Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

This compelling memoir traces Ben Carson’s transformation from a struggling student in Detroit to a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. With candid reflections on family, faith, and fierce determination, Carson shows how perseverance and education can overcome any obstacle.

My take on this was - part inspirational - part inappropriately mystic. Actions with deadly potential results, not based on science. By the end, I only felt concern.

The whole story of his life is inspiring, and the book causes you to become very emotionaly attached to Ben Carson as a character. I, at least, felt his struggles, victories, and failures quite strongly. The voice is powerful and has a sincere tone to it throughout.
Ben Carson, being a pediatric neurosurgeon, is perhaps the best in the world, having discovered several medical techniques that are used even today, and maybe his greatest contribution, he perfected the hemispherectomy [when you take out one of the two lobes of the brain and the patient is still a 100% functioning member of society]. He's saved numerous lives. He's quite inspirational because of his less than noble background.
It has real moral lessons, values, and show more inspiration to be taken from it, and it would be a great read for the older children to get a start on. It can be a truly life changing book. show less

I'd seen the movie based on this book, but wanted to read it for myself. In a nutshell, Dr. Ben Carson was put on this earth by God to save people. This man came from humble beginnings, was loved and supported by an amazing mother, and achieved the highest pinnacles of the medical profession possible. He was very close to falling prey to his volatile temper, but through strong faith, became a calm, articulate, and thoughtful man. When told something can't be done, Ben seems to be one of those folks who, with the help of others, finds a way.

"Gifted Hands" tells the story of a young boy from Detroit whose father left him, his brother, and his illiterate mother when he was very young. He overcame poor grades and the aforementioned temper show more to become a Yale graduate, and the preeminent pediatric neurosurgeon in the world. Carson credits his mother for her faith and her determination not to become a victim. He has carried these things with him as he navigates bigotry, false assumptions, and outright racism.

It's also important to understand that this book was written in 1990, so clearly it was long before he was encouraged to run for President.

Regardless of what you've read about him recently, this book proves many of the attacks on him are false. He clearly never says he applied to West Point. He does say he was offered a "scholarship" and has since proven that West Point was in fact offering "scholarships" specifically to young black kids who showed an aptitude for academics. And keep in mind, this isn't a book written to get him elected. Again, it was published in 1990.

To be fair, I must admit I support Ben Carson for president. Like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher before him, I truly believe God is working through Dr. Carson at a time when the country and the world needs him. He's spent his life saving children. Now it's time for him to help save our country. show less

I probably like a lot of people had not heard of Ben Carson, M.D. before he showed up on the Republican presidential campaign. So I decided to find out more about him and this book was a good start. Free from political slant his autobiography gave me a good insight to his character and achievements in life and it is most impressive. If ever there was a role model for making something of oneself he is the guy. Thanks it large part to the guidance of his mother he went on to become a world renowned neurosurgeon impacting the lives of children, and how much better does it get then that? There is no doubt Carson is an exceptional man in a lot of ways. He has quite religious and often invokes God as coming through for him in many of the show more medical challenges he faced in the operating room. I am not a religious person yet I did have to wonder about some of these incidents. On the flip side a few of the failures were also related and the emotional wrenching these families faced as well as Dr. Carson were moving. Now that he is retired he takes on the political arena and will face a new world of challenges. Though his chances seem slim, I wish him the best and if anyone was up to that challenge it certainly would be Ben Carson, M.D.. show less

In the 2015 election cycle I became interested in reading this autobiography, but I lost interest due to the controversy around facts asserted in the memoir. However, I have read it anyway. The points of contention could be, IMHO, left out of the book and do no real damage to the bones of the story. The early success with conjoined twins after a laudatory success in medical education at Yale and University of Michigan through the 60s and 70s making him one of the most accomplished Black Americans is a worthy story in itself. The medical angle continues to prove interesting due to the advanced and prolific successes with the hemispherectomy technique to combay seizures in children.

Gifted Hands, The Ben Carson Story by Ben Carson

I watched the movie Gifted Hands on TV recently so checked at my library for the DVD and also found the paperback book.
I read this book in one day. What a story about a man who we now see on TV quite a bit.

At the age of 33 Dr. Ben Carson became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Carson's mother, Sonya, is such an influence on both Dr. Carson and his brother, Curtis. She is one mother we all should admire for her dedication and hard work for her sons. At one point, she turned off the TV and told the boys they could watch three shows a week and also had to read two library books a week. That is tough love.
Sometimes, she worked two or three jobs at a show more time. Since this book was written in 1990, I will do some more checking on her.

