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Diagnosis: Solving the Most Baffling Medical Mysteries
As a Yale School of Medicine physician, the New York Times bestselling author of Every Patient Tells a Story, and an inspiration and adviser for the hit Fox TV drama House, M.D., Lisa Sanders has seen it all. And yet she is often confounded by the cases she describes in her column: unexpected collections of symptoms that she and other physicians struggle to diagnose.
A twenty-eight-year-old man, vacationing in the Bahamas for his birthday, tries some barracuda for dinner. Hours later, he collapses on the dance floor with crippling stomach pains. A middle-aged woman returns to her doctor, after visiting two days earlier with a mild rash on the back of her hands. Now the rash has turned purple and has spread across her entire body in whiplike streaks. A young elephant trainer in a traveling circus, once head-butted by a rogue zebra, is suddenly beset with splitting headaches, as if someone were "slamming a door inside his head."
In each of these cases, the path to diagnosis--and treatment--is winding, sometimes frustratingly unclear. Dr. Sanders shows how making the right diagnosis requires expertise, painstaking procedure, and sometimes a little luck. Intricate, gripping, and full of twists and turns, Diagnosis puts readers in the doctor's place. It lets them see what doctors see, feel the uncertainty they feel--and experience the thrill when the puzzle is finally solved.
A twenty-eight-year-old man, vacationing in the Bahamas for his birthday, tries some barracuda for dinner. Hours later, he collapses on the dance floor with crippling stomach pains. A middle-aged woman returns to her doctor, after visiting two days earlier with a mild rash on the back of her hands. Now the rash has turned purple and has spread across her entire body in whiplike streaks. A young elephant trainer in a traveling circus, once head-butted by a rogue zebra, is suddenly beset with splitting headaches, as if someone were "slamming a door inside his head."
In each of these cases, the path to diagnosis--and treatment--is winding, sometimes frustratingly unclear. Dr. Sanders shows how making the right diagnosis requires expertise, painstaking procedure, and sometimes a little luck. Intricate, gripping, and full of twists and turns, Diagnosis puts readers in the doctor's place. It lets them see what doctors see, feel the uncertainty they feel--and experience the thrill when the puzzle is finally solved.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2019
About the author
Lisa Sanders
34 books180 followersLisa Sanders, M.D., is an internist on the faculty of the Yale University School of Medicine. She writes the monthly column Diagnosis for The New York Times Magazine, is the author of Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis, and served as a technical advisor on Fox TV's House, M.D. She lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
October 14, 2019
What got me into the book was an incorrect diagnosis from a doctor that I made instantly. The chapter was entitled, "Was it the Fish?" A couple had dinner out whilst on holiday in Barbados. He had barracuda and she had red snapper. He went to the hospital that night with the symptoms of severe food poisoning and worse. After blood tests and a CT scan, food poisoning or a bug was diagnosed. WHAT???? Were they all new doctors not from the Caribbean?
His symptoms got worse and he had tingling his hands and muscle weakness so bad he could hardly walk, there was a reversal of the sensations of hot and cold and so he went home to New York and to the Jacobi emergency department where he was eventually correctly diagnosed with Ciguatera. As soon as I read 'barracuda' I knew he was going to go down with this. It's a nerve poison that accummulates in barracudas and on a lot of islands people will only eat the small ones. (It's not only barracuda that have it, but they are the main risk). I know a lot of people who've had it. But actually there is a test - you cut off the tail, and if the fluid is blackish then the fish is poisoned. No telling why the restaurant didn't do this or was even serving barracuda in the first place.
There isn't any cure for it, just treatment of the symptoms which go away in a few days, or most of them do. The neurological issues, like tingling in the extremities, can last for months, or recur even years later. Basically don't eat barracuda! (I wouldn't).
The rest of the book was reasonably enjoyable. What I didn't like was that outside of necessary information about the patient there was nothing much written about them so I couldn't identify with them most of the time. This was a book about symptoms and diseases not the people who suffer frm them, and doctors, all of whom were named as were their hospitals.
I think the rating of this book depends on how much you like the format, it could be a 2 star or a 5 star. I'm in the middle, 3 star, maybe 3.5, from me. I preferred the first book I read by Lisa Sanders' Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis.
His symptoms got worse and he had tingling his hands and muscle weakness so bad he could hardly walk, there was a reversal of the sensations of hot and cold and so he went home to New York and to the Jacobi emergency department where he was eventually correctly diagnosed with Ciguatera. As soon as I read 'barracuda' I knew he was going to go down with this. It's a nerve poison that accummulates in barracudas and on a lot of islands people will only eat the small ones. (It's not only barracuda that have it, but they are the main risk). I know a lot of people who've had it. But actually there is a test - you cut off the tail, and if the fluid is blackish then the fish is poisoned. No telling why the restaurant didn't do this or was even serving barracuda in the first place.
There isn't any cure for it, just treatment of the symptoms which go away in a few days, or most of them do. The neurological issues, like tingling in the extremities, can last for months, or recur even years later. Basically don't eat barracuda! (I wouldn't).
The rest of the book was reasonably enjoyable. What I didn't like was that outside of necessary information about the patient there was nothing much written about them so I couldn't identify with them most of the time. This was a book about symptoms and diseases not the people who suffer frm them, and doctors, all of whom were named as were their hospitals.
I think the rating of this book depends on how much you like the format, it could be a 2 star or a 5 star. I'm in the middle, 3 star, maybe 3.5, from me. I preferred the first book I read by Lisa Sanders' Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis.
