| Bag Balm and Duct Tape: Tales of a Vermont Doctor |  | Author: Beach Conger
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $0.27
You Save: $16.68 (98%)
New (1) Used (29) Collectible (2) from $0.27
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 1730433
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 263
ISBN: 0316152587
Dewey Decimal Number: 610.924
EAN: 9780316152587
ASIN: 0316152587
Publication Date: October 1988
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Publisher: Little Brown and CompanyDate of Publication: 1988Binding: Hard CoverCondition: Very GoodDescription: 0316152587 A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. Dust Jacket has some edgewear present. 1988 Little Brown and Company Hard Cover
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When young Dr. Beach Conger accepted a hospital appointment in rural Vermont, it was a mail-order marriage without either party seeing the other.
He envisioned living out the rest of his days splitting wood, healing the sick, and being adored as a kindly country doctor. His new patients figured they had their work cut out for them, breaking in this whippersnapper M.D. from Berkeley, California.
Beach Conger's tale of his training in the art of country doctoring is a joy. Listen in on the hilarious consultations as he finds a cure for vitaminia, induces laconic Vermonters to talk about "private" problems, and even reconstructs the formula for the "Green Pills" his predecessor invented. He especially brings home that most basic consideration -- the need for every doctor to be supervised by a responsible person, i.e., a nurse.
"An engaging blend of rustic wisdom and big-city know-how." -- Publishers Weekly
|
| Customer Reviews:
 A humorous view of medicine and doctors May 23, 2008
I also expected a Herriott-like tale of the flatland doctor encountering the crusty characters of Vermont, as he slowly learns about them and their quaint customs and eventually becomes a Vermonter himself. The book violated this expectation, and perhaps in a good way, because those kinds of books often have humor that is too gentle and plot that is nonexistent. Although the book does discuss his patients and the geography and economics of Vermont, through semi-fictional characters, it is more of a commentary on modern medicine and the doctor's place in it. Dr. Beach is severely self-deprecating about himself and the doctor's role in curing people, which appears in (presumably fictional) long, humorous speeches he gives to his patients who come to him with problems. Although the status of his patients as Vermonters does come up, it is rather less the focus of the book than one might expect.
The book is a kind of mish-mash of doctoring, observation of human nature, commentary on medicine and its inability to do most things, and a history of one corner of Vermont. It was a pleasant read for me while I was on vacation in Vermont, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, humorous (but not hilarious) read. My only reservation was that some of the monologues he engages in with patients would be in rather poor taste if they had actually taken place in real life (especially the conversation with his terminally ill patient). I don't suspect him of actually talking to his dying patients that way, but the event was a little disturbing even in fiction.
But overall, a pleasant book by a doctor who refuses to take himself seriously.
 True Enough January 28, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Truly enjoyed this book. As a Nurse and a Vermonter I found this book to be so true of the Vermont I know and our blessed health care providers. I recommend it to anyone beginning their career in health care.
 Enjoyable February 14, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book had me laughing out loud! signed, a former country do
 yuck October 10, 1999
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Funny that he should mention James Herriot, which was more or less what I was hoping for. Despite a few interesting parts and parts that rang true (I'm also a doc) my overall impression was one of bordom. The book didn't have much substance or deep meaning. Sort of a vague diary which was not of general interest. (With an apology to the author's mother, whose opinion he keeps dredging up.....)
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
