A Companion to Aphorisms & Quotations for the Surgeon

Book excerpt: Since its publication, five years ago, the bestseller, 'Aphorisms & Quotations for the Surgeon', has found its place in surgeons' personal and public libraries. Surgeons are using the book to 'decorate' their lectures or manuscripts with relevant smart or entertaining entries; some like to quote from the book during teaching rounds or conferences; many simply enjoy it for its collective and eternal surgical wisdom and wit. This book brings an additional medley of aphorisms and quotations for surgeons, sent in by surgeons or retrieved from multiple sources to serve as a companion to the first volume. It is hoped that readers, especially the younger surgeons, will discover that surgical truth is old, that what they think is a novel idea has been said before, and that what they observe around them - has been observed years ago. It may contribute to their humanity and humility, perhaps even add maturity to their surgical personality and practice, and with a bit of luck, increase their sense of surgical humor - which in the era of political correctness has tended to dry up. A previous review of 'Aphorisms & Quotations for the Surgeon' "This promises to be an enormously useful, not to mention - entertaining - volume for any surgeon who writes a paper, gives a talk or teaches students. If a family member or colleague does not have the foresight to give this book to you as a gift, it is well worth the price of buying it for yourself."