November 23, 2019
Diagnosis is a collection of short essays, each one detailing a seemingly baffling medical case that after some sleuthing and tests finally yields the root of the patient's medical issues.
I found this to be quite a snappy read. Each case is only 4 or 5 pages long, so it's easy to tell myself I'll read just one more case and before I knew it, I had read half the book. Each case is written like a mystery, with the clues in the beginning, and then it all comes together in the end with the right diagnosis.
For a book about medical issues, I thought it would be either too gruesome or boringly technical, but it was neither. It was a surprisingly fun, easy to follow, and fascinating read. I recommend it to all except those who get easily paranoid about medical issues.
I found this to be quite a snappy read. Each case is only 4 or 5 pages long, so it's easy to tell myself I'll read just one more case and before I knew it, I had read half the book. Each case is written like a mystery, with the clues in the beginning, and then it all comes together in the end with the right diagnosis.
For a book about medical issues, I thought it would be either too gruesome or boringly technical, but it was neither. It was a surprisingly fun, easy to follow, and fascinating read. I recommend it to all except those who get easily paranoid about medical issues.
May 23, 2020
Many thanks to Broadway Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Knowledge is power
You’ll notice that I marked this as a thriller. That is because I have never been more terrified while reading a book. I do not have hypochondria but goddamn this book came this close to giving it to me.
Diagnosis is a collection of stories about patients with strange ailments. This book was exceptionally written. I have paper cuts from turning the pages so fast!* I loved everything about this book. Firstly, the stories were so expertly chosen. The author chose only the stories that were interesting and valuable. And it showed. I learned so much and enjoyed myself while doing so. My favorite part was the fact that each story started with a shocking and interesting sentence such as: ”I’m dying!, ”She’s not breathing or ”Mommy, it hurts!
All that said, I want to warn those interested in reading this. You guys. This book is worse than google. What I mean by that is you’ll over analyze every headache, tingle and rash you get. This book is not for the faint of heart!
Overall, this was brilliant, intriguing and terrifying! I cannot recommend it enough!
Bottom Line:
5 Stars
Age Rating: [ R ]
Content Screening (Spoilers) - Educational Value: [Huge amount of value. Learning about the human body, bacteria, diseases and so, so much more!] ~ Positive Message: [Turning to others for answers is a good thing. Every problem has a solution. You just have to know where to look] ~ Violence: [Severe sickness. Vomiting, death, seizures and basically every painful symptoom you can think of] ~ Sex: [Discussion of sex from a medical view point] ~ Drinking/Drugs: [Alcohol, Illegal Drugs, Sedation Drugs, Antibiotics, Other Medicinal Drugs] ~ Langauge: [Minimal and Brief Langauge]
TW: Hypochondria
Cover: 4/5 ~
Publication Date: August 13th, 2019
Publisher: Broadway Books (Penguin Random House)
Genre: Medical/Nonfiction
*that’s a lie but you get the point.
************
if i had a dollar for everytime she said "abnormal" i could pay for all the medical bills in this book.
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i spent 30 minutes on this picture and that is a lot less lazy than i usually am
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June 11, 2024
Listened to the audiobook.
I wasn't sure what to anticipate from this book. Would it be as predictable as some non-fiction works I've encountered, where making a diagnosis seems overly complicated, yet I could discern it in just a few sentences? Or would it offer something more engaging? Happily, it proved to be the latter.
The book is structured into parts, each focusing on a specific medical issue like headaches, abdominal pain, peculiar rashes, and others. Within each section are chapters detailing individual cases. Reading this from a medical perspective gave me a unique approach; I found myself trying to guess the diagnoses, often with success. Yet, beyond that, I gleaned a wealth of knowledge.
What's striking is the book's accessibility to both medical professionals and lay readers alike. The narrative is compelling, and the cases offer not just insight into unusual and rare diagnoses but also the unwavering determination of doctors and families in seeking solutions for their loved ones.
Overall, it's a commendable read for anyone interested in medical non-fiction.
I wasn't sure what to anticipate from this book. Would it be as predictable as some non-fiction works I've encountered, where making a diagnosis seems overly complicated, yet I could discern it in just a few sentences? Or would it offer something more engaging? Happily, it proved to be the latter.
The book is structured into parts, each focusing on a specific medical issue like headaches, abdominal pain, peculiar rashes, and others. Within each section are chapters detailing individual cases. Reading this from a medical perspective gave me a unique approach; I found myself trying to guess the diagnoses, often with success. Yet, beyond that, I gleaned a wealth of knowledge.
What's striking is the book's accessibility to both medical professionals and lay readers alike. The narrative is compelling, and the cases offer not just insight into unusual and rare diagnoses but also the unwavering determination of doctors and families in seeking solutions for their loved ones.
Overall, it's a commendable read for anyone interested in medical non-fiction.
August 5, 2020
Fälle innerhalb sind> 50. Im inneren finden wir intellektuelle rätsel, die einige zu weiteren Untersuchungen der warum-fragen anregen. "Über die diagnose: das verwirrendste buch über medizinische rätsel lösen" von Yale College of Medicine Arzt und bestsellerautorin und beraterin der New York Times für "House MD" Dr. Lisa Sanders. Warum sollte das essen eines barrakudas einen Sturz und starke Bauchschmerzen verursachen?
