One of the books I read last year was Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, described by Booklist as “a gripping exploration of the potentially sacred nature of sex within the context of love.” Personally, I've always loved Paulo Coelho’s work. His voice, his storytelling, and his ability to present unique perspectives resonate with me in every book he writes. While Eleven Minutes was engaging and thought-provoking, I wouldn’t call it my favorite Coelho book. That said, I did find its premise fascinating, and I finally understood the meaning behind the title. The title Eleven Minutes refers to Maria’s observation, as the protagonist, that the actual act of having sex takes about 11 minutes—an intriguing detail that adds a layer of realism and reflection to the story’s exploration of intimacy and love.
The book centers on Maria, a young Brazilian woman who ends up working as a prostitute in Geneva, and her journey of self-discovery, emotional awakening, and understanding the connection between physical desire and emotional love. Through Maria’s experiences, Coelho delves into the complexities of relationships, love, and the search for meaning in human connections. He manages to approach taboo topics with sensitivity and philosophical depth, which is one of the trademarks of his writing.
My favorite passage of the book was this: “He should know that the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; We simply awaken it. But in order to do that, we need the other person. The universe only makes sense when we have someone to share our feelings with.” This perspective gave me something to reflect on—I hadn’t thought about love in that way before.
One of the standout quotes from the book for me was: “A writer once said that it is not time that changes man, nor knowledge; the only thing that can change someone's mind is love.” Of course, the writer who said that was none other than Paulo Coelho himself! His ability to weave profound truths into his storytelling is part of what makes him so memorable.
While this may not have been my favorite of his works, Eleven Minutes still offered a deeply philosophical exploration of human desires and relationships, and I appreciated how Coelho challenged me to think differently about intimacy and connection. If you enjoy books that examine love and the human condition with a spiritual lens, this one is worth reading.”
Review of Christopher Ahmad’s book SKILL: 40 Principles That Surgeons, Athletes, And Other Elite Performers Use to Achieve Mastery. I also identify my pick of the top three skills that neurosurgeons should strive to adopt. Ahmad's book is a powerful and insightful read for anyone who is pursuing the goal of peak performance.
Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed, written by Harvard Business Review journalist Daniel McGinn, covers the entire landscape of mental prep for high achievement. I thought I knew the whole story on this topic, but Psyched Up taught me new techniques that I can use in my daily life.
The New York Times and The New Yorker gave Do No Harm, by Henry Marsh. solid reviews, which it deserves. It’s by an English neurosurgeon who chronicles his career experience, the highs and lows.
Book Review of Edmund Morris' Book "The Living Hand". Highly recommended by Dr. McLaughlin. Brain-like, it [The Library of Congress] silently throbs with knowledge, and invisible connections-fact to fact, thought to thought..
I just finished listening to Eben Alexander’s Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife. Because I am in the car driving so much I often “read” books this way and I highly recommend it.
I became a huge fan of Andy Andrews, a New York Times Best Seller author, seven years ago. If you haven’t read any of his books, I urge you to pick up a copy of The Traveler’s Gift. It won’t disappoint. An Entertaining and Inspiring read.
Firlik covers the entire territory of being a neurosurgeon, the highest of highs and lowest of lows. The need for a surgeon to be a ray of hope, as well as the relater of harsh truth. Dealing with surgeons with big egos. Recognizing when a seemingly straightforward condition may indicate a potentially fatal brain infection.
My review of Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield. A worthwhile new book to add too your reading list. How can we glimpse the world of the gods with more frequency, even regularity?
Just finished Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Mom is smiling down from Heaven. 12 years ago she gave me an autographed copy that she got when Dr. Verghese was passing through Short Hills, NJ
A review of "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War" by Karl Marlantes. With a son of my own following a career as a Marine, this was an intriguing and challenging book.
Edward Weston was a famed (in his time) long-distance and endurance walker who in 1909, at age 70, walked cross-country in 105 days. Wayne Curtis weaves a fascinating read about the power of walking.
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