Bazell, Josh

Bazell, Josh "Beat the Reaper" Little, Brown: 2009

This is a fun book. No doubt about it. Consider the first sentence: "So I'm on my way to work and I stop to watch a pigeon fight a rat in the snow, and some fuckhead tries to mug me!" The protagonist is a former hit man for the mob who talked his way into going to medical school with the Federal Witness Protection Program. They place him in the very worse neighborhood in the very worse hospital where the last place any self-respecting mob boss would seek medical attention until, you guessed it, one does. The fun begins.

Along with very educational foot notes and a talent for medicine and a huge desire to stay alive, Dr. Peter Brown, an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital proves once again he is one able man who can not only treat his patients well but stay alive in the process.

It doesn't hurt that the author is a new doctor himself with the background of knowing the medical profession and one giant talent for writing. Although it is doubtful the author is a former hit man, he stays out of the story and delivers one heck of a good yarn. Trust me on this, you will not sneak a look at the ending because you will be too engrossed in this book. Get this book now before it is in paperback because many places such as Barnes and Noble have it on the discount shelf.


Name of author: Josh Bazell
Dates of birth and death (if applicable): unknown
Place of birth: unknown
Education: Bazell graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in English Literature. He entered the PhD program in English Literature at Duke University before earning his MD from Columbia University . He is currently a medical resident at the University of California, San Francisco.
Literary movement associated with author: This author has written only one book while an intern and it is too early to classify where his writings will end up.
Nationality: American
Notable award(s) or ideas (s):
Books and years when published: See above.