Obwohl man in der medizin beachten muss, dass wir nicht oft auf das seltene schauen, sondern die aufgabe, die "Rerum Cognoscere Causas“ zu lösen, in den händen der diagnostiker liegt. Die Ätiologie dessen, was kopfschmerzen verursacht, verglichen mit einem, türknall im kopf einer person“, ist der schlüssel zur rettung des lebens einer person. Solche fähigkeiten sind genauso häufig wie das gewinnen der Fields-Medaille oder das werden eines Astronauten.
"Was könnte es sonst sein? Es gibt eine bösartige Form des Hämangioms ... bekannt als Angiosarkom ... oder es könnte ein gutartiges Hämangiom sein ... aber um diese diagnose zu stellen, mussten sie sehen, in welcher Art von Flüssigkeit sich befand diese Masse ... Sobald die Nadel angebracht war, zog der arzt die spritze zurück und die Kammer füllte sich mit dunkelrotem Blut. "
--- Lisa Sanders, MD, FACP
"Über Diagnose" ist inspiration und hält den leser auf eine bestimmte Frequenz eingestellt. Dies vermittelt eine neugier, die bei studenten, die den karneval oder zirkus religiös besuchen, nicht häufig anzutreffen ist. Die diagnose ist in diesem Fall so, als wäre man eine Person, die in dunkelheit getaucht ist und versucht, eine stecknadel zu finden. In dieser Übung lernen wir, wie man die Punkte von gebot zu gebot verbindet.
Fälle einbeziehen. Dr. Lisa Sanders führt uns auf einen Weg, der sich von einem großen mautpflichtigen weg oder einer Autobahn unterscheidet. Es handelt sich vielmehr um einen dornigen weg durch einen alten Wald, der angeblich voller COVID19-infizierter Patienten ist. Dieses Buch versetzt Sie in den weißen kittel und fordert Sie auf, über den Karneval hinaus aus einer anderen perspektive zu denken. Muss für medizin-, physik- oder jurastudenten lesen!
Obwohl man in der medizin beachten muss, dass wir nicht oft auf das seltene schauen, sondern die aufgabe, die "Rerum Cognoscere Causas“ zu lösen, in den händen der diagnostiker liegt. Die Ätiologie dessen, was kopfschmerzen verursacht, verglichen mit einem, türknall im kopf einer person“, ist der schlüssel zur rettung des lebens einer person. Solche fähigkeiten sind genauso häufig wie das gewinnen der Fields-Medaille oder das werden eines Astronauten.
"Was könnte es sonst sein? Es gibt eine bösartige Form des Hämangioms ... bekannt als Angiosarkom ... oder es könnte ein gutartiges Hämangiom sein ... aber um diese diagnose zu stellen, mussten sie sehen, in welcher Art von Flüssigkeit sich befand diese Masse ... Sobald die Nadel angebracht war, zog der arzt die spritze zurück und die Kammer füllte sich mit dunkelrotem Blut. "
--- Lisa Sanders, MD, FACP
"Über Diagnose" ist inspiration und hält den leser auf eine bestimmte Frequenz eingestellt. Dies vermittelt eine neugier, die bei studenten, die den karneval oder zirkus religiös besuchen, nicht häufig anzutreffen ist. Die diagnose ist in diesem Fall so, als wäre man eine Person, die in dunkelheit getaucht ist und versucht, eine stecknadel zu finden. In dieser Übung lernen wir, wie man die Punkte von gebot zu gebot verbindet.
Fälle einbeziehen. Dr. Lisa Sanders führt uns auf einen Weg, der sich von einem großen mautpflichtigen weg oder einer Autobahn unterscheidet. Es handelt sich vielmehr um einen dornigen weg durch einen alten Wald, der angeblich voller COVID19-infizierter Patienten ist. Dieses Buch versetzt Sie in den weißen kittel und fordert Sie auf, über den Karneval hinaus aus einer anderen perspektive zu denken. Muss für medizin-, physik- oder jurastudenten lesen!
August 30, 2019
Thank you Crown Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of Diagnosis by Lisa Sanders for review.
Step away from this book if you have any tendencies to self-diagnosis on WebMD. Filled with short descriptions of symptoms and the eventual usually very rare diagnosis, this book will have you never looking at a rash the same way.
I love books like these, as a former ER and House addict, I love these interesting cases.
A quick read and now I am very interested in finding the Netflix series based on this book
September 11, 2019
This book is what I call a Potato Chip Read - you can't stop after just one chapter. The short cases pull you along, and once I got into the form I gulped down entire sections whole. It's perfect for fans of medical nonfiction, but if you're new to the genre you may not want to start here.
Hear why in my review, part of this video on (you guessed it) Potato Chip Reads: https://youtu.be/DR_yCt__Lm0
Thanks to Broadway Books for providing a review copy.
Hear why in my review, part of this video on (you guessed it) Potato Chip Reads: https://youtu.be/DR_yCt__Lm0
Thanks to Broadway Books for providing a review copy.
January 26, 2022
This book describes symptoms that are, at first, mystifying. No one knows exactly what is wrong with the patient. To get to the bottom of it, tests are performed, medications are tried, and then someone says, “I’ve seen that before – it’s this very rare condition.” Appropriate treatment is administered, and the patient improves or is cured.
The book is organized by type of symptom (e.g., headaches, rashes, fevers, unexplained weakness, etc.), supported by short magazine-style articles for each case. It is written in (mostly) non-technical terminology and does not require advanced scientific knowledge. The cases are all from the United States, except one from the Caribbean.
