Hot Lights, Cold Steel

Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon's First Years

By: Michael J. Collins MD

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

When Michael Collins decided to become a surgeon, he was totally unprepared for the chaotic life of a resident at a major hospital. A natural overachiever, Collins' success in college and medical school led to a surgical residency at one of the most respected medical centers in the world, the famed Mayo Clinic. But compared to his fellow residents, Collins felt inadequate and unprepared. All too soon the euphoria of beginning his career as an orthopedic resident gave way to the feeling he was a counterfeit, an imposter who had infiltrated a society of brilliant surgeons.

This story of Collins' four-year surgical residency traces his rise from an eager but clueless first-year resident to accomplished chief resident in his final year. With unparalleled humor he recounts the disparity between people's perceptions of a doctor's glamorous life and the real thing: a succession of run-down cars that are towed to the junkyard, long weekends moonlighting at rural hospitals, a family that grows larger every year, and a laughable income.

©2005 Michael J. Collins, MD (P)2017 Tantor

Fantastic author

Mike has the gift of gabby + has a fantastic story. His first book "Blue Collar to Blue Scrubs" is equally as entertaining.

Excellent medical story!

Excellent story! The reader has a good voice. I took a point off for mispronounced medical words.
I hope Dr. Collins writes more books.

Amazing!

This is the 3rd time finishing this book since I got it a few years back, it never gets old. Very well written and read perfectly!

The drs perspective

It was a bit slow at times, but he gave me an insight to how doctors can do everything by the book and things still don’t turn out. As a chronically ill person with many medical issues it’s often hard to understand why they just can’t get it right this book help me realize why.

great for a medical mind

It is a great book for a medical mind. There were many large medical words that intrigued me and the story is very personal to anyone worried about medical school, in their training, or reflecting on the past.

Fantastic

Loved the book! Just the right balance of humor and seriousness to drive home the underlying themes. Mikes daydreams have a 'style' similar to the ones Ralphie has in "A Christmas Story" which were hilarious! The narrator helps make the most of the book as well!

Great Book

I loved how the book was written from his point of view. I laughed out loud at some points.

Great story!!!

Listening to a book performed by John Pruden is the most personal experience one can have with a book!! John must be very particular in choosing great books to perform, since I have found all of his books a great “listen”! Be it medical terminology or fighter pilot jargon, he seems so natural that you’re right there inside the story — a participant rather than a listener!!! Great job John, great story Dr Mike!!!

wonderful listen

one of the best books I've came across! well written and narrated. thanks for such a delightful experience:)

A cut above the rest

I have a weakness for medical "coming of age" books and have read a lot of them. I have followed a surprisingly large number of physicians' memoirs of their education. This book is outstanding in its genre. The author is sometimes vulnerable, sometimes proud but always honest. The book covers the three years from when he begins his residency in Orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic and leaves there three years later to go into private practice. He's at his best when he describes his patients and his failures as well as his successes. I was stunned to find that twice I was near to tears and there were times when I laughed out loud at his down to earth humor and observations f the people around him. The book is not only about medicine, it is about family, about struggles to live on a Resident's salary and the sacrifices that the family must make to get through the three-year residency. This is one of the best books, of the hundreds, literally, that I have listened to.