“Dr. Goodman is a fabulous guide to the strange world of surgery—where the intensity of combat medicine meets the realities of extensive paperwork. His book is as good as the greatest ER episodes ever, except every account is true.”
—Tom Rollins, founder of The Great Courses and former Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel, US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
“The chapters on the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are exceptionally compelling. Tony’s description of early Alzheimer’s is superlative, and he effortlessly blends the role of a retired physician and a patient.”
—Pedro Buarque de Macedo, MD, Clinical Staff, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
“Tony Goodman discovers the joys, horrors, triumphs, and profound disappointments of ‘learning his trade.’ An amazing journey to witness for those of us who put our lives and the lives of our loved ones in the hands of healers. We are alongside Tony as we learn the laws of medicine with him—and he’s funny in telling his story! Even if you’re squeamish, you’ll love it.”
—Sid Ganis, film producer and former President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
“Dr. Goodman’s genius is to clothe the reader in a surgeon’s garb, allowing them to experience organized ER chaos firsthand and suffer the overwhelming stress of being a surgeon. To contend with death and disease, Goodman also shares hysterically funny cases. His keen understanding of aging includes sharing ways to delay dementia. This wonderful book dazzles with charm, courage, and the intrepid humanness of a very good man.”
—Joel Klass, MD, former Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood, Florida
“Dr. Goodman writes with the precision of a skilled surgeon and the insight of a compassionate teacher. With humility, candor, and pluck, he illuminates the ethical and emotional dimensions of clinical practice that so often go unspoken. A compelling and deeply thoughtful read, Dr. Goodman’s narrative honors both the triumphs and challenges of a life devoted to healing.”
—Laura Goodell, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine
“We should all hope to have someone like Tony Goodman as our general surgeon should we need one. This well-written memoir takes the reader through the joys and frustrations of medical training and medical practice. I found it hard not to feel sad that Tony is no longer in the operating room with his hand outstretched for the right instrument.”
—Joseph P. Newhouse, PhD, John D. MacArthur Research Professor of Health Policy and Management, Harvard University
“Dr. Goodman’s book describes many poignant moments throughout his journey in the medical field—but none more poignant than his reflections on his incipient journey through dementia. His gracious acceptance of his diagnosis and his ability to retain a sense of purpose within the parameters of his ‘new normal’ are paramount.”
—Karen Aldenderfer, Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Support Group Facilitator
“Dr. Goodman’s memoir shines a light on what happens behind operating room doors and gives us a deep look inside medical education. He invites readers into a world most of us know little about. He clarifies, with heart and soul, what should matter most in medicine: healing combined with kindness and compassion.”
—Steve Kay, former Board Chair, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Trustee, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
“This is not a story of heroism or drama or courage. It is a quiet, straightforward remembering of one man’s journey, from the day he picked up a dead bird and brought it to science class to becoming a doctor. Read this book. You will never regard your doctor in the same way again.”
—Peter Glick, President, Management Search & Consulting
“In his memoir, Tony Goodman leaves an invaluable legacy to anyone who cares about our struggling healthcare system. Goodman is modest and funny; he does not spare himself, admitting his frequent early mistakes. Nor does he spare the system, noting unreasonable systemic pressures on doctors that can deprive patients of the kindness and understanding they need. The thread that carried him through the challenges comprised his core values of kindness, compassion, integrity, and the medical maxim ‘above all, do no harm.’”
—Margaret L. Newhouse, PhD, founder of Life Planning Network and author of Legacies of the Heart
“Great Saves and Terrible Losses is an honest, deeply human medical memoir. Goodman writes with clarity and compassion, capturing both the exhilaration and profound grief that shape a life in medicine. As a hospice professional, I was especially moved by the emotional integrity of these stories. This book doesn’t romanticize saving lives; it honors the courage it takes to keep showing up, even when outcomes are uncertain.”
—Carolyn Rohrbach, hospice spiritual counselor and author of Glint of Light
“An exceptional surgeon has written a remarkable memoir. I smiled at his victories, laughed at his foibles, and teared up at his disappointments. Dr. Goodman’s ease with storytelling captivated this reader as he imprinted himself on the page and in my heart.”
—Rosemary C. Williams, founder and Executive Director, Women’s Perspective, and author of The Woman’s Book of Money and Spiritual Vision
“Dr. Goodman provides the reader with a highly articulate, thoughtful, sensitive, and insightful perspective of his personal history, his role models, and his journey to reach the pinnacle of his profession. Through numerous surgical adversities, he maintained his professionalism and humility and demonstrated his warm, engaging personality.”