It will appeal to those who are curious about unusual medical conditions. I can see value in it for medical professionals who may encounter them. But I would not read it in the expectation of finding out the answer to a current pressing medical question related to your own health, as the situations described in this book are extremely rare.
The book is organized by type of symptom (e.g., headaches, rashes, fevers, unexplained weakness, etc.), supported by short magazine-style articles for each case. It is written in (mostly) non-technical terminology and does not require advanced scientific knowledge. The cases are all from the United States, except one from the Caribbean.
It will appeal to those who are curious about unusual medical conditions. I can see value in it for medical professionals who may encounter them. But I would not read it in the expectation of finding out the answer to a current pressing medical question related to your own health, as the situations described in this book are extremely rare.
Read
July 20, 2024I don't rate medical non fiction.
Really interesting, vignette style, look at rare and difficult to diagnose medical cases. I love the way this was set out, grouped into body areas or symptom presentations. There's a chapter on everything from rashes, stomach problems, psychosis and the brain (obviously my favourite chapter) and the stories all discuss what symptoms the patients had and the often methodical and laborious process of discovering the diagnosis. I was very impressed with myself for getting the trigeminal neuralgia case within the first two sentences. And I also learnt a lot about HHT and artery of Percheron infarcts, which I will actively remember and use going forward.
If you like medical nonfiction, I think you'd probably enjoy this. And I had no idea it was a Netflix documentary either, so I guess I'm off to watch that now.
Really interesting, vignette style, look at rare and difficult to diagnose medical cases. I love the way this was set out, grouped into body areas or symptom presentations. There's a chapter on everything from rashes, stomach problems, psychosis and the brain (obviously my favourite chapter) and the stories all discuss what symptoms the patients had and the often methodical and laborious process of discovering the diagnosis. I was very impressed with myself for getting the trigeminal neuralgia case within the first two sentences. And I also learnt a lot about HHT and artery of Percheron infarcts, which I will actively remember and use going forward.
If you like medical nonfiction, I think you'd probably enjoy this. And I had no idea it was a Netflix documentary either, so I guess I'm off to watch that now.
May 11, 2022
4.5 stars
A must-read for fans of Dr. G Medical Examiner or Untold Stories of the ER.
The author expertly takes you through the diagnosis of rare diseases and common ailments with uncommon.
I wish some of the stories were a bit longer, and that some of the common tests/diseases were not explained repeatedly in every chapter.
Overall, a delightful read. I wish she'd write a sequel!
A must-read for fans of Dr. G Medical Examiner or Untold Stories of the ER.
The author expertly takes you through the diagnosis of rare diseases and common ailments with uncommon.
I wish some of the stories were a bit longer, and that some of the common tests/diseases were not explained repeatedly in every chapter.
Overall, a delightful read. I wish she'd write a sequel!
September 11, 2020
Probably it makes me a terrible, terrible person, but I like reading medical mysteries because they're supposed to be mysteries, and not to empathize with the patients. I know from experience that feeling of helplessness when someone who is close to you is slowly falling apart, and nobody can tell what exactly is going wrong. I also know, thankfully, how incredibly relieving it is when someone finally figures it out, and tells you yes, we can fix it. It's magical. If you are going through a health scare, I hope you find the right doctor to help you, because often it's not just about securing the counsel of the best expert around. Sometimes, luck plays a part too. And not always are the odds necessarily in your favor.
That said, and not to diminish these patients' struggles in the least, this is not why I read medical mysteries. I want the puzzle. The frustrating inexplicableness. The miraculous final epiphany. I want, in other words, House, MD. As I said, I know perfectly well that the real world and real medical practice don't quite work that way, and I didn't pick up Diagnosis expecting a novelization of the limping diagnostician's cases, but I was still a tiny bit disappointed. Berton Roueché's The Medical Detectives, for example, doesn't work that way either (consider that the correct diagnosis is often found just two or three pages into the case report), but it provides a lot more information about the condition that affects the patient, the illness's history, abundant details about how it impairs the body and how it can be counteracted, and I enjoyed the heck out of the book's scientific take on each case. Not that Sanders's Diagnosis fails to supply this type of information, but it's a lot more concise and patient-oriented. I repeat, this is absolutely not a negative thing, and indeed for the best physicians it is the patient's well-being, and not the intellectual game of diagnosis, to have top priority. It's just not the format that suits my particular interests.
Still, I devoured it, and I will check out Sanders's other medical reports. Recommended!
That said, and not to diminish these patients' struggles in the least, this is not why I read medical mysteries. I want the puzzle. The frustrating inexplicableness. The miraculous final epiphany. I want, in other words, House, MD. As I said, I know perfectly well that the real world and real medical practice don't quite work that way, and I didn't pick up Diagnosis expecting a novelization of the limping diagnostician's cases, but I was still a tiny bit disappointed. Berton Roueché's The Medical Detectives, for example, doesn't work that way either (consider that the correct diagnosis is often found just two or three pages into the case report), but it provides a lot more information about the condition that affects the patient, the illness's history, abundant details about how it impairs the body and how it can be counteracted, and I enjoyed the heck out of the book's scientific take on each case. Not that Sanders's Diagnosis fails to supply this type of information, but it's a lot more concise and patient-oriented. I repeat, this is absolutely not a negative thing, and indeed for the best physicians it is the patient's well-being, and not the intellectual game of diagnosis, to have top priority. It's just not the format that suits my particular interests.
