Committed

Starred review from May 24, 2021
Stern debuts with a mesmerizing memoir of the four years he spent in a psychiatry residency program at Harvard. He joined the staff in 2010, as part of a group of 15 residents, and was charged with observing patients in the emergency room and the psych ward, and working the grueling “night float,” which required working two consecutive weeks of overnights. While he admits that “managing patients was a never-ending maelstrom of chaos and uncertainty,” Stern came to understand that psychiatry is all about helping patients become their best selves “in spite of, or even because of, the immense challenges they face.” Throughout, he paints sensitive and often touching portraits of his patients, who dealt with everything from paranoia to anorexia to severe depression. In spending “half my day as a reflective window” for others’ struggles, he often carried their despair with him. At the same time, he writes, these intense trials led to deep bonds with the other residents—one of whom would eventually become his wife—and taught him how “to purposefully keep moving forward.” Compassionate and candid, this is as human as it gets. Agent: Karen Murgolo, Aevitas Creative Management.

May 28, 2021

Making use of many entries from his own journal, Stern (psychiatrist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr.; psychiatry, Harvard Medical Sch.) shares his journey through a four-year residency program in psychiatry at Harvard. This book is a fascinating look at the inside of a medical residency, and it offers a glimpse of many of the often-understated personal costs involved. Of special note are Stern's description of imposter syndrome and his reflections on whether he should become a doctor at all. Readers who have also experienced the vigor of professional academic training will find Stern's account familiar and satisfying, while those who haven't will get a rare and insightful glimpse into the many potential struggles involved. Stern's book is written in a brutally honest, often self-effacing tone. Readers will ultimately emerge feeling triumphant alongside Stern, who over the course of the book finds love and professional success and satisfaction, despite the challenges he faced during residency and the beginning of his medical career. VERDICT This well-written, engaging book will have a special appeal to those already in academia and will be of interest to those who are considering it. It is essential and recommended for all academic and public libraries. --Steve Dixon, State Univ. of New York, Delhi

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June 1, 2021
With high-stakes drama, interesting characters, and a predictably appealing protagonist, it's no wonder that medical memoirs are often compelling reading. Stern's is no exception as he recalls his four years of psychiatric residency training at Harvard. He emphasizes his feelings of inadequacy, intense work, the vast amount of information that must be mastered, and the unique challenges presented by psychiatric patients. The camaraderie with other residents helps him survive the experience. He portrays patients with suicidal thoughts, mania, psychosis, catatonia, depression, and anorexia. Descriptions of a locked psychiatric unit, treating mentally ill patients without their consent, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy add intensity to his account. As Stern struggles to become a proficient psychiatrist, he and his patients sometimes falter. But moving forward, no matter how small the steps, is crucial. Complicating his training is his personal search for love. Stern sees psychiatry as the medical specialty "aimed at helping patients to find and become the best versions of themselves" despite formidable challenges. A sensitive chronicle about becoming a doctor and the value of human connection and empathic listening.

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Starred review from June 1, 2021
The highs and lows of a grueling four-year psychiatry residency. As Stern notes in this dynamic debut memoir, though he was armed with the empathetic drive to "become an expert in the human condition," he was unprepared for the difficult work he would face. After graduating from SUNY Syracuse, he matched with the residency program at Harvard Medical School in 2010. The author writes about how he was intimidated after being paired with classmates from more prestigious medical schools, but as the son of a cardiologist, high expectations were established early, which only added to the pressure to outperform the 14 other residency scholars in his class. After several shaky introductory shifts, Stern found his footing in a work environment characterized by elaborate clinical processes, murky treatment ethics, nagging self-doubt, and sheer physical exhaustion. Eventually, the author got worn down by weeks of consecutive overnight shifts handling the "firestorm" of a full patient caseload in the psych ward and rotation schedules in the emergency department. Nonetheless, Stern remained committed, and he was also able to find romantic fulfillment with a fellow resident, Rachel, who later became his wife. As the author vividly captures the urgency, chaos, and eerie fascination involved with the treatment of mental illness, he also candidly shares numerous patient portraits, which provide some of the most moving and disturbing moments in the book. Stern capably handled patients plagued with severe anorexia, manic depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, but he was still blindsided by some of the unique, situational "stuff we never covered in med school." The combination of patient case studies and medical trainee journal creates an intense reading experience and an eye-opening appreciation for medical professionals charged with psychiatric care. Residents and those contemplating a career in mental health will find much to glean from this spirited memoir of dedication and dogged determination. Engrossing, indelible, and brimming with genuine humanity.

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