There are also pictures in the book and one I especially like is a proud mother holding pictures of her sons who have graduated. Sonya Carson only completed third grade.

I knew some about Dr. Carson but this book gives so much information about why his father left, his school years, his problems with studies and school, problems because of his race, his temper, his successes, his faith in God and his family. This is an emotional read with death of family and patients.

Chapters are written on some of patients and the surgeries performed on them such as patients who had seizures.

Description of surgeries are sometimes pretty clear and there is also some drawing of the heads of the twins that were separated. Dr. Carson was the first doctor to separate Siamese, conjoined, twins that were attached at the head. It took 22 hours and a staff of 70 to do the surgery and they had practiced for over five months on how to do the procedure. It was a success.

A letter from Sonya Carson at the beginning of the book is short but sends a strong message. She often quoted a poem, "You're the Captain of Your Ship" to her sons:

If things go bad for you-
And make you a bit ashamed,
Often you will find out that
You have yourself to blame...

Swiftly we ran to mischief
And then the bad luck came.
Why do we fault others?
We have ourselves to blame...

Whatever happens to us,
Here are the words to say,
"Had it not been for so-and-so
Things wouldn't have gone that way".

And if you are short of friends,
I'll tell you what to do-
Make and examination,
You'll find that fault's in you...

You're the captain of your ship,
So agree with the same-
If you travel downward,
You have yourself to blame.

She also writes " Remember this as you go through life . The person who has the most do with what happens to you is you!.

The following paragraphs beginning with ** and ending with ** are from the book:

** "What's the key to your success?' the teenage boy with the Afro asked.
It wasn't a new question. I'd heard it so many times that I finally worked out an acrostic answer .
"Think big," I told him.
I'd like to break this down and explain the meaning of each letter.

THINK BIG

T=TALENT
Learn to recognize and accept your God-given talents (and we all have them). Develop those talents and use them in the career you choose. Remembering T for talent puts you far ahead of the game if you take advantage of what God gives you.
T also= TIME
Learn the importance of time. When you are always on time, people can depend on you. You prove your trustworthiness. Learn not to waste time, because time is money and time is effort. Time usage is also a talent. God gives some people the ability to manage time. The rest of us have to learn how and we can!
H=HOPE
Don't go around with a long face, expecting something bad to happen. Appreciate good things; watch for them.
H also=HONESTY
When you do anything dishonest, you must do something else dishonest to cover up, and your life becomes hopelessly complex. The same with telling lies. If you're honest, you don't have to remember what you said the last time. Speaking the truth each time makes life amazing simple.
I= INSIGHT
Listen and learn from people who have already been where you want to go. Benefit from their mistakes instead of repeating them. Read good books like the Bible because they open up new worlds of understanding.
N=NICE
Be nice to people-all people. If you're nice to people, they'll be nice to you. It takes much less energy to be nice than it does to be mean. Being kind, friendly, and helpful
takes less energy and relieves much of the pressure.
K=KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is the key to independent living, the key to all your dreams, hopes, and aspirations. If you are knowledgeable, particularly more knowledgeable than anyone else in the field, you become invaluable and write your own ticket.
B=BOOKS
I emphasize that active learning from reading is better than passive learning such as listening to lectures or watching television. When you read, your mind must work by taking in letters and connecting them to form words. Words make themselves into thoughts and concepts.
Developing good reading habits is something like being a champion weightlifter. The champion didn't go into the gym one day and start lifting 500 pounds. He toned his muscles, beginning with lighter weights, always building up, preparing for more. It's the same thing with intellectual feats. We develop our minds by reading, by thinking, by figuring out things for ourselves.
I=IN-DEPTH LEARNING
Superficial learners cram for exams but know nothing two weeks later. In-depth learners find that the acquired knowledge becomes part of them. They understand more about themselves and their world. They keep building on prior understanding by piling on new information.
G=GOD
Never get too big for God. Never drop God out of your life.

"I usually conclude my talks by telling young people, "If you can remember these things, if you can learn to THINK BIG, nothing on earth will keep you from being successful in whatever you choose to do."
"To THINK BIG and to use our talents doesn't mean we won't have difficulties along the way. We will-we all do".
"I'm a good neurosurgeon. That's not a boast but a way of acknowledging the innate ability God has given to me. Beginning with determination and using my gifted hands, I went on for training and sharpening of my skills. **

I will give this book a 5 star. I learned a lot about man, his family and his wife Candy. They have three children.
A book young people should read and understand they also have God- given talent.

I found more information on :
http://www.biography.com/people/ben-carson-475422?page=6

Leona Olson
www.mnleona.blogspot.com show less