Still, I devoured it, and I will check out Sanders's other medical reports. Recommended!
August 15, 2019
Curious about medical mysteries and the search for answers? Well, look no further as this is sure to satisfy that itch.
DIAGNOSIS presents medical mystery cases in the form of short stories. Here we are given an insight into a field that is complex and so clearly needs a personal touch. We may have the technology to aid us in our discoveries but all too often it’s about gut instinct, open communication with a community of medical professionals and a keen eye. I really enjoyed reading a few of these cases over the past week. It’s an excellent book to have on hand when life is too busy for binge reading.
Later this week, Netflix will air a documentary series called “Diagnosis”. The show is based off her column for the New York Times Magazine. Sanders is also the inspiration behind FOX TV’s House, M.D.
I leave this book with a deep appreciation for the medical field and their devotion to finding the answers. I also leaving it with the hopes I never have Margarita dermatitis.
4 stars for this intriguing read.
DIAGNOSIS presents medical mystery cases in the form of short stories. Here we are given an insight into a field that is complex and so clearly needs a personal touch. We may have the technology to aid us in our discoveries but all too often it’s about gut instinct, open communication with a community of medical professionals and a keen eye. I really enjoyed reading a few of these cases over the past week. It’s an excellent book to have on hand when life is too busy for binge reading.
Later this week, Netflix will air a documentary series called “Diagnosis”. The show is based off her column for the New York Times Magazine. Sanders is also the inspiration behind FOX TV’s House, M.D.
I leave this book with a deep appreciation for the medical field and their devotion to finding the answers. I also leaving it with the hopes I never have Margarita dermatitis.
4 stars for this intriguing read.
March 2, 2023
Interesting! But somehow get bored going through it. Every patient tells a story was much more interesting than this one!
September 7, 2019
As a huge fan of House, this was a must read for me. Tho It didn’t have the lovely snarky humor that the tv show has (and handsome Hugh Laurie), I was fascinated all the same. Although medically paranoid people might get worried they have half these maladies. Lol
February 1, 2021
Widząc, że wydało to wydawnictwo Insignis miałam raczej niskie oczekiwania. Okazało się, że owszem, jakość wydania pozostawia wiele do życzenia (delikatnie rzecz ujmując), ale jeśli chodzi o treść, to jest to zbiór całkiem ciekawych medycznych zagwozdek. Ot, takie dość interesujące czytadełko.
August 14, 2019
It has been a while since I have read a non-fiction medical book. When I did read them, they would fascinate me. Each case took me right into the medicine of the case. None of them are long, however, at times I would catch myself dissecting the technical language and forget about the people involved.
I felt detached from the cases instead of being in the center of it.
For readers who enjoy medical non-fiction concerning complex cases, I would recommend this.
I felt detached from the cases instead of being in the center of it.
For readers who enjoy medical non-fiction concerning complex cases, I would recommend this.
June 11, 2022
I seem to gravitate towards medical nonfiction. This book is a series of medical emergencies that are categorized into different areas of concern; fever, pain, aching head etc. All scenarios are obscure and not readily diagnosable. The book takes you on the investigation and research required for medical doctors to make a diagnosis of these cases.
I actually chuckled when I realized the author and narrator of this book Dr. Lisa Saunders was the consulting physician for the TV series House. I loved that show when it was running and still watch the reruns to this day since Amazon Prime has them available to watch.
That being said, the cases in the book were are little too generalized. I would have preferred more medically technical terms as well. Each case had a positive outcome and that is good but realistically some diagnoses and their outcomes are not always positive. The book had taken cases published in The New York Times magazine column so I understand these stories were written in consideration of the general audience for that source.
Overall I enjoyed reading the different cases and the journey of the patient and doctors in reaching a diagnosis. Most often a diagnosis takes trial and error as well as collaborating with other medical professionals. I rated it 4 🌟
I actually chuckled when I realized the author and narrator of this book Dr. Lisa Saunders was the consulting physician for the TV series House. I loved that show when it was running and still watch the reruns to this day since Amazon Prime has them available to watch.
That being said, the cases in the book were are little too generalized. I would have preferred more medically technical terms as well. Each case had a positive outcome and that is good but realistically some diagnoses and their outcomes are not always positive. The book had taken cases published in The New York Times magazine column so I understand these stories were written in consideration of the general audience for that source.
Overall I enjoyed reading the different cases and the journey of the patient and doctors in reaching a diagnosis. Most often a diagnosis takes trial and error as well as collaborating with other medical professionals. I rated it 4 🌟
August 8, 2019
Author Dr. Lisa Sanders is the doctor whom the television show HOUSE was based on. She is well-known for her diagnostic prowess as well as for her column in the New York Times. Now, Netflix is filming a series based on her case files. I am very much looking forward to watching this new series. I LOVED watching HOUSE and was sad when the television series ended.
DIAGNOSIS is a fascinating and informative read, as well as being chock-full of information that most doctors (and patients) are unaware of. In my opinion, everyone, especially doctors need to own a copy of this book.
I am well aware of the theory known as "Occam's Razor" which is a principle from philosophy that states that the simplest explanation is usually correct. However, sometimes that theory does not apply. In medicine sometimes a zebra masquerades as a horse and because the disease is so rare, it is unknown to the doctor and/or because of it's rarity, it is dismissed as a possibility.