—Marvin L. Corman, MD, Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
“Goodman confides in us about the rigors of medical training, its toll on personal lives, and the business side of medical practice. We witness the earnest striving, remarkable successes, and tragic losses endured by this talented and dedicated surgeon. Not least, we see the arc of a career, from an eager student blessed by caring and knowledgeable teachers and mentors to an accomplished professional teaching and guiding the next generations.”
—Gary D. Robbins, Senior Foreign Service Officer (Ret.), US Department of State
“Goodman offers a series of vivid anecdotes that chronicle the experiences of a dedicated and innovative medical professional throughout a long and fulfilling career. Each story is presented with energy and flair, creating a compelling narrative that allows you to share in the joys, sorrows, anxieties, fears, triumphs, and failures faced at the coalface of life and death. It also paints a broader picture of a profession undergoing intense development and change and candidly addresses the personal and professional toll these challenges impose. An engaging, insightful, and heartwarming read.”
—Brian Pauling, ONZM, PhD, Research Fellow Emeritus, Canterbury Ara Institute of Technology, and author of Sharing the Mic
“As Dr. Goodman takes you on an exploration of the medical system’s inner workings, you almost feel as if you were there with him. And when he describes his own journey as a patient with Alzheimer’s, he does so in a way that is both comforting and educational, proof that science and humanity are not mutually exclusive.
“This book comes at a most needed time, when technology and AI threaten to obscure the value of human interaction in diagnosing and healing. Dr. Goodman’s experience reminds us that no matter how far we go in our scientific achievements, we should never forget the human side of why we do what we do. Who could possibly benefit from reading this book? Anyone who is or will ever be a patient.”
—Luciana Mitzkun, memory care specialist and author of Ahead of Dementia
“Tony Goodman’s book is well written and personally striking. In the early stages of one’s career it is hard to imagine being committed to such heavy and worrisome responsibilities. I was enormously impressed reading Tony’s memoir.”
—James S. Langer, former Director, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, and former Vice President, National Academy of Sciences
“Dr. Anthony Goodman takes us on a remarkably honest and intimate journey into the reality of a life of saving lives. He shares not only his actions but also his thoughts and feelings, so we get to be with him from the inside as he lives and works. Great Saves and Terrible Losses was, for me, a singularly mesmerizing and inspiring experience.”
—Spencer Sherman, PhD, clinical psychologist, instructor of psychology, and author of Be the Sky, Not the Clouds
“Goodman gives us an engaging, if not stunning, insider’s view of the struggles and joys of a life devoted to service. He lays bare the psychology of the surgeon who must perform under extraordinary pressures and expectations, revealing how this affects the human who lives inside that white coat.”
—William Peters, MA, MEd, founder of Shared Crossing Project and author of At Heaven’s Door
“Tony Goodman, a brilliant, has added a poignant section to this memoir. He writes of his own journey through medicine, including the awareness of the beginning of his dementia and the challenges he and his family and close friends faced with that knowledge. This courageous, well-written book is an inspiration for all who have also suffered directly or indirectly from Alzheimer’s.”
—Mary Tonetti Dorra, author of Two Lives on Four Continents, I Am a Portrait, and Beautiful American Rose Gardens
“An exciting and accessible view of days and nights filled with the challenges and privilege of practicing medicine in a wide range of places and circumstances in the late 20th century. In contrast to medicine of the early 21st century, Dr. Goodman’s memoir reflects the ideals articulated by one of the founding fathers of modern medicine, William Osler: ‘The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head.’”
—Monica Williams, MD, coauthor of It’s OK to Die
“The strength of this book lies in the author’s courage to lay open his feelings. He shares his frustrations, mistakes, gallows humor, and the soul-sucking obstacles in a broken medical system, astronomical malpractice insurance, red tape, the blood, fear of AIDS, knifings, exhaustion, a failed marriage, coparenting, and a new family. What we are left with is a real person. Triumphs. Losses. Resilience. A surgeon.”
—Cathie Keenan, MSW, author of Bats
“A riveting read from a knowledgeable and kind doctor who has treated thousands and saved many.”
—Jodi Wright, author of Eat and Get Gas and How to Grow an Addict
“Great Saves and Terrible Losses is a captivating read from start to finish. A consummate storyteller and teacher, Dr. Goodman shares with clarity how one’s life work can truly be ‘love made visible.’ Whether you are considering the medical profession as a career or want to gather tips on living fully regardless of the circumstances, this book is for you. I hope that there is sequel!”
—Deidre Combs, author of Worst Enemy, Best Teacher and Thriving Through Tough Times