by Gabriel Weston

Direct Red. By Gabriel Weston, MD. Mississau­ga, ON: Random House of Canada, 2009. ISBN 978-0-385-66580-3. Hardcov­er, 181 pages. $29.95.

In Direct Red, Dr Gabriel Weston shares her journey from medical student to fully qualified ENT surgeon. She uses patient and hospital vignettes to outline the training and skill required to master a surgical specialty. These same examples are used to show how humanity plays a vital role in her personal growth and professional development. Dr Weston is very open and honest about her struggles with death, ambition, family, and chauvinism. She is often the only young woman in the male-dominated, old-school operating rooms. As her career progresses her chosen specialty takes over her life, leading to un­happiness and disillusionment. The conflict between work and personal life is a familiar one. Eventually, the author finds her own balance by examining her values and commitments. Direct Red is an easy yet thought-provoking read.

—DRR