If you have any interest in medical mysteries this book should be at the top of your 'TBR (TO BE READ)' List. Once I started reading, I was unable to put it down.
Not only does the author do an exceptional job of describing the symptoms each patient is experiencing, she also gives a brief description of the person's home and work life which provides a perfect balance between the technical and the personal aspects of each case.
Dr. Lisa Sanders also provides the reader with an update as to how each patient is faring at the present time. This is something that I find many medical books leave out. It is as if many doctors see only the medical mystery and view the patient as callously as they would view a lab rat; ignoring them once the mystery is solved and leaving the follow-up to others. Lisa Sanders does NOT do this. In fact, several of the cases were diagnosed years earlier and yet she has taken the time to call each patient and ask after their current help.
This book is worthy of more than just 5 Stars, however, since five stars is the highest rating I can bestow upon a book, 5 STARS will have to suffice. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The world is lucky to have diagnosticians such as Dr. Lisa Sanders and she has saved multiple lives and livelihoods. She is an inspiration to women everywhere.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book.*
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DIAGNOSIS is a fascinating and informative read, as well as being chock-full of information that most doctors (and patients) are unaware of. In my opinion, everyone, especially doctors need to own a copy of this book.
I am well aware of the theory known as "Occam's Razor" which is a principle from philosophy that states that the simplest explanation is usually correct. However, sometimes that theory does not apply. In medicine sometimes a zebra masquerades as a horse and because the disease is so rare, it is unknown to the doctor and/or because of it's rarity, it is dismissed as a possibility.
If you have any interest in medical mysteries this book should be at the top of your 'TBR (TO BE READ)' List. Once I started reading, I was unable to put it down.
Not only does the author do an exceptional job of describing the symptoms each patient is experiencing, she also gives a brief description of the person's home and work life which provides a perfect balance between the technical and the personal aspects of each case.
Dr. Lisa Sanders also provides the reader with an update as to how each patient is faring at the present time. This is something that I find many medical books leave out. It is as if many doctors see only the medical mystery and view the patient as callously as they would view a lab rat; ignoring them once the mystery is solved and leaving the follow-up to others. Lisa Sanders does NOT do this. In fact, several of the cases were diagnosed years earlier and yet she has taken the time to call each patient and ask after their current help.
This book is worthy of more than just 5 Stars, however, since five stars is the highest rating I can bestow upon a book, 5 STARS will have to suffice. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The world is lucky to have diagnosticians such as Dr. Lisa Sanders and she has saved multiple lives and livelihoods. She is an inspiration to women everywhere.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book.*
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March 29, 2024
Maybe I do want to eventually go to med school…
February 22, 2020
Diagnosis is a fun book for those who enjoy shows like House, or who simply like to learn a little about medical mysteries and the odd problems that happen to our bodies on occasion. For example, I had never heard of anyone developing an allergic response to cold weather before, but such a case is described in this book. Apparently, such a thing is possible.
The book is a compilation of very short, three to four page stories that are directly taken from the author's New York Times articles. As a result, there are no in depth accounts of any of the events recounted in the book, all action occurs quickly and all problems are solved within a page or two. This format makes it best for readers who would like to quickly read a few stories at a time. It's great as a book that one picks up and reads for a half of an hour and than puts down to do something else.
I never really felt drawn in to keep reading the book for long, since every few pages there is a different story, which doesn't really encourage long-term reading. However, because each story is such an easy read, it's very easy to slam through one of the thematic chapters in an hour or so.
Speaking of thematic chapters, the stories are grouped by common presentation of symptoms, such as headaches, or weakness. We are treated to a view of doctors that those of us who are not doctors ourselves do not usually see, which is interesting for it is enlightening to see doctors stumped and needing to consult other doctors. Often, it appears that getting enough doctors into one room appears to make the difference.
I liked this book, but it felt a bit superficial to me. It's designed to be palatable to the general, non-specialist reader, so it's very approachable. However, I would have really enjoyed if the author had gone into greater depth and detail, so that I could have felt that I learned more about human biology, medicine, biochemistry, and so on. But alas, this is not the kind of book for that, and I am probably not the usual kind of reader that this book was written for. So while it was a bit too breezy and light for my tastes, it would probably be very appropriate for one who is curious about medicine but who has very little interest in learning anything beyond superficial details.
If there had been greater variety in stories, if some had been chapter length and some had included greater detail, I may have found it worthy of four stars. This book at least hits the three stars mark, which I regard an average book capable of achieving. I give this book four stars because I find it well and interestingly enough written to be a page-turner, and therefore somewhat above average for the type of book it is, but it is simply too superficial and light for me to rate it as a five star book. I'm not sure anything I read in this book apart from a scattered fact or two will stick with me. It was fun while it lasted, but it doesn't have very great rereading potential. All in all it's a fun read that I would recommend to those who like reading about strange medical problems and how they are diagnosed, but I couldn't call it an excellent book. It's fun. That's about it.
The book is a compilation of very short, three to four page stories that are directly taken from the author's New York Times articles. As a result, there are no in depth accounts of any of the events recounted in the book, all action occurs quickly and all problems are solved within a page or two. This format makes it best for readers who would like to quickly read a few stories at a time. It's great as a book that one picks up and reads for a half of an hour and than puts down to do something else.
I never really felt drawn in to keep reading the book for long, since every few pages there is a different story, which doesn't really encourage long-term reading. However, because each story is such an easy read, it's very easy to slam through one of the thematic chapters in an hour or so.
