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"Dr. Ben Carson is known around the world for breakthroughs in neurosurgery that have brought hope where no hope existed. In 'Gifted Hands', he tells of his inspiring odyssey from his childhood in inner-city Detroit to his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions at age thirty-three. Taking you into the operating room where he has saved countless lives, Ben Carson is a role model for anyone who attempts the seemingly impossible" --Cover, p. 4.
User reviews
LibraryThing member mybestbookever
absolutely, one of the best told stories!
Great book!!
Great book!!
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
Reread of this amazing pediatric neurosurgeon's life. He beat the odds and his mother is a saint for raising two boys with her limited knowledge in such a wonderful way. She should be teaching today's single mothers.
LibraryThing member DoubleDare
I loved reading this book! It was truly inspirational! The story of Ben Carson, a famous neurosurgeon with a quite unexpected start. Neither of his parents were doctors. His father left them when he was young. His mother could barely read. His family wasn't rich and famous. He didn't go to advanced
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schools. He came from a ghetto with a single mom who had to spend most of her time working to support them. He didn't do well in school, and he had a violent temper. Life didn't give him his start. He had no execpectations to succeed. However, he had a mother who cared, a God who protected him and changed his life, and determination that grew more and more as he aged. It is so true that life is not what the world gives you, but what you add to it. If Dr. Carson could rise from the ghetto to greatness, the possibilities for anyone are endless! Show Less
LibraryThing member MBDudley
Wow. Powerful first person account of a man who rose to great achievements based on his innate intelligence and faith. I am having my 11 year old read this.
LibraryThing member parapreacher
Very enjoyable autobiography of a great man. Inspiring to read how he overcame great odds and difficulties to be one of the best neurosurgeons in the world.
LibraryThing member Isabelmore
Great Biography, some of the stories are very graphic.
LibraryThing member mrsheather1974
"Never get too big for God. Never drop God out of your life."
As you get older and the responsibilities start mounding up don't forget who holds you up. A good way to keep God on the top of your priorities list is to keep a daily devotion journal or prayer journal. You may only have time to write
As you get older and the responsibilities start mounding up don't forget who holds you up. A good way to keep God on the top of your priorities list is to keep a daily devotion journal or prayer journal. You may only have time to write
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one sentence and other days you may write pages. Either way, write something. Show Less
LibraryThing member FriendsLibraryFL
In 1987 Dr. Benjamin Carson gained worldwide recognition for his part in the first successful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head. It was an extremely complex and delicate operation – – five months in the planning, 22 hours in the execution, involving a surgical plan that
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Carson helped initiate. He pioneered again by saving 30 children who had no hope of survival, using a rare, daring procedure to remove half their brains. But such breakthroughs are unusual for Ben Carson. He's been beating the odds since he was a child.Carson was raised in inner-city Detroit by a mother with a third grade education. His future didn't look bright. He lacked motivation. He had terrible grades. And a pathological temper threatened to put him in jail. Show Less
LibraryThing member mjspear
Inspiring true story of Ben Carson's rise from the ghettos of Detroit to world-class neurosurgeon. His rise comes from hard work (he discovers the joy of reading and learning and being the smartest kid in class), perseverence and a little bit of luck / spiritual intervention. His mother possessed a
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3rd grade level education and raised him and his brother alone with a kind but firm hand. Ben's encounters with racism (his 'reason' for not playing football is chilling) as well as the hoi paloi of Yale make for good reading for anyone struggling to follow a dream. Show Less
LibraryThing member tagtuck
Just inspiring. Ben Carson makes me feel like I'm lazy. I really appreciate his acronym THINK BIG.
LibraryThing member FictionZeal
I once saw a movie titled From Homeless to Harvard. It was based on a true situation. Likewise, here is another true story of a person going from lenient beginnings to the achievement of great success. It is the story of Ben Carson as he went from the ghettos of inner-city Detroit to become the
His salvation came through his mother, Sonya Carson, who without their father around was raising Ben and his brother on her own. She encouraged them and she set some rules. She greatly reduced the time they were allowed to watch TV and she told them from then on, they’d read two books per week and give her reports on the books. Neither Ben nor his brother realized that she couldn’t read. But, she would look over their papers and make little marks and keep encouraging them to improve. And so, they did.
After having seen the movie (on TV) I borrowed the book from the library. As it turns out, the movie followed the book pretty closely. I enjoyed this book (and the movie) more than I can say. He goes through their hardship and his success in great detail. There are other stories of success in his role as a Neurologist and it is all very impressive. The writing style is a bit simplistic, but it may be it was his purpose to make it so that younger readers could enjoy it as well. If you’re yearning for something inspirational, you may want to check this one out. I rated Gifted Hands at 4.5 out of 5.
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Chief Pediatric Neurologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. This had also been made into a movie. When I saw it, I remembered how Siamese twins attached at the head had been successfully separated at Johns Hopkins. I had not realized that the neurosurgeon had at one time been his own worst enemy believing himself to be stupid and not able to achieve anything. He was made fun of. Because he’s black, even one of the teachers stood up before an assembly in which Ben was being awarded. She stated that the white boys should be ashamed of themselves, indicating that they should do better than the black boy. So, yes, he grew up with prejudice, too.His salvation came through his mother, Sonya Carson, who without their father around was raising Ben and his brother on her own. She encouraged them and she set some rules. She greatly reduced the time they were allowed to watch TV and she told them from then on, they’d read two books per week and give her reports on the books. Neither Ben nor his brother realized that she couldn’t read. But, she would look over their papers and make little marks and keep encouraging them to improve. And so, they did.
