—the first edition was published in 1969—will show you that depressingly little has changed in the way hierarchical organizations function.
The authors’ premise is that in any given organization, a good employee or manager will be sequentially promoted until he or she reaches their “respective level of incompetence.” Simply put, they will do a very good job until they are given one in which they are doomed to do a very bad job. Often with disastrous consequences for themselves, the people around them and, extrapolated to the health care arena, the doctors, nurses, the staff and the patients they care for.
The Peter Principle
Welcome back to The DO Book Club! For November, I am reviewing “The Peter Principle,” “How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection,” “Aging Optimally” and “This to Me.”
Doctoring is a tough business, regardless of which specialty you practice. I chose these books because they might make caring for patients easier or at least more understandable. This is especially true as control over how we practice slips further out of reach.
“The Peter Principle,” Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull. Bantam Books (1972), 170 pp.
WARNING: Do not read this book on the ‘quiet car’ of a commuter train lest you risk being kicked out by your fellow travelers.
You will find yourself laughing out loud, yes, but also exclaiming “Yes!” throughout most of its chapters. Laurence Peter did the research and Raymond Hull wrote the text. If you work, as a statistical majority of physicians now do, in or for a corporate hospital system, this small, 54-year-old book—the first edition was published in 1969—will show you that depressingly little has changed in the way hierarchical organizations function.
The authors’ premise is that in any given organization, a good employee or manager will be sequentially promoted until he or she reaches their “respective level of incompetence.” Simply put, they will do a very good job until they are given one in which they are doomed to do a very bad job. Often with disastrous consequences for themselves, the people around them and, extrapolated to the health care arena, the doctors, nurses, the staff and the patients they care for.
Years ago, I first became intrigued by the field of narrative medicine as pioneered by Rita Charon, MD, at Columbia University. I believe what Dr. Ko has done here is taken the original premise of how we can and should interact with patients and advanced it. Sure, you might roll your eyes and say “Another book on how to deal with patients?” but I believe if you do, you’ll be missing out on her rather unique and highly sensible approach.
Perhaps the most quoted line from the 1967 film “Cool Hand Luke” has Strother Martin drawling, “What we’ve got here, is failure to communicate.” Dr. Ko highlights the fact that in clinical interactions, that communication goes both ways. Her analysis and advice on how to use both sides of the conversation to mutual benefit is highly relevant for clinicians of any stripe at any level.
Her book takes a gently academic approach, but it is not an academic (i.e., dry and boring) read. Quite the contrary. There is a strong but not overly rigid overall framing structure to each chapter. And there are repeated sections titled “Key Takeaways” and, refreshingly, “My Implicit Bias.” I liked the personal writing style and the narrative voice of someone sharing what they’ve learned as opposed to someone telling you what they know.
Every unhappy patient may be different—but that’s just one more clinical challenge. It’s really not just the patient’s problem, as I’ve heard some colleagues say; it’s also our problem. Dr. Ko’s book offers some very practical and, more importantly, applicable strategies that we can use to solve it.
“Aging Optimally: Essential Tools for Healing Pain of Body, Mind and Spirit,” Carol L. Monson, DO, MS. 2023, 326 pp.
Ever think to yourself, “With all my experience, I could write a book?” Trust me, it’s harder than you might imagine.
Dr. Monson is an experienced family physician in Michigan. In her book, she has successfully integrated both her experience and her philosophy on healing, aging and the things traditional and non-traditional medicine have to offer. And she’s done it in such a way that you can read any of the 30-plus chapters in any order and walk away with something practical.
It’s a book about aging but it’s not just about aging. The author takes on subjects great and small and doesn’t shy away from anything. Whether she’s writing about sexuality or supplements, she provides useful clinical analysis leavened with real-world advice. I was impressed by the breadth of the subject matter and the fact that, although none the chapters are overly long, they seem to cover their intended material quite thoroughly. She even provides an extensive list of references at the end, in case you thought she was just dispensing off-the-cuff anecdotal advice.
Dr. Monson has written a book that is not only good and readable, but also extremely useful—a trifecta that is often underappreciated in its degree of difficulty.
For those readers to whom aging is now more than a concept (this reviewer included), there’s a lot in here worth considering. And even if you’re not there yet, it’s a book you could confidently recommend to your patients who are.
NOTED: “This to Me,” Al H. Yurvati, DO. Fulton Books (2023), 52 pp.
For those of you who enjoyed Dr. Yurvati’s “Wet My Hands,” he’s followed up with another slim volume of inspiring personal stories interspersed with interesting cases from his storied surgical career. It’s a good mix, nicely written, and might be of particular interest to students interested in pursuing a surgical career path.
Amazon Book Reviews
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Dr. Yurvati for several years. He is a great leader, physician and now author. Loved reading the book and can relate to his early beginnings. Humor, love, passion, trials and tribulations, a story like no other. A must read!! Looking forward to book #2.
— N Trevino
Awesome book, relatable beginnings, humbling and very inspiring
The author writes about his humble beginnings in a working class of Allentown, PA. Schooled in a Catholic high school with notorious trio of nuns. His army stint where he planned to be a paramedic met the love of his life leading to becoming a well-known cardio-thoracic surgeon. But a twist of fate turned his life into a caregiver and eventually a patient himself. An excellent read! ~ JSP
Amazon Customer
Dr Yurvati’s Journey
Heartfelt account of the path of one Cardiothoracic surgeon who found his passion and whose fire was fueled by the love of his life. Entertaining stories of growing up, serving our country, and the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in medicine. Humble beginnings make this open and honest story very relatable.
— David Mason
Great doctors start as great people!
Dr Yurvati is a renowned surgeon, speaker, and teacher. So of course I bought his book. It was great to read this book and hear things through his perspective. It was neat to recognize some of the people in the book as well. Looking forward to book 2.
— J W
A great read!
I read this book from start to finish. The content is excellent. It was amazing to read about all of his trials and tribulation on his path to becoming a premier surgeon. He describes the obstacles he had to overcome so vividly! This book is truely inspiring for any young man or woman interested in healthcare especially becoming a doctor. The best book I have read in a long time. I would highly recommend this book to any young doctors, chiropractors or dentists. Simply the Best!!!
— George Petruska
Excellent Book!!!A Great read for anyone interested in a Healthcare Profession!!!So Inspiring!!!
I’ve known Dr. Yurvati for years and never knew this back story. He tells an engaging story full of truth and grit. To read his story and see him go from an under-performing high schooler to one of our academic medical giants is truly inspiring! And he is still such a nice guy! And he doesn’t spare the tough details about his current health and that of his wife. I just loved reading his story!
— karen nichols
What it’s really like to become a renowned surgeon!
Dr.Yurvati shared his early years with the readers ,raw and unvarnished. His many accolades throughout his career were so deserved. LOTS of fun, love for His Sharon and their devotion for each other.
— Judy Steudeman
Awesome human being Exceptional Surgeon!
Well written auto biography of the life of a physician and surgeon who became tops in his profession. Very interesting! 🙂
— LRD
The Making of a Surgeon
You can read how passionate Dr Yurvati was about his “work” and how surgery was his life. It takes a special person with an interesting life to become a surgeon and hold others lives in your hands.
— Samantha Irish
Insight to surgery and the real person behind it
I loved this book! Loved the added bits of history along with the humor! Not only is Dr. Y a five star doctor, he’s a five star author! Can’t wait for book number two!!
Five star doctor and Five star author!!!