Speaking of thematic chapters, the stories are grouped by common presentation of symptoms, such as headaches, or weakness. We are treated to a view of doctors that those of us who are not doctors ourselves do not usually see, which is interesting for it is enlightening to see doctors stumped and needing to consult other doctors. Often, it appears that getting enough doctors into one room appears to make the difference.
I liked this book, but it felt a bit superficial to me. It's designed to be palatable to the general, non-specialist reader, so it's very approachable. However, I would have really enjoyed if the author had gone into greater depth and detail, so that I could have felt that I learned more about human biology, medicine, biochemistry, and so on. But alas, this is not the kind of book for that, and I am probably not the usual kind of reader that this book was written for. So while it was a bit too breezy and light for my tastes, it would probably be very appropriate for one who is curious about medicine but who has very little interest in learning anything beyond superficial details.
If there had been greater variety in stories, if some had been chapter length and some had included greater detail, I may have found it worthy of four stars. This book at least hits the three stars mark, which I regard an average book capable of achieving. I give this book four stars because I find it well and interestingly enough written to be a page-turner, and therefore somewhat above average for the type of book it is, but it is simply too superficial and light for me to rate it as a five star book. I'm not sure anything I read in this book apart from a scattered fact or two will stick with me. It was fun while it lasted, but it doesn't have very great rereading potential. All in all it's a fun read that I would recommend to those who like reading about strange medical problems and how they are diagnosed, but I couldn't call it an excellent book. It's fun. That's about it.
May 8, 2020
This is an episodic book about medical diagnosis. It is written for lay people with a high-school education. I say this with confidence because the author is a columnist for The New York Times Magazine, this book is built of columns from the paper, and the Times Magazine pitches its writing to your basic twelfth grader. The use of her columns as the bricks with which to construct her book is further evident in the sameness of each short chapter. It is as if each was written from a template, as I strongly suspect that each one was. The outline goes roughly like this: (1) a previously healthy person is suddenly debilitated by a weird set of symptoms which are not normally found together in the wild; (2) doctors respond to what they think might be wrong but they are wrong; (3) the doctors rely too much on sophisticated and expensive machines and tests when they ought to be (a) listening to their patient and (b) conducting a really thorough physical examination; (4) at the last minute, some doctor tumbles to an unlikely uncommon diagnosis which is correct and saves the day. [Note: with only one exception out of 53 cases, nobody dies.] I used to think that modern industrialized medicine reduced physicians to the same protocols as automobile mechanics. A person drives into the garage and says her car is misbehaving in a particular way. The mechanic doesn't really diagnose anything but rather proposes the fix which, based on experience, is the most likely cause of the problem. If that works, the mechanic (and the doctor) is the hero of the piece. If it doesn't, perhaps a diagnostic test is in order but, even then, one simply moves on to the second-most-likely cause of the symptoms and prescribes the cure for that. If the cause and the cure coalesce before (a) the engine explodes or the wheels fall off, or (b) the patient drops dead, then the mechanic and the doctor are still the heroes of the piece. Robertson Davies, the brilliant Canadian man of letters, wrote an excellent novel in 1994 called The Cunning Man. The protagonist, a medical doctor named Jonathan Hullah, practiced holistic medicine and surprised his colleagues by discovering the cause of many medical problems which eluded them. All of Davies' novels are valuable; this one is exceptionally valuable and it is so very sad that the author died before he could write the sequel which he had planned and researched. Dr Hullah seems the perfect diagnostician: schooled in scientific Western medicine but with a background in Native American healing arts, able to read the results of medical tests but also perceptive enough to note things like what his patients smell like. It is not that Dr Sanders' book on diagnosis is bad; it is that I had rather hoped that her book, like Dr Hullah, would be so much better.
January 18, 2021
Binge reading for me. I am fascinated by science and medicine, so when I book comes along offering vignettes from real life medical dilemmas, I am reading it.
Interestingly, in several of the stories of these difficult to diagnose medical conditions and illnesses, those suffering didn’t seek medical attention until the situation became unbearable or he/she was at death’s door because he/she did not have insurance usually related to being laid off or losing their employment. This is a very sad statement that done not reflect well on our nation. Medical care needs to be available to all who need it without facing a potential bankruptcy.
The second thing that caught my interest in this book is how many of the physicians participating in solving these medical mysteries had non Anglo Saxon last names. So viva immigrants and their parents who came to this country seeking a better education and better life and the invaluable contributions they make to our society.
I understand that this book was put together from episodes of a TV show. I haven’t seen the show, but the many stories contained in this book will keep up you guessing and reading.
Interestingly, in several of the stories of these difficult to diagnose medical conditions and illnesses, those suffering didn’t seek medical attention until the situation became unbearable or he/she was at death’s door because he/she did not have insurance usually related to being laid off or losing their employment. This is a very sad statement that done not reflect well on our nation. Medical care needs to be available to all who need it without facing a potential bankruptcy.
The second thing that caught my interest in this book is how many of the physicians participating in solving these medical mysteries had non Anglo Saxon last names. So viva immigrants and their parents who came to this country seeking a better education and better life and the invaluable contributions they make to our society.
I understand that this book was put together from episodes of a TV show. I haven’t seen the show, but the many stories contained in this book will keep up you guessing and reading.
December 16, 2022
I loved this book as I loved hearing about the rare and common medical diagnosis and how some doctors figured it out. This book was great to read a little at a time. I liked the author’s TV series and I have read her column over the years.