After having seen the movie (on TV) I borrowed the book from the library. As it turns out, the movie followed the book pretty closely. I enjoyed this book (and the movie) more than I can say. He goes through their hardship and his success in great detail. There are other stories of success in his role as a Neurologist and it is all very impressive. The writing style is a bit simplistic, but it may be it was his purpose to make it so that younger readers could enjoy it as well. If you’re yearning for something inspirational, you may want to check this one out. I rated Gifted Hands at 4.5 out of 5.
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LibraryThing member Jarratt
I'd seen the movie based on this book, but wanted to read it for myself. In a nutshell, Dr. Ben Carson was put on this earth by God to save people. This man came from humble beginnings, was loved and supported by an amazing mother, and achieved the highest pinnacles of the medical profession
"Gifted Hands" tells the story of a young boy from Detroit whose father left him, his brother, and his illiterate mother when he was very young. He overcame poor grades and the aforementioned temper to become a Yale graduate, and the preeminent pediatric neurosurgeon in the world. Carson credits his mother for her faith and her determination not to become a victim. He has carried these things with him as he navigates bigotry, false assumptions, and outright racism.
It's also important to understand that this book was written in 1990, so clearly it was long before he was encouraged to run for President.
Regardless of what you've read about him recently, this book proves many of the attacks on him are false. He clearly never says he applied to West Point. He does say he was offered a "scholarship" and has since proven that West Point was in fact offering "scholarships" specifically to young black kids who showed an aptitude for academics. And keep in mind, this isn't a book written to get him elected. Again, it was published in 1990.
To be fair, I must admit I support Ben Carson for president. Like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher before him, I truly believe God is working through Dr. Carson at a time when the country and the world needs him. He's spent his life saving children. Now it's time for him to help save our country.
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possible. He was very close to falling prey to his volatile temper, but through strong faith, became a calm, articulate, and thoughtful man. When told something can't be done, Ben seems to be one of those folks who, with the help of others, finds a way."Gifted Hands" tells the story of a young boy from Detroit whose father left him, his brother, and his illiterate mother when he was very young. He overcame poor grades and the aforementioned temper to become a Yale graduate, and the preeminent pediatric neurosurgeon in the world. Carson credits his mother for her faith and her determination not to become a victim. He has carried these things with him as he navigates bigotry, false assumptions, and outright racism.
It's also important to understand that this book was written in 1990, so clearly it was long before he was encouraged to run for President.
Regardless of what you've read about him recently, this book proves many of the attacks on him are false. He clearly never says he applied to West Point. He does say he was offered a "scholarship" and has since proven that West Point was in fact offering "scholarships" specifically to young black kids who showed an aptitude for academics. And keep in mind, this isn't a book written to get him elected. Again, it was published in 1990.
To be fair, I must admit I support Ben Carson for president. Like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher before him, I truly believe God is working through Dr. Carson at a time when the country and the world needs him. He's spent his life saving children. Now it's time for him to help save our country.
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LibraryThing member knightlight777
I probably like a lot of people had not heard of Ben Carson, M.D. before he showed up on the Republican presidential campaign. So I decided to find out more about him and this book was a good start. Free from political slant his autobiography gave me a good insight to his character and achievements
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in life and it is most impressive. If ever there was a role model for making something of oneself he is the guy. Thanks it large part to the guidance of his mother he went on to become a world renowned neurosurgeon impacting the lives of children, and how much better does it get then that? There is no doubt Carson is an exceptional man in a lot of ways. He has quite religious and often invokes God as coming through for him in many of the medical challenges he faced in the operating room. I am not a religious person yet I did have to wonder about some of these incidents. On the flip side a few of the failures were also related and the emotional wrenching these families faced as well as Dr. Carson were moving. Now that he is retired he takes on the political arena and will face a new world of challenges. Though his chances seem slim, I wish him the best and if anyone was up to that challenge it certainly would be Ben Carson, M.D.. Show Less
LibraryThing member wikiro
I loved this book.
LibraryThing member carolynsuarez
excellent!!!
LibraryThing member Tirana
Excellent..very inspiring and encouraging.
LibraryThing member JoniMFisher
Oh that we could all have loving, determined mothers like Ben Carson to encourage us to rise to our best. Told with humility and kindness, this biography was moving and inspirational.
LibraryThing member doehlberg63
Gifted Hands by Ben Carson is going to appeal to a wide range of people. If you love inspirational books, this one is definitely inspirational. If you are in high school and unsure about a career, Ben's strategies and tips, compliments largely to his amazing MOM with a third grade education, but a
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work ethic and drive like no other, could foresee what needed to be done to be successful in life and passed that on to both Ben and his older brother. If you like books with a Christian theme, once again this book does not disappoint. I was interested from the first until the last page. Be warned you will not want to stop reading it. I am looking forward to reading his other books as well. Enjoy! Show Less
Awards
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (High School — 1993)
Language
Original publication date
1990
Local notes
20th anniversary edition
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DDC/MDS
| 926.17 CAR |