This book is a compendium of stories from medical and non-medical personnel about what it means to survive neurosurgery. This text is a follow-up and complete update to the previous edition, Surviving Neurosurgery: Vignettes of Resilience, and builds on previously discussed themes and introduces new topics (e.g., childhood, parenthood/raising a family, being a business owner). Through nearly 50 personal stories, hear from those who have unique hobbies to help them cope with the stresses of neurosurgery, as well as from celebrities who became neurosurgery patients and social media stars who are representing neurosurgery in the digital age. 

Several bodies of work exist on the technical aspects of neurosurgery, but this book stands alone as a text that captures the humanity of what it means to survive from several different aspects. Neurosurgeons handle the most complex cases in the hospital; too often a time, the work that is required to get to such a stage, maintain success, and retire, is not well-recognized. Through colorful and engaging vignettes, this book informs, educates and teaches all comers about the personal aspects of neurosurgery.    

Nitin Agarwal, MD, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, USA