December 11, 2023
read this whole book at work today, really good and interesting!! I liked how it was organized by symptom and broken down so the reader felt like they were in the physicians shoes
May 30, 2022
This a collection of simple cases that was written in a less interesting way than Dr. Sanders' earlier book "every patient". But it still be a little intertaining for people from outside the medical field.
January 21, 2023
działy o urojeniach i utracie przytomności były tym czego oczekiwałam po tej książce, reszta średnia :/
June 23, 2022
Pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas, pamanīju šo pašu seriālu Netflix. Šaubījos, vai skatīties, nupat tak visu izlasīju. Tomēr ieslēdzu televizoru un secināju - uzfilmētais materiāls - intervijas, sejas un balsis ir nesalīdzināmi spilgtāks, aizkustinošāks un informatīvāks par mazītiņajiem un visai vienveidīgajiem NYT slejas pārpublicējumiem. Šā vai tā, gan grāmata, gan seriāls liek aizdomāties un saglabāt modrību, jo ne veselība, ne dzīvība nevienam nav garantēta.
July 27, 2022
4 ⭐️
- book is written in a “every chapter is a new story type format”. was an interesting read and learned about medicine and diagnostics a little more. wouldn’t recommend if you’re a hypochondriac. got repetitive at some point. a little preachy too.
- book is written in a “every chapter is a new story type format”. was an interesting read and learned about medicine and diagnostics a little more. wouldn’t recommend if you’re a hypochondriac. got repetitive at some point. a little preachy too.
November 14, 2021
I cannot rate this book highly enough. As a former EMT and current ICU nurse who loves medical mysteries and how the body works, this is perhaps the most fascinating medical book I have read.
January 22, 2020
Let me begin this review by sharing two things: my love for Grey’s Anatomy is undying, and I am happily employed at a surgical nonprofit. My point being, this topic interests me. Medical professionals, medical mysteries, problem solving under pressure when lives are at stake - I truly love it all. However, I can’t bring myself to give Diagnosis more than 3 stars and the main reason for this is not due to the subject matter, but mainly the narrative style and pacing throughout.
I WANTED to love this book but in hindsight I think my expectations were off. Instead of truly being in the doctor’s shoes, as the introduction and back panel suggest, the reader is mainly in the patient’s shoes, but even in that regard we’re not completely whipped into anyone’s full experience; Lisa Sanders simply didn’t allow the time for that.
Sanders structures this book by giving a brief history of each patient, followed by their experience with the doctor(s), a few things that didn’t work and then finally the thing that did, and then a one-liner at the end of each chapter that I assume is supposed to satisfy the need for a moral or resolution. For me, this was not enough. The repetitive style of each short narrative was fine, but the attempted pretty-little-bow tying up each chapter was over done, rushed, and didn’t serve as being an impactful conclusion.
Reading Diagnosis felt like I was skimming medical charts combined with short, slightly personal backstories. But... I needed more. Each segment is on average two and a half pages long. It’s not enough time to get to know anyone, or even come to a meaningful takeaway about lessons learned. The amount of thoughtful reflection that would complement the confusing medical experiences the reader briefly learns about is simply not provided.
Also, side note, who the heck is Lisa Sanders?? She is never consistently present in her storytelling and I found myself wondering multiple times, how do you fit in here? Why are you telling this? How are you involved? I desperately wanted time with JUST Sanders to help me feel grounded and understand the terrain and her role in it. This book is choppy and not tethered to any one person or place to make the reader feel stable.
Being thrown into a medical puzzle, as doctors so often are in reality, is extremely intriguing and fun as a reader, but to have more than 50 of these experiences is less impactful than if there were fewer anecdotes balanced with more introduction, reflection, and exposition from this apparently brilliant author/narrator that I still know next to nothing about.
I WANTED to love this book but in hindsight I think my expectations were off. Instead of truly being in the doctor’s shoes, as the introduction and back panel suggest, the reader is mainly in the patient’s shoes, but even in that regard we’re not completely whipped into anyone’s full experience; Lisa Sanders simply didn’t allow the time for that.
Sanders structures this book by giving a brief history of each patient, followed by their experience with the doctor(s), a few things that didn’t work and then finally the thing that did, and then a one-liner at the end of each chapter that I assume is supposed to satisfy the need for a moral or resolution. For me, this was not enough. The repetitive style of each short narrative was fine, but the attempted pretty-little-bow tying up each chapter was over done, rushed, and didn’t serve as being an impactful conclusion.
Reading Diagnosis felt like I was skimming medical charts combined with short, slightly personal backstories. But... I needed more. Each segment is on average two and a half pages long. It’s not enough time to get to know anyone, or even come to a meaningful takeaway about lessons learned. The amount of thoughtful reflection that would complement the confusing medical experiences the reader briefly learns about is simply not provided.
Also, side note, who the heck is Lisa Sanders?? She is never consistently present in her storytelling and I found myself wondering multiple times, how do you fit in here? Why are you telling this? How are you involved? I desperately wanted time with JUST Sanders to help me feel grounded and understand the terrain and her role in it. This book is choppy and not tethered to any one person or place to make the reader feel stable.
Being thrown into a medical puzzle, as doctors so often are in reality, is extremely intriguing and fun as a reader, but to have more than 50 of these experiences is less impactful than if there were fewer anecdotes balanced with more introduction, reflection, and exposition from this apparently brilliant author/narrator that I still know next to nothing about.
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