We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

Book excerpt: The important landmarks in the evolution of the surgical art and science from the Neolithic period to the present are presented in a personal and readable style that will capture your attention, avoiding technical jargon, and can be understood by everyone. Although the book is specifically written for the young surgeon in training so that he/she will be knowledgeable about the history of their profession, and the giants on whose shoulders they stand. The author often has personal vignettes with some of the giants of surgery of his generation whom he encountered in his half century in the profession., some of which have never been revealed before. Knowing history allows us to avoid repeating some of the mistakes of the past, and conversely allows us to build on previous successes. The past can and has laid the groundwork for the future. The last chapter makes some predictions of where surgery is headed.